READINGS FOR SEPTEMER 25-OCTOBER 1

SEPTEMBER 25

The reading today gives us some comic relief.

You just have to chuckle at the letters going back and forth between the leaders of Trans-Euphrates and the two kings, first Artaxerxes and then later Darius.

Artaxerxes agreed and gave in to the leaders of Trans-Euphrates and stopped the building of the temple. Then, the temple construction was started again a few years later when the people listened to the prophets Haggai and Zechariah.

When the leaders of Trans-Euphrates “tattled” on them, Darius took a quite different approach than his predecessor. He not only approved the building of the temple, he told the leaders of Trans-Euphrates to pay for the expenses from their treasury! And, they were to provide the animals for the daily sacrifices at the temple. They were to do this without fail or else…well you can read for yourself what would happen to anyone who changed the king’s edict. No surprise that the leaders carried out the edict with diligence!

Darius' decree is seemingly insignificant in the grand scheme of things, however, it is highly significant in determining the time of Jesus' appearance as Messiah as recorded in Daniel 9:24-27.

SEPTEMBER 26

Haggai the prophet pointed out that the people had their priorities all out of place when it came to building the temple.

Haggai 1:5-6
Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." 

This can be compared to modern life today…never satisfied…always wanting more…wasting what we have...looking more to the physical and worldly and less to the spiritual.
A verse to ponder today, "Give careful thought to your ways."

Haggai admonishes the people that they have left God's house in ruins while they have been busy with their own houses (and lives).  Because the people were so self-absorbed, God withheld His blessings. 

The people listened to the words of Haggai and responded positively and quickly. Think about all the other prophets. Many of them preached for years and years and few if any listened. Here comes one of the “lesser” prophets and the people listen and obey almost immediately. What gives???

Well...here's what gives...
Haggai 1:14
So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God,  

The Lord stirred up the spirit of the people.  The Holy Spirit prompted them to recognize the Word of the Lord spoken through the prophet and to act on his words.

Haggai 2:4b-5
Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.  ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’

God honored the obedience of the people.  And then He tells them of the glory of the future millennium temple.  But He also reminds them of their former disobedience as a nation, and the promise of restoration.

There is a special prophecy for a faithful man, Zerubbabel.  He will be God's signet ring in the building of the millennial temple.  Why was this man chosen?  Simply because he was obedient.  What great thing does God have in store for each of us, simply because we are obedient?  The answer to this question is in tomorrow's reading. 

 

SEPTEMBER 27

Oh, so much to say about today’s reading!

Zechariah was given eight visions, somewhat confusing to us at times.  These words came to Zechariah's lips and probably to ours as well, "What are these?"  This question is followed by an explanation from the angel, not always a very clear explanation, but one that is filled with prophetic significance.

1. Vision of the horses 1:7–17
Zechariah 1:11b   
"We have gone everywhere and have discovered that the whole world is at peace." 

This doesn't mean that the world is living in peaceful coexistence.  It means that they are doing nothing, they are satisfied with their condition that they have made for themselves, not depending on God to lead them into doing anything.  They are simply complacent.  Applications for us today?

The Lord also gives assurance to Zechariah that the temple will be built despite opposition of the enemy and discouragement of the people.

2. Vision of the horns and craftsmen 1:18–21
Zechariah 1:18  
Next, I saw four animal horns. 

The horns are the enemies. Assyrians defeated Israel. Babylonians defeated Judah.  Eventually Babylonians defeated the Assyrians and the Persians defeated the Babylonians. Then it was under Persian rule that the Jerusalem temple was rebuilt in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah. The craftsmen are Ezra and Nehemiah's people who rebuilt the city and the temple under the authority of the Persians as directed by the Spirit of God. (verse 21)

3. Vision of the surveyor 2:1–13
Prophetically this vision proclaims the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple in this day.  It also proclaims the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple in the Millennium. 

