Then I will encamp at my house as a guard, so that none shall march to and fro; no oppressor shall again march over them, for now I see with my own eyes.

Zechariah 9:1-8

Then I will encamp at my house as a guard, so that none shall march to and fro; no oppressor shall again march over them, for now I see with my own eyes. Zechariah 9:8

I continue 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 today, my focus is an unassisted review of Zechariah 9:1-8, which the commentary outlines as the first of three divisions for the text 9:1-9:17 (9:1-8, 9-13, 14-17). Here, as the heading of the text describes - God pronounces judgement on the enemies of His people, and specifically mentioned are cities in the north what is now known as Lebanon and cities in what is now known as the West Bank.  Chapter 8 shares how Israel, now returned from exile and captivity, are to experience peace and prosperity, living in fellowship with God. Chapter 9 speaks directly to Israel's enemies and how, although they once oppressed God's people, will no longer as God declares in v8, supported by vv1-7.  Influences of non-believers have always been a challenge in redemptive history and until end times will continue to be.  These influences often lead us away from God into sin, and sometimes lead us into harsh times.  In the face of these influences we can be comforted by a God that desires to protect us and He is jealous for us.  Of course we must have a repentant heart and seek Him (Jeremiah 29:13).  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an amazing God that lives in my heart and in my life and I know I can call on You and You will answer - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such a God...my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me 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.

Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD. And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And the LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.”

 Zechariah 2:1-13

Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD. And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And the LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.” Zechariah 2:10-12

I continue 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 commentary-assisted review of Zechariah 2:1-13, which the commentary outlines as the fourth of four divisions for the text vv1:7-2:13 (1:7-13, 1:14-17, 1:18-21, 2:1-13).  The commentary broadly describes the theme of these verses as "God's desire to restore and rebuild" Jerusalem.  It then shares how this message would have been surprising given how "the city was in such ruin and so unstable that very few wanted to live in it, preferring the surrounding area in Judah" (see also Nehemiah 11:1-2).  The commentary then outlines in detail four elements of God's message for His people:

1. The exiles remaining in Babylon should return to Jerusalem as quickly as possible (vv6-7)
2. The nations that had been harming Israel will be judged (vv8-9)
3. God will bless Israel and many nations through Israel (vv10-12)
4. All people should be silent in the presence of the Lord (v13)
   

The commentary wraps for this text by emphasizing how, "[b]ecause of His love for His people, God placed Israel under His own protective and powerful care....God’s overwhelming love for us that protects us, draws us back to Himself, and renews us is the ultimate root of God’s extreme jealousy for us. He will not let us go, because we are precious to Him!"

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, who restores, comforts, protects, and so much more!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the blessings You pour out for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  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.

In the fire of his jealousy, all the earth shall be consumed; for a full and sudden end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.

Zephaniah 1:18

In the fire of his jealousy, all the earth shall be consumed; for a full and sudden end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth. Zephaniah 1:18b

I continue my study of Zephaniah using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my study focus is an unassisted review of the seventh division per my commentary: v18.  In v18a, the Lord shares how material wealth not save anyone from the wrath of the Lord - we are therefore warned not to grow too comfortable with anything in this world to the point where it becomes an idol.  Those in Judah did grow too comfortable with not just wealth, but with the foreign gods of their neighbors and they allowed this comfort to grow into idol worship and as previously posted turned away from God and did not inquire of Him (v6).  

John gives us a similar warning in 1 John 2:15-17:

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

This is why our number one commandment is to love God first and with all of your heart, soul, and mind (Exodus 20, Matthew 22:37-40).

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is enough for all that we need - for all of our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.  You are my all in all.  Thank You Jesus for how You provide, including my salvation - of which I am undeserving.  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.

