James 1:1-18

Dear RTB’ers,

The book of James is second only to Acts as my favorite book in all of Scripture. My first thought today was, what to say when James says it so well?

Today in a short section he contrasts poverty and plenty (James 1:9-11), but on both sides of those verses his concern is trials and temptations (James 1:2-4, 12-15). My Study Bible suggested that poverty and plenty are themselves trials – that both poverty and plenty are tests of our faith, as to how we respond to each. I have lived in both, certainly not in extreme poverty, nor in excessive riches, but I have known want and I have had much more than “my share”. So that Study Bible suggestion causes me to think about those times in my life, as to how I responded. Was it a trial when I didn’t have much? How did I respond? Or was I tempted (to “luxurious” living) when I had plenty? Those are good questions; I offer you the same.

Temptation, desire, sin, death (James 1:14-15). Your reactions…? Either to share or simply to reflect…

Blessings.

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See also:

• November 29 (2023) / James 1-5
• July 27 (2021) / James 1:1-27

Malachi 3:7-4:6

Dear RTB’ers,

Today we finish Malachi, closing with more promises from the Lord, judgment upon the arrogant and exaltation for those who fear Him. The word “fear” pops up three times in today’s reading: …those who feared the LORD… twice in Mal. 3:16 and …you who fear My name… in Mal. 4:2. We have noted before that “fear” used in this context is nothing akin to being afraid, but is something closer to respect or adoration even. I would expect that those of us reading Malachi today would fall in that category. And when we gather together later today, we will be acting in the same manner as those faithful Jews, …those who feared the LORD spoke with one another …and esteemed His name. (v. 3:16) Looking forward to that!

Blessings.

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See also: September 18 (2023) / Ezra 4:6-23; Malachi (again).

Malachi 2:10-3:6

Dear RTB’ers,

Yesterday the Lord through Malachi was castigating the priests. Today He takes on the rest of Jerusalem and Judah, railing against their marrying foreign women and being unfaithful to their wives – the same issues that Ezra and Nehemiah were dealing with. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. (v. 2:15b) Good advice!

The second chapter ends with the Jews asking, Where is the God of justice? (v. 2:17b) God answers their question in the next chapter, with its first verse pointing to John the Baptist, and the next few verses pointing to Jesus, the Messiah. He will indeed bring justice: Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear Me, says the LORD of hosts. (v. 3:5) These verses and earlier verses in Malachi and other prophets led the Jews to expect a powerful Messiah who would take down the ruling authorities and establish Jerusalem as the center of His dominion. Instead, they got Jesus, a “Suffering Servant”. Malachi’s prophetic fulfillment is yet to come.

Blessings.

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One more thing… Different translations can indeed be very different. Here are two translations of Malachi 2:16, first in the ESV and the second in the NASB:

For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the LORD, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.

ESV

For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel, “and him who covers his garment with violence,” says the LORD of armies. “So be careful about your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.

NASB

I hate divorce in the NASB stands out much more strongly than the wording in the ESV.

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See also: September 18 (2023) / Ezra 4:6-23; Malachi (again).

Malachi 1:1-2:9

Dear RTB’ers,

Late June and all of July have been post-Exile readings for us. Persian kings had permitted the Jews to return to Jerusalem. These returnees initially built an altar and then, with Haggai’s and Zechariah’s encouragement (speaking for the Lord) built the “Zerubbabel” temple (after a 16-year delay). Then after another sixty to seventy years, Ezra and Nehemiah came from Babylon to teach the people the Law (Ezra) and to govern the people and to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls (Nehemiah). It is likely during this time period of Ezra and Nehemiah that we read Malachi’s prophecies. And Malachi finds that the people had fallen into their old ways, failing to obey the Lord as He had commanded. So his words point to their failings.

Today, it’s the priests that Malachi reprimands. Evidently they are offering blemished food and failing to follow specifics in the Law. The Lord through Malachi even puts words of scorn into their mouths: But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the LORD of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! (v. 1:13a) But the Lord’s judgment will fall upon them: But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. …and so I make you despised and abased before all the people… (vv. 2:8-9a)

Malachi is speaking directly to the Jerusalem priests, but I think that he has a larger message for all of us who teach or lead God’s people: For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. (v. 2:7) In my mind I hear other words written hundreds of years later, Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. (James 3:1) No doubt Rev. Ben and David before him embrace these verses – John and I also as we encourage all of us in our RTB readings. We do not take these words lightly! Nor should you, the …people [who] should seek instruction… We are all in this together!

