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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Sunday, 24 December 2023:
Zechariah 11:4-6 — Become shepherd of the flock doomed to slaughter. Those who buy them slaughter them and go unpunished, and those who sell them say, ‘Blessed be the Lord, I have become rich,’ and their own shepherds have no pity on them. For I will no longer have pity on the inhabitants of this land, declares the Lord. Behold, I will cause each of them to fall into the hand of his neighbor, and each into the hand of his king, and they shall crush the land, and I will deliver none from their hand.
God judges nations by allowing them to drift into corruption, injustice, and lawlessness. Leaders will exploit the people, and neighbors will not be able to trust neighbors. Everyone (including God’s people) suffers when God removes His favor, and injustice and unethical behavior becomes the norm. Understand that these things are the consequence of the infidelity of God’s people first. The problem with the nation is not bad politicians, it is a compromised church which ceased to be salt and light to preserve and to expose darkness. Individual and corporate repentance and revival is the key to national prosperity.
Zechariah 11:7-9 – So I became the shepherd of the flock doomed to be slaughtered by the sheep traders. And I took two staffs, one I named Favor, the other I named Union. And I tended the sheep. In one month I destroyed the three shepherds. But I became impatient with them, and they also detested me. So I said, “I will not be your shepherd. What is to die, let it die. What is to be destroyed, let it be destroyed. And let those who are left devour the flesh of one another.”
Evil leaders think they are good and still practice religion.
God and only God rightly shepherds His people.
“In one month I destroyed the three shepherds.” God judges unfaithful leaders. God overcomes human leaders to lead His faithful people.
Through Christ we have favor and unity with God, along with blessings and protection. When people reject God, He turns them over to their own desires and devices with their naturally destructive consequences. God is The God of justice and peace. Apart from God there can be no justice or peace.
Zechariah 11:11-14 – So it was annulled on that day, and the sheep traders, who were watching me, knew that it was the word of the Lord. Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver. Then the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the lordly price at which I was priced by them. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord, to the potter. Then I broke my second staff Union, annulling the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
– Zechariah 12:10 — And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.
In today’s readings, Zechariah, in unmistakable detail, prophesizes about the future betrayal of Jesus, the account of which can be read in Matthew 26:15 – Matthew 27:10: Jesus was betrayed by Judas for thirty pieces and silver, given him by the chief priests, the church, that Jesus might be executed by the state, the Roman government. Judas was filled with remorse and returned the money to the chief priests before hanging himself. The chief priests decided that they could not put it into the temple treasury as it was considered blood money, and so with it they bought the Potter’s Field. (Matthew 27) The church had been so compromised that it did the work of Satan, in partnership with the ungodly government, all in the name of religion. The religious leaders were willing to crucify Christ but not allow blood money into the Temple, which was considered holy. Consider these things in context with the condition of the church and state in America today.
Zechariah continues on to prophesize about something which has yet to occur — a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Jews before the final day and last battle described in Revelation. At that time, there will be a multitude of Jews who repent of their sin and turn to Christ as their Savior. We are living between the prophesies, between Jesus’ first advent and second advent. How then should we live? How will we participate in God’s redemptive plan?
People undoubtedly struggled to understand Zechariah’s prophecies when he offered them, and after hundreds of years, many surely wrote them off as madness. However, in God’s timing, the prophecies have been fulfilled, are being fulfilled, and will be fulfilled – “Remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior… knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, ‘Where is the promise of his coming?’ …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. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief….” (2 Peter 3:2-10)
“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” (Hebrews 1:1, 2) “For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” (Matthew 13:17) We live in an amazing time in God’s redemptive history (after Jesus’ birth, ministry on earth, death, burial and resurrection), and He has empowered us with the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Gospel to all creation in preparation for His second coming, final judgment and restoration of all things. Long ago, God spoke through the prophets. Now, armed with the Scripture and empowered by His Spirit and authority, He has commissioned us to be His messengers to the world and to live lives that glorify Him.
– 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 — Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
– Matthew 28:18-20 — And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
– 2 Peter 3:11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18 – What sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God… since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation…. Take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
– Ephesians 4:1-3 — I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
– Ephesians 5:15-21 — Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
As we approach the New Year, now is a good time to reconsider how you glorify God with the days He has given you on earth.
Psalm 148:5 – Let them praise the name of the Lord! For he commanded and they were created.
The creation praises God and brings glory to God by fulfilling the purpose God intended for it. We were created to love Him and others, and we praise Him and bring glory to Him when we obey the Great Command of love. Will you praise God today and glorify Him by fulfilling your purpose of love?
Psalm 148:14 – He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise the Lord! He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise the Lord!
God has chosen you and your church to be instruments of praise so all the world can praise Him.
Proverbs 24:10, 16 – If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small…. for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.
What you really are is revealed in adversity.
You must develop strength before you need. It during hard times, you use the strength you already have, not build the strength you need.
Proverbs 24:11, 12 – Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?
If you remain silent while those you know walk in darkness without knowledge of The Way, The Truth, and The Life – Jesus, you will be held accountable by God.
Proverbs 24:19 – Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked….
Let God worry about the wicked while you focus on being faithful to Him, regardless of apparent outcomes. God knows what is going on and will judge the hearts of all people.
Proverbs 24:29 – Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.”
Do not chase after the poisonous snakes the bite you – the poison will just travel to your heart. Let God deal with those who offend you. Just continue to follow Jesus.
Proverbs 24:32 – Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction.
God wants you to compare the actions of others to God’s word, consider the consequences of their actions, and learn from their actions, both good and bad.
Truth is revealed every day to those with eyes to see. “Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 24 December 2023: Share the Gospel with someone today.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 