This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

 Jeremiah 7-9

This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24

Day 208 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with my study of Jeremiah. It is understandable that Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet (see DesiringGod.com for a good application of Jeremiah).  Jeremiah must deliver a warning message to Judah with respect to her sinful and wicked lives, including what my commentary* describes as "false religiosity", idolatry, hypocrisy, false use/application of the law, and failure in leadership. Jeremiah's warning from God includes impending destruction of Judah, including destruction of the Temple of the Lord constructed by Solomon. This is of course a very difficult message - on top of this God tells Jeremiah that Judah will reject God's message and remain stubborn in her ways: 

When you [Jeremiah] tell[s] them all this, they will not listen to you; when you call to them, they will not answer.  Therefore say to them, ‘This is the nation that has not obeyed the Lord its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips. Jeremiah 7:27-28

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

God then instructs Jeremiah that upon rejection, he is to lament - hence the "weeping prophet" as this is one of Jeremiah's several "laments":

Cut off your hair and throw it away; take up a lament on the barren heights, for the Lord has rejected and abandoned this generation that is under his wrath. Jeremiah 7:29

God is also lamenting as He is a jealous God - desiring for His people to be His own.  Unfortunately, Judah has sought other Gods.  God is not happy that He must punish His children:

Since my people are crushed, I am crushed; I mourn, and horror grips me. Jeremiah 8:21

As I posted yesterday, God disciplines those He loves: 

See, I will refine and test them, for what else can I do because of the sin of my people? Jeremiah 9:7

Among their many sins, Judah has boasted of its own wisdom and strength - failing to acknowledge what God has done as Judah's prosperity and strength is due to God.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an AMAZING God who has done so much for me - I am blessed.  Yet I know I am undeserving.  I sin...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 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.

See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it.

Deuteronomy 12

See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it. v32

The greatest commandment is to love the Lord Your God with all of your heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22).  God provides for other commands as well and how we live in relationship to God, others, and the church is clearly laid out among scripture.

Moses communicates to the Israelites that they are to be careful to worship the one true God in ways that others worship false gods.  Yahweh is a jealous God and we must out of respect fear His wrath.

See also posts here.

Lord Jesus, please help me worship You as You intend - with all of my heart, soul, and mind, and to not add to or subtract how You desire for me to be in relationship with You, others, and the church.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love and compassion for me - thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving of such love.  I am lazy.  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 do.  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. 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.

The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies.

Nahum 1

The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath.
The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies. v2

In a prophecy regarding Ninevah, a city spared by God's great mercy following Jonah's warnings to repent, God is described as a jealous God.  God is jealous because He loves us, and He wants and deserves our full attention.  Yet we often serve other Gods because our hearts become distracted and we wander of course. 

We must grow our desire of God such that we don't wander.  God promises to protect us.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

Throughout scripture we are warned to be alert, to watch out and to be awake.  If we desire God and are faithful to Him He will protect us.

Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path.For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. Proverbs 2:9-11

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know You are a jealous God - but that is a good thing...it is because You love me and You don't want anything bad to happen to me.  You deserve my full attention.  You are faithful to me and You bless me beyond what I deserve - thank You Jesus but I am not deserving of such love.  I am too easily distracted.  Please forgive me for my sin and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength and love others as You do.  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.  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.

Alas for that day! For the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty.

Joel 1

Alas for that day! For the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. v15

We must live in reverent fear of the Lord...not that He is an angry God full of wrath and seeking to destroy anyone in His path.  On the contrary, God loves us - even while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8) - He is slow to anger and abounding in love, and He is jealous FOR and protective of us (see more here for commentary on righteous jealousy).

We must respect that God is all powerful, all knowing and He knows what is best for us and that He promises to save us from the sting of sin and death.  If we repent of our sins, He will save us.  We must also have faith and live for the eternal, being ready for His return or for when we are called home to heaven to be with Him.

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Matthew 24:44

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You ARE a great God who is all powerful, all knowing, slow to anger, and abounding in love for me.  You know what is best for me and You came to save me - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love - I continue to be lazy and selfish.  Please forgive me and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom and 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.  Help me serve You and my family, the church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.