INTERESTING FACTS : John Jay, JOHN JAY, PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS; DIPLOMAT; AUTHOR OF THE FEDERALIST PAPERS; ORIGINAL CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE U. S. SUPREME COURT; GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK

 

"The Americans are the first people whom Heaven has favored with an opportunity of deliberating upon and choosing the forms of government under which they should live."[1]

 

Daily Reading : ZECHARIAH 1 - 7, 8 - 14,

 

TEXT : Zechariah  4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.  4:7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.  4:8 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,  4:9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.  4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.

 

THEME : THE SOVEREIGN STRENGTH OF GOD

 

Zechariah

 

Introduction to Zechariah

 

Zechariah is more occupied than either of the other two post-captivity prophets with the Gentile kingdoms under whose yoke the Jews were placed, and with the establishment in its perfection of the glorious system that was to accompany the presence of the Messiah; and, on the other hand, with the rejection of that Messiah by the remnant who had returned from captivity; with the state of misery and unbelief in which the people would be left, and by which they would at length be openly characterised; and, finally, with the last attacks of the enemies of Jehovah upon Israel, and especially those directed against Jerusalem. He announces the destruction of these enemies by the judgment of God, and the glory and holiness of the people after their deliverance by the arm of Jehovah, who should thenceforth reign and be glorified in all the earth. It is the complete history of Israel, and of the Gentiles in relationship with Israel, from the captivity to the end, as far as connected with Jerusalem, the restoration of which especially occupies the prophet. For if the house was the primary object in Haggai, Jerusalem is the central point in Zechariah; although in the course of the prophecy the temple, and still more the Messiah, have the most prominent place in the scene.

 

The date of Zechariah's prophecy is nearly the same as that of the prophecies of Haggai. There are two in Zechariah, besides that of the introduction; in Haggai, four. The first date in Zechariah is only a month or two before the last two in Haggai, which were given on the same day. At the date of the second prophecy in Zechariah (chap. 7) the temple was not finished as a whole, but sufficiently so to serve as a place of worship, although the dedication had not yet been celebrated. [John Darby][2]

Malachi

 

Malachi was the last of the prophets, and is supposed to have prophesied B.C. 420. He reproves the priests and the people for the evil practices into which they had fallen, and invites them to repentance and reformation, with promises of the blessings to be bestowed at the coming of the Messiah. And now that prophecy was to cease, he speaks clearly of the Messiah, as nigh at hand, and directs the people of God to keep in remembrance the law of Moses, while they were in expectation of the gospel of Christ. [Matthew Henry][4]

TRUTH FOR TODAY : "HE IS HOLDING YOUR HAND, You ARE NOT HOLDING HIS!

 

Although we have personal responsibility in our relationship with the LORD, it is a comfort to know He is holding your hand and not vice versa. It is true you are holding His Hand, but the strength to save and the power to keep [you] is all in His Hands. Jesus shows you this is the Gospel according to John.

 

Joh_15:16  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

 

In one sense we have chosen Him. In another sense He has chosen us. It all depends on the context. Still, in the end, whether we speak of grace, power, might, authority, etc. - all power belongs to God!

 

Psa_62:11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.

 

It is analogous to the father and child crossing the street. Anyone can argue for either point of view - the child is holding the father's hand, or the father is holding the child's. However, no rational mind would debate where the safety and strength comes from. It is all from the father. The child is defenseless. Thus, the father demands him or her to - "hold my hand while we cross the street." It is a demand, a command, as well as a comfort and a sense of peace. This is what we have in the Bible. Depending on what is under consideration, the question of who is holding who by the hand is obvious. If the child is compliant, you say the child holds the father's hand. If the father is the point of reference, you say the father is holding the child's hand.

 

Both arguments are true. Between father and child there is mutual cooperation. As the child obeys the demand or command of the father, he or she is "safe" [the synonym for "saved"]. Not only is the child safe crossing the street, but in all circumstances, since it is the father who provides all the child's needs - food, shelter, protection, emotional stability, security etc.

 

Thus, through the preaching of Zechariah you learn how man has responsibility [in this case the Jews had to build the Temple] yet it is God who supplies all they need. This is the truth of God working through Man to accomplish His purposes. It is also a consolation for you to know He tells you - "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." That is, it is not [your] might, nor [your] power, but [His] Spirit that all will be accomplished. He will strengthen you for the days ahead, and in the days ahead, even forever.

 

Therefore, as you look to the LORD, He keeps you in "perfect peace."

 

Isa_26:3  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

 

This is so, because you "trust" in Him. You know your Father is the LORD of the universe.  All power belongs to Him as the Psalmist wrote. Thus, you can rest, relax. No one can withstand God. More than that, God is your Father! Therefore, what can overcome you? The answer is - nothing!

 

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Rom 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Rom 8:30  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Rom 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Rom 8:32  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Rom 8:33  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Rom 8:34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.