Blessings.

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See also: September 18 (2023) / Ezra 4:6-23; Malachi.

Zechariah 14

Dear RTB’ers,

Zechariah 14 reads a lot like later chapters in Revelation and Jesus’ end-times prophecies in Matthew 24. …on that day… is mentioned another seven times in today’s reading. Again, it will be a “day” in some future time. When? According to Jesus, But about that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. (Matthew 24:36) But we do know the outcome, …the LORD will be King over all the earth. (v. 9a)

I wonder what his contemporaries thought of Zechariah’s prophecies in chapters 12-14? They had just come out of the Exile. Were they looking for, expecting God to intervene with power and might? After all, He had delivered them from Babylon; they had rebuilt the wall and the temple and were feeling relatively secure (although still subject to Babylon). No doubt they liked what they were hearing, but were they expecting the Lord to act any time soon? Sounds a lot like us today… We know that the End is coming; we just don’t know when. We believe, we pray, and we wait. We wait.

Blessings.

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See also: October 6 (2023) / Zechariah 9-14 (again).

Zechariah 12-13

Dear RTB’ers,

“…on that day…” These words are spoken by the Lord ten times in today’s reading. Except for today’s first verse (Zech. 12:1) the entire reading is the Lord speaking.

A couple of verses today point directly to Jesus. First, 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. (v.12:10) The apostle John saw this verse fulfilled at Jesus’ Crucifixion: For these things took place so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: … “They will look at Him whom they pierced.” (John 19:36a, 37) In addition, Jesus’ mother Mary was at the foot of the cross, no doubt weeping for her firstborn. The second prophetic verse, Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered… (v. 13:7b) is actually quoted by Jesus; He spoke these words at the Last Supper, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’”(Matthew 26:31)

Read today’s passage again, focusing on all that will happen “…on that day…” Not yet fulfilled.

Blessings.

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See also: October 6 (2023) / Zechariah 9-14 (again).

Zechariah 11

Dear RTB’ers,

Without guidance from STS and my Study Bible, I doubt that I would have seen so much of this passage as Messianic. Yes, the thirty pieces of silver (vv. 12b-13) clearly point to Judas’ betrayal of Jesus. But Zechariah, himself is also a type of that “Priest/King” Messiah (vv. 4, 7-13). He was a priest (connect Nehemiah 12:4 [with Iddo listed as one of the priests and Levites] with Zechariah 1:1) who also became Judah’s leader (…king…), and who, like Jesus, was rejected by the local leaders.

Verses 15-16, the Lord raising up foolish shepherds. Whatever our political persuasions, we can go back in history or stay in this 21^st century and see the Lord choosing U.S. presidents for whom I/we did not vote. Trump haters, Biden haters, Obama haters, Bush haters. Who’s next…??!!

Blessings.

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See also: October 6 (2023) / Zechariah 9-14 (again).

Zechariah 9-10

Dear RTB’ers,

Judgment on Israel’s enemies and deliverance for her.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (v. 9:9) Fulfilled by Jesus on Palm Sunday.

On that day the LORD their God will save them, as the flock of His people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on His land. (v. 9:16) …that day. Not yet fulfilled.

Blessings.

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See also: October 6 (2023) / Zechariah 9-14.

Zechariah 8

Dear RTB’ers,

Thus says the LORD of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. Thus says the LORD of hosts: If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my sight, declares the LORD of hosts? (vv. 4-6) I was picturing my older self, staff in hand in Jerusalem, watching those boys and girls playing in the streets. Then I look up from my chair at the campsite and see our grandkids, boys and girls playing around. And I know that each of these children are being raised to seek the Lord – and that makes me happy. Thank you, Lord!

Blessings.

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See also: September 12 (2023) / Zechariah 7-8; Ezra 5:2-6:22; Daniel 6 (again).