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?!

THE LORD SPOKE (September 14)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Ecclesiastes 4-6

You probably won’t have more than one at a time. And you may go through long dry spells when you won’t have even one. But it should be your objective to find that one. Chances are, it will be your mate. In fact, once you have a mate, it will be complicated to have another one of these. A close friend.

Even Jesus had a special friend among many friends. Besides the seventy, he had twelve who were especially close to him. He spent more time and had more intimate contact with three of those twelve but, even then, there was one who was known as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”. We can do no better. It’s okay to have several, even many, friends. But it’s essential to have one special friend upon whom we can lean. By the way, we also need to have someone lean on us too. Both to lean on us for our correction and to lean on us for our support. We need that. It’s as important to give as it is to take in a genuine friendship.

In all probability, that one special friend will be the mate God gives you. In most cases it would be difficult to have a mate and another special friend who is equally close. We’re just not made that way - either to divide our intimate attention between two or to allow our best friend to have another best friend. That’s a contradiction in terms. Best no longer means best if there is more than one object.

One of the main reasons for having a best friend is explained in our reading today:

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord or three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

When one is down, the other can pick him up. Tomorrow, the reverse may be true. One’s strengths compliment those of the other. A genuine friend knows when to talk to you and when to shut up. A genuine friend knows what you need to hear and how to get you to listen, even when you don’t really want to hear it. A genuine friend doesn’t give up on you. Even when you blow up, he keeps on listening. He loves you enough to confront you. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend” (Prov. 27:6, KJV - the NIV says they “can be trusted”).

Take a look at the missionary teams formed in the Book of Acts. Sometimes they’re larger or smaller but they usually include three main components:

• a Paul - the dynamic leader, up front, speaking out, making mistakes, forging ahead
• a Barnabas - the grey-haired counselor, encouraging, calming down, correcting mistakes
• a Timothy - the young disciple, learning by observing, making his own mistakes

Together, they make an unbeatable team. In fact, they rub off on others who do more of the same (II Timothy 2:2). Even 2000 years later.


New Testament: Revelation 20

If something is said once in the Bible, that surely settles it. But if it’s repeated six times, should we not sit up and take notice? So how, pray tell, can an amillennialist look God in the eye and say there’s no such thing as a Millennium?

Nothing could be more clear or more absolute from Revelation 20 than the truth of a 1000-year period during which:

Rev. 20:2 - Satan will be bound
Rev. 20:3 - the nations will be freed from his deceit
Rev. 20:4 - Jesus Christ will reign
Rev. 20:6 - those resurrected beforehand will reign with Him

and after which:

Rev. 20:5 - many other saints will be resurrected
Rev. 20:7 - Satan will be released for a short time (c.f. Rev. 20:3)

So, how can an amillennialist deny that? Only by resorting to a non-literal interpretation. Only by ignoring the prophecies of Isaiah. And Zechariah. And Daniel. And a host of other passages of Scripture. Only by denying the biblical distinction between Israel and the Church. How else can all those prophecies regarding Israel’s future kingdom be ripped out of their context and misapplied to the Church? By spiritualizing, allegorizing, and mythologizing you can make them say anything you want.

But the fact is, they say “one thousand years”. And they say it emphatically.

By the end of the chapter, an awesome crescendo rises before a great white throne. The very earth and sky flee away. Myriads stand before the throne as the Book of Life is opened. The righteous Judge of all creation has the last word. The curse will have run its course and everything is new thereafter. The end of time has come.

When all my labors and trials are o’er,
And I am safe on that beautiful shore,
Just to be near the dear Lord I adore,
Will through the ages be glory for me.

O that will be glory for me,
Glory for me, glory for me,
When by His grace I shall look on His face,
That will be glory, be glory for me.

When, by the gift of His infinite grace,
I am accorded in heaven a place,
Just to be there and to look on His face,
Will through the ages be glory for me.

THE LORD SPOKE (September 11)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Proverbs 26-28

There’s nothing on earth better than a friend. In heaven, yes, but on earth, no. Proverbs gives many examples of what a true friend is, what a friend says, and what a friend does. Just take a look at what today’s reading has to say about friends:

1. He knows how to laugh and how to get you to laugh but he doesn’t joke around when its not appropriate. 26:19-19 - Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
2. He distinguishes between news, prayer requests, advice, and gossip and he withholds the latter. 26:20 - As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
3. He speaks the truth in love. 26:23 - Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.
4. He does not speak falsely to you (not just of you, but to you). 26:28 & 28:33 - A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.... He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor than he who has a flattering tongue.
5. He knows how to hurt you. He doesn’t try to hurt you but he knows just what you need to hear and when you need to hear it. He never hurts you for spite, but he doesn’t withhold it when it is necessary to help you. 27:6 - Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
6. He sees things from a different point of view and is willing to help you with your own blind spots. That’s why they’re called “blind spots” - you don’t see them without help. He’s sincere in offering help. 27:9 - The pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel.
7. He doesn’t forsake you. Sometimes, he’s better than family. 27:10 - Do not forsake your friend.... Better a [friend] nearby than a brother far away.
8. He gives you some space. He’s not forever crowding you - crowding your time, crowding your relationships with others, crowding your conversation, crowding you with responsibilities. 27:14 - If a man loudly blesses his [friend] in the morning it will be taken as a curse.
9. He sharpens you. You come away from time together with a sense of wanting to do better. 27:17 - As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

Do you have a friend like that? To have friends, a man must show himself friendly. So, if you long for all the above, do it yourself to/for others. You’ll soon find that which you need for yourself.


New Testament: Revelation 17

Although this chapter has more embedded interpretations than most, its subject matter is still enigmatic. Even the identification of the harlot is still open. She’s identified clearly as “Babylon the Great” but is that a reference to the city of Babylon on the Euphrates or is it a symbol for Rome?

The reference to “seven hills on which the woman sits” (Rev. 17:9) seems to be a clear connection to Rome since many early writers used that phrase to describe the capital city of the Empire. However, we’re told here that the seven hills are the same as the seven heads of the scarlet beast but they also represent seven kings (Rev. 17:3,9-10).

And, speaking of beasts, three times here it mentions the beast who “once was, now is not, and will come” (Rev. 17:8 [2x], 11). He is called an eighth king who “belongs to the seven”. Are they seven actual rulers, seven political empires (as in Daniel’s visions), or is “seven” a symbol of the power of Rome as a whole?

It’s not an argument to stop trying to decipher and understand the text, but here’s one great comfort to be had: there is a clear distinction between those “whose names have not been written in the book of life” and those who are the Lamb’s “chosen and faithful followers”. The first group will throw in their lot with the Beast who comes up out of the Abyss (Rev. 17:8). Along with the seven kings they will make war with the Lamb. Sounds like a no-brainer. Overwhelming odds against a weakly foe.

But this lamb is Lord of lords and King of kings (Rev. 17:14) and will overcome them all. Overcome and crush! The Beast, the kings, the harlot, and all the “peoples, multitudes, nations and languages” who have followed this evil empire will be brought to nought. Their combined score will be zero.

Give to our God immortal praise;
Mercy and truth are all His ways:
Wonders of grace to God belong,
Repeat His mercies in your song.

Give to the Lord of lords renown,
The King of kings with glory crown:
His mercies ever shall endure,
When lords and kings are known no more.

He sent His Son with power to save
From guilt, and darkness, and the grave
Wonders of grace to God belong,
Repeat His mercies in your song.

Isaac Watts