THE LORD SPOKE (December 29)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Zechariah 8-10

The Lord promises to bless Jerusalem. There was an immediate promise for Zechariah’s day (fulfilled) but this passage builds to fantastic heights by the end of the book (still unfulfilled).

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I am very jealous for Zion;
I am burning with jealousy for her.”
This is what the Lord says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem.
Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth,
and the mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.”
(Zechariah 8:2-3)

It seemed marvelous at that time (Zech. 8:4-6). It seems marvelous today when you walk the streets of Jerusalem and see what God has done in our day with regard to the return of the Jewish people to the city of Jerusalem. Once again “men and women of ripe old age sit in the streets of Jerusalem with cane in hand” and “the city streets are filled with boys and girls playing there”. Why should it seem marvelous in our eyes if God is in it?

But you ain’t seen nutin’ yet. The King is coming! We had a glimpse of it in His triumphal entry (Zech. 9:9; Mat. 21:5; Jn. 12:15) but there is a dispensational gap in Zechariah 9:10. Only part of the prophecies about Messiah were fulfilled in His first advent. He will yet return to “proclaim peace to the nations”. In His second advent, “His rule will extend from sea to sea”. “Then the Lord will appear over them” (Zech. 9:14).

Here are the basic elements of Old Testament biblical theology once again:

PEOPLE - Zech. 10:6 - “the house of Judah...the house of Joseph”
PROMISE - Zech. 10:6 - “I will strengthen...I will restore...I will answer them”
PRESERVATION - Zech. 10:8 - “I will redeem them”
POSSESSION - Zech. 10:9 - “they will return”
PRINCE - Zech. 9:9 - “your king comes to you” (quoted as messianic in Mat. 21:5 and Jn. 12:15)


Proverbs 29

“Vent your rage!” So say some psychology books. But not the Bible. One who does so is termed a “fool” and unworthy of trust.

A fool gives full vent to his anger,
But a wise man keeps himself under control. (Prov. 29:11)

A fool shows his annoyance at once,
But a prudent man overlooks an insult. (Prov. 12:16)

A fool is “hot-headed and reckless” (Prov. 14:16) and “a quick-tempered man does foolish things” (Prov. 14:17). For this reason he “stirs up dissension” (Prov. 15:18) and “commits many sins” (Prov. 29:22). We are instructed:

Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man,
Do not associate with one easily angered,
Or you may learn his ways
And get yourself ensnared. (Prov. 22:24-25)

Is the only alternative to venting your rage, holding it in? Not at all! It needs to be dealt with properly and that is by obtaining a calm spirit from the Lord. By submitting to Him in our thoughts and emotions, we can overcome our tendency to be hot-headed, quick-tempered, and short-fused. Listen to the collected wisdom of Scripture on this:

• Ephesians 4:31-32 - Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
• Psalm 37:8 - Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret - it leads only to evil.
• Proverbs 19:11 - A man’s wisdom give him patience. It is to his glory to overlook an offense.
• Colossians 3:5,8 - Put to death therefore whatever belongs to your earthly nature.... Rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Now do it!