But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days, declares the LORD of hosts. For there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.”

Zechariah 8:1-17

But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days, declares the LORD of hosts. For there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.” Zechariah 8:11-13

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 8:1-17, which the commentary outlines as the fifth of five divisions for the text 7:1-8:23 (7:1-3/8:18-23, 7:4-7, 7:8-10, 7:11-14, 8:1-17).  The overarching theme - as described by the commentary's title for the text - the commentary uses for the text 7:1-8:23 is Transformed from Trusting Our Capabilities to Trusting His Faithfulness.  The beginning of chapter 7 discusses how God's people focused on extra-biblical ritual fasting as a reflection of their own desires and powers vs leaning on God and what He seeks from us.  The commentary for the text today 8 alludes to this with how it opens with how "[Zechariah] begins to tell the people exactly what God will do as He transforms their fasting into feasting. In the opening verse God reminds His people of His jealous love for Zion, that is, Jerusalem....God makes promises to His people, revealing His faithfulness to accomplish what they are incapable of doing on their own."  The commentary then outlines what God will do:

• He will return to Jerusalem - v3
• He will bless the residents of the city with both long life and new life - vv4-5
• He will bring the nations to Jerusalem and make them His own - vv7-8
• He will bring peace, productivity, and power to His people - vv9-13
• He will drive away the fear they have experienced - vv14-17

The commentary winds down for the text by sharing how God "meets us in our broken places to transform us from serving ourselves to serving Him, from pursuing empty religion to pursuing His righteousness, from listening to our own desires to hearing His voice, and from depending on our own capabilities to trusting His faithfulness."

As I posted yesterday, similar to how throughout scripture God's servants experienced difficulties, there will be turbulent times in our lives, but nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus (Romans 8:39).  He is always with us and we can draw comfort and peace knowing that God has already secured victory over both sin and death.  God's grace is sufficient and His power is perfect in our times of weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9)!

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My Prayer: Father, You are SO good!  Thank You for the mercies You pour out for me daily that never run out.  I am undeserving of my salvation and for these mercies.  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.

But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of hosts. “As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear,” says the LORD of hosts, “and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one went to and fro, and the pleasant land was made desolate.”

Zechariah 7:11-14

But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of hosts. “As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear,” says the LORD of hosts, “and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one went to and fro, and the pleasant land was made desolate.” Zechariah 7:11-14

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 today, my focus is an unassisted review of Zechariah 7:11-14, which the commentary outlines as the fourth of five divisions for the text 7:1-8:23 (7:1-3/8:18-23, 7:4-7, 7:8-10, 7:11-14, 8:1-17).  Here the Lord uses as a warning how Israel stopped listening to the Lord and so He stopped listening to them.  The people were scattered (including exile) and the land was made desolate.  We should heed this warning and remember all that He has done and cultivate a heart of humility (poverty of spirit - see yesterday) and gratitude - and remember that without God we can do nothing.  He is before all, in all, and He holds all things together - see Colossians 1:15-17.

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My Prayer: Father, You are an awesome God and You save!  You also provide mercies that are new every morning and that never cease - I know that I can never be separated from Your love.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings that You pour out for me.  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.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 5:3-4

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3-4

I continue to pause my study of Zechariah and 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.  Today, my preparation to lead Sunday school at my church, where our class is doing a study on prayer based on the book by A Praying Life, moves along.  Chapter 7 makes much of poverty of spirit and how it should motivate and animate our prayer life.  This diagram from chapter 6 illustrates poverty in spirit:

This message from John Piper on DesiringGod.com defines and provides greater detail on poverty of spirit, including scripture examples of those who demonstrate poverty of spirit.  Our recognition and growing maturity of poverty of spirit is driven by our view of (1) God's holiness, and (2) our own sinful nature.  As we grow closer to God, our view of both comes into sharper focus.  In terms of prayer, anxiety, which is discussed in chapter 8 (see my brief post yesterday), should drive us into the arms of our Father and actually help our prayer life (vs serve as an excuse).  Matthew 5:3-4 should always be top of mind (scripture memorization) so that we can have a constant reminder of the blessing of being poor in Spirit. One of these verses (scripture memorization) should also be top of mind (I like Psalm 46:1).  Chapter 7 encourages us to lean on excerpts from text with bulleted prayers (God is our refuge) that can be repeated throughout the day - continuously.  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You ARE my refuge and strength and I know You and Your love are with me always - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and 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 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.