SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 READINGS...Zechariah 9:1-14:21
Zechariah is the Old Testament minor prophet whose writings speak so much about the promise of the Messiah and what He will do when He comes. The prophet also speaks of how the Lord will judge the nations that surround Israel. Zechariah is also concerned about the worthless shepherds that are leading, and more correctly, abusing the Lord’s people. These kinds of shepherds have always been among the people of God, and are so today. Jesus the true Shepherd would come, but instead of following Him, the people would continue to follow these worthless shepherds. This not only true of Israel, but it is true in the church also. The majority of people would rather have “hirelings” than they would genuine shepherds who both take care of the Lord’s sheep and protect the Lord’s sheep. The hireling can be manipulated and coerced to do what the people want, for they are more concerned with pleasing people than they are in pleasing the Lord. The problem is that when trouble comes the hireling will run away, leaving the sheep open for the attack of “wolves” who always come to destroy the people of God. Check out your leader’s church…make sure they are from the Lord and not worthless shepherds who are just there to fleece you!
It is clear from today’s writing that Zechariah speaks of the promise coming of Messiah. I believe he speaks of the Lord’s first and second coming. In the Lord’s first coming some of Zechariah’s statements are fulfilled. “Look, your king is coming to you…yet, he is humble riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt”. (9:9) This happened exactly this way on Palm Sunday when Jesus came into Jerusalem, just before they crucified Him. The prophet speaks of the price of Jesus’ betrayal, and what it would be used for, “…they counted out for my wages thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter.” (11:12b-13a) Jesus is the cleansing fountain that washes away the sin of the people, that Zechariah spoke about. He did this through His substitutionary atonement on the cross. Also, Zechariah speaks of what would happen to the followers of Jesus when He was put to death. “Strike down the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered…” (13:7) Zechariah speaks of the Lord’s second coming when he speaks of all the nations being gathered against Jerusalem… war will be awful and the brutality of the nations great. Then, “…the Lord will go out to fight against those nations…His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives…half the mountain will move to north and half to the south…” (14:3-4) The power of the Lord will be revealed against the enemies of God and His people. They will die a horrible death while they are still standing. “And the Lord will send a plague on all nations that fought against Jerusalem. Their people will become like walking corpses, their flesh rotting away. Their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.” (14:12) This is not the “zombie apocalypse” …this is the power of God destroying His enemies. He is coming back…and He will conquer all evil!
Please share your thoughts from today’s readings. I hope and pray you are ready for the coming of the Lord. I pray you are listening to genuine shepherds and not hirelings. I hope you are trusting the Lord and remain trusting Him until His return.
TOMORROW’S READINGS…Ezra 6:14b-22 & Ezra 4:6 & Esther 1:1-4:17