“And those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the LORD. And you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.”

Zechariah 6:1-15

“And those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the LORD. And you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.” Zechariah 6:15

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 a commentary-assisted review of Zechariah 6:1-15, which the commentary outlines as the third of three divisions for the text 5:1-6:15 (5:1-4, 5-11, 6:1-15). The commentary describes the eighth vision from the Lord given to Zechariah and that this vision "indicates that God’s justice was brought to the wicked nations that have oppressed Israel. Following this last vision, God acts to give hope to His people."  It discusses how God's judgement over those who oppressed His people, in this instance specifically Babylonia (to the north), is complete and satisfied (at rest - v8). The commentary then describes how the text offers renewed hope and encouragement for God's people to continue their efforts to rebuild the temple. God will work through Joshua and Joshua will lead God's people. The commentary shares how vv12-13 provide a messianic prophecy referred to as "the Branch" where:

• "He will build the temple of the Lord (v12)
• He will be clothed with majesty and glory (v13)
  
• He will sit and rule on his throne as a priest (v13)
  
• He will unite the role of priest and king, creating “peaceful counsel between the two of them” (v 13)"
  

The commentary concludes by sharing how the text offers both a reminder and emphasizes a promise from God in v15 how we will be blessed if we "diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God." We are referred to Deuteronomy 28:1 where this same promise is made.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who will never leave or forsake me and You offer mercies that are new every morning that never cease!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings and of my salvation.  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 from 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.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Leviticus 26-27

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 2 Corinthians 5:10

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter twenty-three (the final chapter) - Either-Or - covering Leviticus 26-27, looking specifically at the third theme for the chapter - God Judges Our Unfaithfulness.  Here, the commentary breaks down v13-39, where we see the details of God's judgement awaiting those who fail to heed God's commands as described in Leviticus.  God's judgement and punishment is described in the commentary as a "cycle of judgement five times....He was stating that He would give His people opportunity after opportunity to turn from their sin, but if they continued to be unfaithful, more judgement would come." The commentary points out that Nehemiah 9 writes about God's warnings from Leviticus 26 coming to pass, including God's cycle of judgement that repeated itself five times. Of course, believers familiar with the Old Testament understand that exile awaited those Israelites whose disobedience persisted. The commentary wraps by encouraging all believers to avoid disobedience to God - draw near to Him and stay near to Him. God brings about obedience through a daily, personal relationship with Him. We are referred to 2 Corinthians 5:10, Romans 14:10-12, and 1 Corinthians 3:12-15.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace and compassion.  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.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Leviticus 10

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing with chapter ten - Our Response to God's Holiness - covering Leviticus 10:1-20, looking specifically at the chapter's final theme - God's People Announce God is Gracious.  Here, the commentary encourages us to see how, in the death of Nadab and Abihu, God's grace exists.  It explains that if God allowed sacrifices to be offered in any manner the priests saw fit, such an attitude towards sin could have easily derailed God's plan to use the root or remnant of the Israelites as part of his grand design to send Jesus to die for all sin of all humanity for all times. Similar to how a parent punishes a child, the punishment served to discipline and sharpen the Israelites (or at least some of them we refer to as the root or remnant from which Jesus arose). The commentary also reminds us that God's grace abounds today as the world is full of sin - both intentional and unintentional; it states that "in God's holiness and righteous wrath He could put all sinners to death and rid the planet of evil once and for all.  But in His grace He is giving us time--time to turn to Him, time to put our faith in Him instead of our own way."  We are urged to refer to 2 Peter 3:9 where Peter writes about Gods patience. The commentary then reminds us that God's judgement (eternal damnation) awaits those who spurn God's grace, and refuse to repent and turn to Him. While God's wrath is rarely discussed in church, we must understand that all of us sin and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). The commentary wraps by having us focus on how Jesus took the wrath of all sin upon Himself and in so doing, He gave us Himself as a place to rest where we can have forgiveness of sin and freedom in Christ.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is so full of grace for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your amazing grace.  My sin continues - harshness of others, worry, etc.  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 energy.  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.