Too fast to fast

Does your calendar get so crowded that you rush through even your religious activities without giving them much thought? Israel had fallen into the habit of “worship” without thinking about God.

Zechariah 7

• Should I keep on observing the religious traditions? (v. 3)
• For what reason have you been observing the religious traditions? (v. 5-6).
• Would it not be best to hear what God has to say about religious activities? (v. 7)
• What does God require? (v. 9-10).
• Although God’s expectations are plain, not everyone heeds His word (v. 11-12).
• As a consequence, God will not listen to them either (v. 13-14).

Zechariah 8

• Promises, promises. God has lots of promises for His people.
• God is jealous for Zion (v. 2).
• Old and young shall dwell together (v. 4-5).
• God will save His people and be their God (v. 7-8).
• Prosperity, increase, possession (v. 12).
• Curses turned to blessing (v. 13).
• Past fasts of sadness shall occasion rejoicing (v. 19).
• The Gentiles shall be brought to the Lord (v. 20-23).

[print_link]

Royal Family Problems

Esther 1

• State dinners for government dignitaries and for the populace are not new (v. 1-6).
• Serving strong drink at such functions is not new either (v. 7-8).
• Wives of kings, presidents and prime ministers have often exercised their own influence, too (v. 9).
• Too much wine often makes men do shameful things (v. 10-11).
• Modesty often puts us at odds with those who do not share our values (v. 12).
• Seeking the advice of knowledgeable men is not wrong (v. 13-14).
• But it’s sad that virtue can be perceived as a violation of public law (v. 15).
• The issue was treated as a war against women’s liberation (v. 16-18).
• Despots, husbands or kings, must not allow dissent (v. 19-20).
• For “public examples” to be effective, they must be widely known (v. 21-22).

Meditation Points:

1. Many beautiful women would have proudly gone on display, thinking nothing of the immodesty.
2. Too many kings heed their counselors rather than their conscience.
3. Oh that women everywhere might be free to honor God.
4. And that the word of God might be published throughout the world in the languages of all people.

[print_link]

Chariots and crowns

Zechariah 6

• Four chariots with differently colored horses (v. 1-8)
• Gold and silver crowns for men as symbols of the crowning work of the Lord Jesus in building the house/kingdom of God (v. 9-15)

Meditation Points:

1. Color, not mere black and white. This message has no meaning to the person unable to see or distinguish colors. The scriptures have no meaning to the person who is spiritually blind.
2. Symbolic actions. The crowning of the high priest must point us to Christ the Great High Priest. Is there any activity in life which should not point us to Christ?

[print_link]

A lampstand, a scroll and an ephah

Zechariah 4

• Wake up, man (v. 1)
• I see…a lampstand of gold with 7 lamps (v. 2)
• and I see… 2 olive trees, one on either side of the lampstand (v. 3)
• I have no idea what this is all about (v. 4-5)
• Double fulfillment: literally, Zerubbabel will build a physical temple; spiritually, Christ will build His church (v. 6-10).
• The two trees? They are God’s anointed ones who stand by the earth (v. 11-14)

Meditation Points:

1. God need not rely on might or power for He acts by His Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). What is the source of your strength?
2. What appears to be little to man may well be something quite large in God’s sight (Zechariah 4:10).

Zechariah 5

• Have you ever seen a 30 x 15′ flying scroll? (v. 1-2)
• Stealing and swearing are offensive to God (v. 3-4)
• What’s an ephah? (v. 5-11)
• How can a woman sit in it? How can a lead weight be thrown into it? (v. 5-8)
• What are these two winged women who carry the ephah into the sky? (v.9)
• How do you build a house for an ephah? (v. 10-11)

[print_link]