 4. Vision of Joshua the high priest 3:1–10

What a beautiful image of a “before and after picture”. Life before salvation can be compared to “wearing filthy rags”. Life after salvation can be compared to being “clothed in righteousness”.  
(see also the book of Jude)

5. Vision of the golden lampstand and two olive trees 4:1–14
Zerubbabel is specifically named as the one who will bring out the capstone of the temple to be rebuilt in Jerusalem (literally).  He will also have a similar honor at the Millennium temple. (again literally).  Why was Zerubbabel so honored? 

Zechariah 4:10   
For who has despised the day of small things? For they shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. 

Zerubbabel was honored because he was faithful and obedient in small things!  What seemingly insignificant ("small") things has God assigned to each of us?  What honor does God have in store for us if we are faithful and obedient even in the "small" things?

Are the two olive trees the two witnesses spoken of in Revelation? Revelation 6:1-8 are companion verses to Zechariah 6:1-8. Zechariah, like John is a prophet speaking in vision. More details in the book, The Time is Near.

1. Vision of the flying scroll 5:1–4
   This vision shows a condemnation of those who speak falsely, steal the truth and hide it from view.

Matthew 24:4-5  
And Jesus answered and said to them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many will come in My name, saying, I am Christ, and will deceive many. 

2.                      Vision of the woman in a basket 5:5–11
Woman in analogy represents religion.  Because the woman is called wicked we know that it is not a godly religion.  Therefore any religion that is not of God is wicked and will be destroyed. Could this be a prophetic view of Islam that came into existence in Arabia (Babylonia) in 622 AD?

Since posing this question several years ago, we have some insights to add today.

Most Biblical prophecies are multilayered. Often the prophecies have been fulfilled multiple times over the years and will continue to be fulfilled.  The people during the times of fulfilled prophecy had difficulty finding themselves in those prophecies.  Today we have difficulty understanding prophecies being fulfilled in our time - that is until we examine the particulars of the Biblical prophecies and compare those details to current events.

We are living one of those multilayered fulfillments today in Zechariah’s vision of the woman in the basket. 

The word woman in Biblical analogy most often represents false religion.  So in this case, the woman (who is labeled wickedness) is a satanic false religion.  In Zechariah’s vision, the woman is pushed back into the basket and a cover made of lead is placed on the top.  There are two other women with the “wind in their wings”.  Possibly these two women represent two aspects of the false religion represented by the woman in the basket.  Having “wind in the wings” is a figurative illustration of something fast moving, powerful with the support of something that gives strength. The wings of the women are the wings of a stork, an unclean animal.  So this false religion is fast moving and powerful, supported by something evil having great authority and strength. The basket in the analogy, carried by the two women with wings of a stork is being carried to Babylonia to build a house. 

So what false religion might that be?

Consider this.  The two women carrying the basket are the two factions of Islam; Sunni and Shiite.  The women with the wings of a stork have the “wind in their wings”. The influence of Islam is being spread throughout the western nations as the migration of people from those troubled nations controlled by Islam move quickly into the western world.  The basket of wickedness and false religion is the most evil aspects of Islam.  The lead cover has been placed over the basket to restrict the wicked woman. In the basket is an aggressively fierce religion known today as ISIS.  In this vision, the basket has been delivered to Babylonia, modern day Iraq. 

In the western nations (United States included) the borders have been thrown open and people welcomed with open arms from nations controlled by Islam without the proper vetting of those individuals.  Islam, which did not exist until 622 AD, is the invention of a mid-eastern traveler named Mohammed who declared the moon god Allah as the god above all gods.  There are many more details concerning the formation of Islam but specifically concerning this vision, the division within Islam is consistent with the vision concerning the two women (Sunni and Shiite) carrying the basket.  The Shiite are primarily Iranians (Persians – not Arabs).  The other sect of Islam is Sunni who are Arabs.  Together these two groups make up the main body of Islam but they are at war with each other in ideologies.  Sunnis believe that the caliph (the main religious leader of Islam) is appointed and they believe in worldwide conquest of Islam through jihad and Shari law.  The other faction, the Shiite believe the 12th imam or Mahdi (the main religious leader) will come in the name of Allah through worldwide conquest by means of violent war and conflagration. This belief of the Muslim Shiite brand of Islam is extremely dangerous.  Iran, a Shiite state desires a nuclear war.

