TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 1:15-29
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. - Colossians 1:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
When a legal document was drawn up in ancient Greece, such as a receipt or an IOU, it always included a description of the chief characteristics and distinguishing marks of the two parties involved. This helped in future identification. The Greek word for such a description is eikon, which is the same word Paul used to describe Christ as “the image of the invisible God.”

Sadly, modern-day cults are not the first assaults on the orthodox, true teaching of the gospel. A heresy in the early church called Gnosticism taught that all matter was evil and only spirit was good. Therefore, the Gnostics concluded that since God was good, God could not become man, nor could He be the agent of creation of matter. This heresy flatly contradicted both the Old Testament teaching about God, as we read in Genesis, and the accounts of Jesus’ birth, life, and death in the Gospels. Some cults today still teach a variation on this ancient heresy.

As we’ve seen, if Jesus were not both God and man, His atonement would not be possible. He had to die, and in order to die He had to be a man.

In Colossians 1 we see affirmation that Jesus is God and man. “For by him all things were created” (v. 16) brings us full circle to December 1 and our discussion of Creation. When Paul said, “He is before all things” (v. 17), he showed that Christ has no beginning. Jesus was there when God created the earth (John 1:1).

Then Paul reminds us that Jesus was also fully human; His physical body died so that we can be reconciled to God (v. 22). Because of the blood Jesus shed on the cross, we are forgiven of our sins. Our race and nationality don’t matter, nor do our social and economic standing. God’s love and mercy are available to all of us who accept Jesus as our Savior.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Colossians 1:21–23 sums up the heart of the gospel: we were alienated from God because of our sin, but Christ died and rose again to present us holy before God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 1:1-14
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. - Hebrews 1:3a
TODAY IN THE WORD
The writer of Hebrews was probably trained in Greek oratory because Hebrews contains some of the most beautiful language in the Bible, especially when read in Greek. The message points out the great truth that we need no person or supernatural being as a go-between to reach the presence of God. Jesus Christ has opened a direct door for us to the Father.

The writer of Hebrews directed the epistle to Jewish believers, although its teachings are for believers everywhere and across all time spans. He began with acknowledging the role of the Jewish prophets, “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets” (v. 1). As we saw, prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah, and Malachi spoke for God and were able to speak of future events that would occur. Yet, once Jesus came to earth, this changed. We now have direct access to God through His Son, Jesus Christ, who is superior to all the Old Testament prophets. Jesus fulfills the Old Testament prophecy, and He Himself gives God’s final word to believers.

Jesus is also superior to the angels. This was an important concept for the writer of Hebrews to get across because the Jews were familiar with angels and thought of them as being next to the throne of God. They had read in the Scriptures of the appearance of angels to many of God’s people, and some people even seemed to ascribe worship to angels. The writer made the point of Christ’s elevated position by saying, “When God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, 'Let all God’s angels worship him’ ” (v. 6).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Many of the Psalms give us wonderful pictures of Jesus. Spend time this week reading the Psalms, particularly concentrating on the texts quoted by the writer of Hebrews in today’s reading. These texts include Psalm 2:7, Psalm 45:6–8, Psalm 97:7, Psalm 102:26–27, Psalm 104:4, and Psalm 110:1. What new insights regarding Jesus have you gained by studying the Psalms? What comfort do you gain from them?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 John 1:1-10
But if we walk in the light . . . the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. - 1 John 1:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the movie Saving Private Ryan, the military discovered that Private Ryan’s mother had already lost three of her four sons in combat during World War II. Captain John Miller was ordered to go behind enemy lines to find her fourth son, Private Ryan, and bring him home. The mission was accomplished, but it cost many lives, including the captain’s.

In the closing scenes, many years later, Ryan took his entire family to France where Captain Miller was buried. Standing over his grave, Ryan said, “I tried to live my life the best I could. I hope that in your eyes I’ve earned what all of you sacrificed for me.”

Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice for us by dying on the cross. It is a free gift. However, if we confess our sins and acknowledge Jesus as our personal Savior, we will want to live our lives in a manner that makes His sacrifice worthwhile. The book of 1 John gives us practical instruction on living lives that please God and give evidence of our salvation.

The opening verses of this chapter echo the beginning of Genesis 1 and John 1. Again Jesus is identified as the Word (1 John 1:1). And He is said to be from the beginning–referencing His deity–and also someone who can be heard, seen, and touched–referencing His humanity.

John is concerned with the fellowship of believers, both with each other and with God (v. 3). The way we can achieve fellowship with God is by walking in the light, and “God is light” (v. 5). There is no darkness in Him. His light reveals our flaws, so that we are made aware of them and may ask for forgiveness. He is a guiding light for the road we travel.

John specifically stated, “If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth” (v. 6). Here is one evidence of a life redeemed by Christ: we do not stay in the darkness of sin.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Think of someone who has been a friend or mentor to you. Although that person probably didn’t sacrifice his or her life for you, that individual did sacrifice precious time, energy, and care.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 John 4:1-21
If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. - 1 John 4:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
It has now been five days since Christmas. Is there any trace of the festivities at your home? For many children, their new toys sit abandoned as they’ve already grown tired of their new things. Many adults feel the same way, realizing that all their new goodies don’t bring them happiness. Holiday fatigue sets in as they wonder what all the fuss was about anyway.

