Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried out, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.’ But they did not hear or pay attention to me, declares the LORD. Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers?

 Zechariah 1:1-6

Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried out, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.’ But they did not hear or pay attention to me, declares the LORD. Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? Zechariah 1:4-6a

I resume my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, my focus is a unassisted review of Zechariah 1:4-6a, which the commentary outlines as the second of three divisions for the text vv1-6 (1:1-3, 1:4-6a, 6b).  Here, the Lord seeks for us to remember - and in this case for negative reasons.  Don't do what God's people have repeatedly done.  Throughout redemptive history as portrayed in the Old Testament, God's people repeatedly turned away from God, sinned and were wicked in God's eyes.  God hates sin.  One of the many broad themes of the OT is the cycle of sin and God's wrath, and we see this very early on in Genesis 3 where among other means of punishment after the Fall, Adam and Eve are sent out from the garden of Eden.  Consistent with yesterday's message, God continues to emphasize here that He reigns, is all powerful and all knowing, hates sin, and seeks obedience.  He also loves His people and does not want to punish them but will if He needs to get our attention. Once again, fear should serve as a preservative to keep us close to God.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, once again, I am reminded of Your amazing grace in that while I was still hostile and an enemy to You, You saved me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving - not by a long shot.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.   

And King David longed to go to Absalom, for he was consoled concerning Amnon’s death.

2 Samuel 12:24-25, 2 Samuel 5:13-16, 1 Chronicles 3:4-9, 14:3-7, 2 Samuel 13-14

And King David longed to go to Absalom, for he was consoled concerning Amnon’s death. 2 Samuel 13:39

Day 100 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on the birth of Solomon, the rape of Tamar (daughter of David) by Amnon (son of David), and Absalom's (son of David) revenge killing of Amnon.

Much like David longs for Absalom in spite of his sin, God longs for us despite our sin.

There are very important distinctions we must recognize regarding how God BOTH loves and hates us as sinners.  John Piper provides great clarity on these distinctions. Piper's starting point is that God hates sinners (referencing Psalm 5:4-5 and 11:5).  Piper writes, "[s]o, it is just not true to give the impression that God doesn’t hate sinners by saying he loves the sinner and hates the sin. He does hate sinners. His wrath is real. It is not something he pours out on people he approves of".  He then goes on to write how God ALSO loves sinners, referencing John 3:16.  Piper writes: ... "[this] matters [because] [i]f we don’t understand that God finds us hateful and loathsome in our ugly sin, we won’t be as stunned by what his love is for us".

God's love for us should in Piper's words "stun" us - and it does!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, even while I continue to sin and even though I am still a sinner - thank You Jesus!  I know You hate both sin and sinners (like me) but You also love me and sent Your Son Jesus to save me - thank You Jesus!  The greatest gift of all time!  I am not deserving of such a gift.  I love You but I am not deserving.  I continue to sin...to complain/grumble and to be harsh with others.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Judges 13-16

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.  Matthew 5:27-30

Day 80 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on the story of Samson, whose love for an ungodly woman shows how flirting with sin can hurt us.  It is nonetheless amazing that of course God redeems Samson's sin to use him to destroy many of the Philistines.  Although Israel did evil in the eyes of the Lord (Judges 13:1), He raised up Samson to lead and intercede on their behalf.  Far from a perfect leader, God used Samson to lure the Philistines into a trap (Judges 14:4). 

DesiringGod.com's post here warns us about flirting with sin and directs us to Matthew 5:27-30, where Jesus warns us about sin, emphasizing how sin includes matters of the heart, and Jesus directs us on how we should be prepared to take what some may see as drastic actions to address sources of temptation.

These are tough words indeed, but God hates sin and it separates us from Him - we must find ways to address it in our lives.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and I know You love me and use my sin.  Thank You for Your grace and compassion and how You redeem my sin for Your glory and purpose.  I am humbled and of course undeserving.  Please forgive me as my sin continues - I am too easily distracted by the world.  Help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.