ISIS is spreading throughout the world in its aggressive and relentless attempt to dominate at any price.  By the illustration of a lead cover on the basket, it appears that God intends to keep ISIS from getting a nuclear weapon by keeping it under a lead cover. ISIS may go out through the world to ravage with satanic terror but not with nuclear weapons.

We could be watching this prophecy unfold right in front of our eyes.  What is the solution if these events are true to this prophecy?  If my people….

8. Vision of the four chariots 6:1–8
Compare this vision with John's vision in Revelation to the first four seals. The white horse is the spirit of impotent and false religion, the black horse is the spirit of greed, the red horse is the spirit of illegitimate (not righteous) war, the dappled horse is the spirit of ruin that comes on the earth in the wake of the other three. 

What a great promise in these verses!

Zechariah 2:10-11
"Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you," declares the LORD. "Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you.

God, the Father sends God, the Son to live among us! 

SEPTEMBER 28

In Zechariah 7 we read that the people of Bethel sent messengers to inquire about mourning and fasting in the fifth month. There were three main holy days commanded by God. There are no commanded days in the fifth month.  The people had been mourning the destruction of the temple by Nebuchadnezzar on the anniversary of that national catastrophe. 

God answers with a few questions.  They were fasting, but God questions if they were fasting for Him or for themselves.  Then God addresses some of the feast days and questions again if it was for Him or for themselves.  They were fasting for all the wrong reasons.

Zechariah 7:5-6 Ask all the people of the land and the priests, 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted? And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves?

Ouch! Sounds a bit like some of our “Christian” holidays today.

Zechariah 8:6
This is what the LORD Almighty says: It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at this time, but will it seem marvelous to Me?" declares the LORD Almighty.

In other words, God is saying that it may seem right to the people but is it right in my sight?

Later on in Zechariah 8 God announces that the fasts will no longer be sad occasions of mourning some national catastrophe but will be occasions of joyful happy festivals, if they will return to speaking the truth, rendering true and sound judgments in the courts, if they cease to plot evil and swearing falsely. These fasts were not God-ordained fasts but only those to commemorate sad occasions.

When the temple was completed, the people of Israel celebrated with great joy. Shortly afterward, they celebrated the Passover. They did everything according to the Book of Moses.

Ezra 6:21 So the Israelites who had returned from the exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselves from the unclean practices of their Gentile neighbors in order to seek the LORD, the God of Israel.

At this time the Israelites did not conform to the practices of the nations around them, they followed God’s commands in honoring and celebrating His holy days, in the way He commanded. They weren’t eating and drinking and feasting for themselves as pointed out in Zechariah 7:5-6. What lessons can we learn from this?

SEPTEMBER 29

Psalm 78 deserves to be read several times.  It gives a summary of what happened with God's people through the ages.  Life was (and still is) a roller coaster ride with many ups and downs.  How do God's people react to those ups and downs?  How do we today react?  Do we demand things from God?  Do we decide what we want and then ask God to bless it?  Are we always asking for more and more and never satisfied with what we have?  Are we asking of God, "What have you done for me LATELY that's GREATER than what you've done in the past?"

Psalm 78 begins by reminding us of the importance of telling others and teaching our children about the truth of God’s Word. It is through teaching the truth that we develop trust in God. It is through the telling of God's praiseworthy deeds, His power, His wonders, His statutes, and His laws that we are able to remember His deeds and keep His commands. 