First John 4:9 tells us what “all the fuss” is about, and it doesn’t just impact what we do on December 25. “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.”

On Christmas we celebrated the first part--God sending His Son into the world. Now we need to celebrate the second part--living through Him. This is something we do every day of the year. God showed His love for us by sending Jesus into the world to be born, to suffer, and to die. “He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (v. 10).

John says repeatedly that “God is love” (v. 8, 16), and we are advised to “love one another” (v. 11). The love mentioned here is not eros or sexual love; it is agape or supernatural love. It is impossible for us to love God without showing love for others. We do this by the way we esteem, respect, and honor those around us.

The Holy Spirit can place the love of God in our hearts so that we are capable of extending this love to others. In this way, people can see Christ’s love through our actions. No one has seen God, but when the invisible God reveals Himself to others through us, “His love is made complete in us” (v. 12).

Yesterday we discussed how 1 John gives practical ways to demonstrate our faith. Loving others is one critically important way that we give evidence of the work of Jesus in our lives.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Despite the promises given by John, almost everyone has felt fearful sometime in life.

Think of one of those times when you were afraid. How did you react? How can this passage provide comfort during a future traumatic time?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 19:6-21
Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! - Revelation 19:6b–7a
TODAY IN THE WORD
When a baby is born, the parents often wonder what sort of person this little one will grow up to be. What dreams will he chase? What subjects will interest her? Whom will he marry?

The Christmas story doesn’t end with the birth of a baby. It doesn’t even end with the death and resurrection of Jesus. The end of the story will be the end of history, when Jesus returns to fulfill all that God has promised. He will rule forever and ever.

Today’s passage in Revelation declares important events foretold by the prophets. This is the culmination of human history. The event portrayed by John here is the second coming of Jesus Christ to earth as a warrior to establish His kingdom.

Christ, the Head of the Church, is riding on a white horse (v. 11) symbolizing victory. In His Second Coming, Jesus appears not as a Lamb to be sacrificed, but as a Conqueror and King to execute judgment. He wears many crowns (v. 12), because He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

“He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood” (v. 13). This blood is thought to be that of his enemies. Yet, there really is no battle because the victory was won when Jesus’ blood was shed at Calvary. When He died on the Cross, conquering death, and rose again, He redeemed us from our sins.

When John called Christ “the Word of God” (v. 13), he meant that everything that God has said, threatened, and promised has come true in Him. The sharp sword that comes out of His mouth is His Word. With it all enemies of God are forever vanquished.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Tomorrow begins a new year. However you may feel about making resolutions, here is one goal that should be on all of our hearts: to know Christ more.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Judges 13:1-25
You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. - Luke 1:31
TODAY IN THE WORD
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately six million couples suffer from infertility in the United States. Experts estimate that one particular type of infertility treatment is attempted nearly 100,000 times per year at a cost of $12,400 per treatment. Adoption, both domestic and international, can cost between $5,000 to upwards of $30,000. For many couples, these costs are worth it for the opportunity to have children.

In the Old Testament, the inability to have children was usually interpreted as God withholding blessing. As we enter another of the cycles in the book of Judges, the Lord appears to just such a couple with tremendous news.

The first thing we should notice is what's not in the story. Israel sins again, God allows the Philistines to oppress them again . . . but this time there is no record that the Israelites cried out for relief. In fact, as we'll see later, Israel seems rather content with their status as Philistine servants (see 15:11). Yet God still provides a deliverer for His people. Although we'll learn much about Samson, we should pay attention to what we learn about God.

The announcement to Manoah's wife by the angel should sound familiar to us; it anticipates the announcements made to Joseph and Mary about the birth of Jesus. A son will be born, he will be dedicated to God, and he will deliver his people. There's a critical difference: Samson will only begin the deliverance from the Philistines (v. 5), but Jesus completely delivers His people from sin (Matt. 1:21). Samson, with all his strength and accomplishment, highlights our need for a Savior who can fully accomplish our freedom from bondage to sin.

We also see an example of Judges' attention to women. Manoah, in understandable terror at the realization that they've been chatting with the Lord, declared that they would die. His wife provided the voice of calm and joy and faith (v. 23).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As we become prayerful readers of Scripture, we see how chapter after chapter points us to Jesus. We should not focus on the dramatic characters of these exciting tales to the exclusion of what God wants to tell us about Himself and His Son. To explore this in more depth, a helpful book is Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament by Christopher J. H. Wright (published by InterVarsity). You can order this book online or ask for it at your local Christian bookstore.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Zephaniah 1:1
The word of the Lord that came to Zephaniah. - Zephaniah 1:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Let’s start the year 2003 right: by fixing our eyes on Jesus Christ. But don’t just begin this way–keep your eyes on Him throughout the year with Today in the Word.

