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.

Fred

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).

Zechariah 7

Dear RTB’ers,

Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart. (vv. 9b-10) Suppose we just leave it at showing kindness and mercy and not devising evil. Shouldn’t be that difficult, right?

Then again, maybe we should pray for ICE to back off a bit on those who are lawfully here. And as to rendering true judgments, I really need to rethink how I’m judging others. Turns out there’s a lot there in those four commands from the Lord! What does your day look like today, folks?

Blessings.

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

Zechariah 5-6

Dear RTB’ers,

Zechariah’s final three visions. The first, a flying scroll with curses against those who steal and swear falsely. I doubt that these violations of two of the Ten Commandments were meant to signify that these two sins were worse than any other. It always seemed to me that honoring false gods was the worst. Certainly it was the first.

The second vision, “Wickedness” in a basket. Would that our own wickedness could be transferred so quickly away to another land!! Today’s third vision, the chariots and horses – Zechariah looking ahead to the book of Revelation?

Finally, we close today with another anointing, this time a crown upon the high priest, Joshua’s head. So we have a high priest being crowned. Again, that sounds like Jesus, our King and eternal High Priest. Joshua is asked to take the lead in the building of the temple. Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD. (v. 6:12b) But he will not be alone: And those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the LORD. (v. 6:15a) More exiles returning from Babylon…?? Five verses earlier we see exiles returning from Babylon with silver and gold. Perhaps a whole cadre of people, now ready and willing to undertake the work that Haggai and Zechariah are speaking out for. And, as we’ve read earlier, that work was completed in another four years. As with the wall in Nehemiah’s time, …the people had a mind to work. (Nehemiah 4:6)

Blessings.

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See also: September 11 (2023) / Zechariah 1-6.

Zechariah 3-4

Dear RTB’ers,

Seven lamps (the Holy Spirit?) and two olive trees, presumably.

Joshua, the high priest, and Zerubbabel, grandson of King Jehoiachin (Jeconiah), thus a descendant in the royal line of David. Together they both portray Jesus, our once-sacrificed High Priest and now King of all of heaven and earth.

A very famous verse: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. (v. 4:6b) If ever any of us were to embrace one verse to live by, choosing from all of Scripture, this might be a good one to consider!

Blessings.

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See also: September 11 (2023) / Zechariah 1-6 (again).

Zechariah 1-2

Dear RTB’ers,

Today, Zechariah and four of his eight visions. Visions are always hard to interpret, especially for those of us living more than two millennia later. Thankfully, with each vision a partial interpretation is given, although still unclear to us – and maybe to Zechariah’s contemporaries? For example, in today’s first chapter we see four horns (Zech. 1:18-19) and four craftsmen (Zech. 1:20-21). We are told that the horns represent Judah’s enemies and that the craftsmen are nations that will defeat those enemies. But we still don’t know exactly who the horns and the craftsmen represent. One set of possibilities from my Study Bible… The horns represent Assyria, Egypt, Babylonia, and Medo-Persia, while the craftsmen are Egypt, Babylonia, Persia and Greece. Again, one set of possibilities…

Finally, today’s final verse suggests more visions that will have positive outcomes for Israel, Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for He has roused himself from His holy dwelling. (v. 2:13) Stay tuned…!!

Blessings.

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See also: September 11 (2023)/ Zechariah 1-6.