Asaph writes in Psalm 78 about all the miracles of God when He brought the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt.  Not only did He display great signs and wonders in front of Pharaoh, He continued with the wonders throughout their journey in the wilderness.  One valuable lesson to be learned (among many, many other lessons) is that sometimes God allows us to have the things we crave only for us to find out that it is harmful to us. The people craved meat, so God gave them meat...so much meat in fact that many of them died because of it.  We should be very careful what we crave!

In relating the plagues on Egypt, Asaph writes about the destroying angels that God sent.  God used these angels to accomplish His purpose and there were restrictions placed on these evil angels. It is very clear that these are not angels from heaven but evil angels, demons allowed to come out and accomplish God's purposes. NIV uses the adjective "destroying" to describe the angels. The Hebrew word is "râ‛âh" and it means "evil".  One of the definitions is "worse than worst".  Make no mistake they were definitely evil angels. 

Much of this psalm recounts some miraculous things that God has done for His people. It also reminds us that…

Psalm 78:32
In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; in spite of his wonders, they did not believe.

Psalm 78:37
their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant.

Psalm 78:56
But they put God to the test and rebelled against the Most High; they did not keep his statutes.

But…in His great mercy…
Psalm 78:38
Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath.

When we lived in the hills of Tennessee, we often took drives through the Smoky Mountains. Periodically there would be a pull-over onto an overlook. We could look down at where we had just been and marvel at the beauty of the  mountains. Psalm 78 reminds us of those times; it’s similar to an overlook. As we read God’s Word, it’s nice to pause and look at where we’ve been and marvel at God’s handiwork. We should be ever mindful to believe His promises, to remember His faithfulness, and to follow His commands and statutes.

SEPTEMBER 30

Psalm 116, 117, 118 are psalms that are often recited by God's people (past and present) during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, most specifically on the day before the Passover (which is called the sacred assembly).

Ponder this:
If Jesus and His disciples recited these same psalms during their sacred assembly (the Last Supper) just prior to Jesus’ arrest, they take on a very deep significant spiritually prophetic meaning. Read Psalm 116 and Psalm 118 in today’s reading in the Chronological Bible as if they truly were recited by Jesus and His disciples that night. Pay particular attention to these passages for the prophetic significance.

Psalm 118:26-27
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.
Sound as if is is the triumphal entry into Jerusalem amid waving of palm branches.  Even the same words were spoken by those gathered in the procession.

Psalm 116:13-15
I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Psalm 116:18-19
I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the LORD-- in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD.
Who was “lifted up” as the cup of salvation?  Who fulfilled His vows? 
None other than Jesus!

Psalm 118:6-7
The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.
Indeed…what can man do to Jesus? Who triumphed over His enemies? Who triumphed over Satan and the grave? 
None other than Jesus!

Psalm 118:16-17
The LORD's right hand is lifted high; the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!" I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.
Who is the Lord’s right hand? 
 None other than Jesus!

Psalm 118:20
This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter.
Who is the gate? 
None other than Jesus!

Psalm 118:22
The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;
Who is the capstone? 
 None other than Jesus!

All this leads us to the following: 

Psalm 118:29
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Who is good? Whose love endures forever? 
None other than Jesus!

INDEED! NONE OTHER THAN JESUS!

OCTOBER 1

Today’s reading just reminds us again of the sovereignty and omnipotence of God.  These psalms relate the blessings, abundance, and prosperity to those who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways. 

Psalm 147:4
He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. 

Isaiah 40:26
Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.

This great God who knows the number of stars and calls them by name, also keeps an accounting of us.

Matthew 10:30
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Just as He brings out the starry host and calls them each by name, He summons us by name

Isaiah 43:1
But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 

Isaiah 45:3
I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.

John 10:3
The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

What an amazing God! He knows our name! He calls us His own! WOW!

One more great thought to ponder...

Psalm 149:4-5
For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation. Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.

One of the definitions of the word bed (in the previous verse) is "bier" or a platform on which a coffin is placed at a funeral. These verses tell us that even on our deathbeds, we can sing for joy because of our salvation.  Praise the Lord!