THE LORD SPOKE (December 27)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Zechariah 1-3

Haggai was a “fire and brimstone” prophet. He thundered at the people’s complacency for four months (Hag. 1:1; 2:1,10) in 520 BC. Like a spent comet, he quickly flamed off the stage of history. Zechariah, on the other hand, was the wizened counselor type of prophet. He ministered as both priest and prophet for over 40 years.

So which prophet was right? Which had the better approach? Which was more effective in his ministry? The answer is, “Both!” We absolutely need both kinds. We need both messages. We need preachers who thunder at us and we need grand-fatherly advise. Both have their place in revealing God’s Word and purposes to us. Both can place us along side God’s standard to see how well we measure up.

Zechariah twice uses the figure of a measuring line at the beginning of his book (Zech. 1:16; 2:1). Picking up on the imagery of Jeremiah (Jer. 31:38-40) in his great prophecy of the New Covenant, Zechariah sees a measuring line stretched over Jerusalem. First the Lord (Zech. 1:16) and then an angel (Zech. 2:1,3) explain to Zechariah that God is taking measure of the city, sizing it up for His blessing. Though there are places where the idea of measuring something serves to show how it falls short, here the picture is of pouring out mercy and blessing and making sure there’s space enough to hold it all.

As Zechariah sees the Jerusalem of his day, recently rebuilt, he is given a greater vision of Jerusalem of the end times. God will “again choose Jerusalem” (Zech. 2:12). This speaks of a yet future time when the city will be inhabited by God’s chosen people and will rise to prominence once again. Has that happened yet?

The Jewish people are returning to the Land and they have claimed Jerusalem as their capital (they’ve never claimed any other!) but the world doesn’t recognize that claim. Official, and nearly universal, opinion is that it should be an international city under U.N. auspices, according to a decision made on November 29, 1947. Never mind that the nations didn’t show up in Jerusalem’s time of distress in either 1948 or 1967. They waited for the outcome of those two wars and then whined when it didn’t go the way they expected. The Jewish people have every right to Jerusalem. Others “have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it” (Neh. 2:20).

Haggai gives us a clue to when this will finally be resolved. “The desired of all nations will come” (Hag. 2:7) to inhabit Jerusalem. Zechariah adds that the Lord “will remove the sin of this land in a single day” (Zech. 3:9). The Temple will be rebuilt and “the glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house” (Hag. 2:9). Messiah’s kingdom will eclipse Solomon’s for He will live among us (Zech. 2:10-12). Emmanuel!


Proverbs 27

What price for a friend? One who sticks closer than a brother is a priceless treasure. He can be trusted because he’ll tell you the truth in love (Prov. 27:6). Or, as Solomon says it a few verses later, “the pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel” (Prov. 27:9).

Where do you find such a friend? Don’t you wish there was some kind of store or on-line site where you could shop for one? But how could you afford it? No, they don’t come that way. To find a friend, you have to be a friend (Prov. 18:24, KJV - the NIV opted for a very different reading here!). That involves the following:

• stop boasting about yourself (Prov. 27:1-2)
• cut out the provocation (Prov. 27:3)
• curb your anger (Prov. 27:4a)
• deal with your jealousy (Prov. 27:4b)

Then work on some positive character traits that foster friendship:

• openness and transparency (Prov. 27:5)
• honesty and trustworthiness (Prov. 27:6)
• truth and sincerity (Prov. 27:9)
• loyalty and devotedness (Prov. 27:10)

And, here are some activities that Solomon recommends for setting a friendship in stone:

• help him look further down the road (Prov. 27:12)
• stand by him in need but help him stand on his own (Prov. 27:13)
• give him some space (Prov. 27:14)
• don’t harp on things (Prov. 27:15)

Solomon sums it up with these words:

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Prov. 27:17)

Aren’t you glad God made us that way?!