“Let Us Fix Our Eyes on Jesus” will be the running theme throughout this year of devotionals. Topics to come include “Images of Christ in Revelation,” the Sermon on the Mount, and ? Corinthians: The Church of Jesus.” But Christ isn’t found only in the New Testament, and that’s why we’re beginning the year with Zephaniah and Zechariah. As we study these prophets’ messages in their historical contexts, we’ll see that God had been promising a Savior all along. Long before the manger in Bethlehem, His people were eagerly awaiting and rejoicing in His coming and His redemption.

Zephaniah, whose name means “the Lord protects” or “the Lord treasures,” was of royal birth, since the genealogy in verse 1 lists him as the great-great-grandson of King Hezekiah. He prophesied during the reign of King Josiah (see 2 Kings 22–23; 2 Chron. 34-35). Josiah was the last godly king who reigned prior to the conquest and exile of Judah.

As nobility, Zephaniah probably lived in Jerusalem, moving among and ministering to powerful people in the king’s court. He worked contemporaneously with Jeremiah, Nahum, and perhaps Habakkuk.

Based on the genealogy, Zephaniah was probably only in his 20s when he began to prophesy in about 625 b.c. He started his ministry early in Josiah’s reign, when the effects of the king’s evil predecessor still dominated the religious life of Judah. In 621 b.c., priests working to restore the Temple found a copy of the Law, which sparked a national revival. In fact, it’s likely that Zephaniah’s preaching also helped bring about this revival.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Set the tone for the 2003 Today in the Word running theme?read Simply Jesus, by Moody President Dr. Joseph M. Stowell (Multnomah, 2002). Relatively short and easy to follow, this small book can help you rekindle your first love and fix your eyes on Jesus.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Zephaniah 1:2-13
Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near. - Zephaniah 1:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
One day, Jesus warned His listeners against greed and told this parable: The lands of a certain rich man produced a fruitful harvest. He decided to build new and bigger barns to hold his growing wealth, and felt secure in his prosperity--with so much in the storehouses, his worries were over. He said to himself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry.”

But because of his complacency and self-centeredness, God’s judgment fell on that man that very night. Jesus concluded: “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:13-21).

Today’s reading also describes God’s judgment on sin, especially as it will take place on the Day of the Lord (vv. 2-3, 7). Verses 2–3 overview His judgment at the end of history, and this serves as a preview to what will happen to Judah in the near future. In the metaphor in verse 7, Judah is the sacrificial victim, while the invited guests are the armies of Babylon. God will “consecrate” this pagan nation to accomplish His plan.

The pictures here promise the total destruction of evil. Not a single trace of wickedness will be allowed to remain–it will all be swept away, cut off, and punished. This is definitely a zero tolerance policy! If it seems harsh, remember that God is utterly holy, yet has shown remarkable patience through-out history.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As you ponder the perfection of God’s judgment today, seek out applicable cross-references from other locations in Scripture. Find and jot down at least five cross-references that boost your understanding of His holiness, justice, or judgment. What main truths does the Word of God communicate to us?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Zephaniah 1:14-2:3
Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. - Zephaniah 2:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
Early in the 20th century, the city of St. Pierre, on the island of Martinique in the Caribbean, was known as the “Paris of the West Indies.” But it all came to a crashing halt on the morning of May 8, 1902.

On that morning, a volcano named Mount Pelée erupted, sending hot ash, toxic gases, and magma down the mountainside at terrific speeds. Within minutes, the entire city had been destroyed, and 30,000 people had been killed. St. Pierre has never been completely rebuilt, and today only a fraction of the previous population currently lives there.

As deadly a disaster as this volcanic eruption was, it’s nothing compared to what will happen on the Day of the Lord. In the Old Testament, the phrase “day of the Lord” is often associated with divine judgments. In Zephaniah, God’s judgments in both the immediate and distant futures are linked as parts of His unified plan for history. “The great day of the Lord is near–near and coming quickly,” the prophet proclaimed (1:14).

The description of this “day” in today’s reading is poetically miserable. It will be filled with bitterness, anguish, ruin, and fire. Why will it occur? Because of sin (1:17). God’s justice and power will completely purge and purify the land of evil. Since He is the one true Lord, His “jealousy”–that is, His wrath against those who worship false gods–is totally legitimate and His punishment appropriate, no matter how extreme it sounds (1:18).

If the cause of judgment is sin, then the fitting response to Zephaniah’s warnings is repentance. He exhorted the people to seek the Lord, humble themselves, and pursue obedience (2:3). To repent means to turn away from sin toward righteousness. As commentator Matthew Henry said, Zephaniah’s purpose was “not to frighten them out of their wits, but to frighten them out of their sins.” And apparently he succeeded, since Josiah’s reforms delayed the short-term fulfillment of this prophecy (2 Chron. 34:27-28).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In today’s passage, Zephaniah urged sinners to repent before it was too late. That same message still applies today! Have you repented of your sins and asked God to give you the gift of eternal life, found only in Jesus Christ? This is a choice between life and death. If you haven’t yet chosen life, listen to the apostle Peter: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19). You can have the assurance of everlasting life in the presence of God!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Zephaniah 2:4-15
Then men will say, “Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.” - Psalm 58:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
The Day of the Lord will find unbelievers unprepared and insecure, even if they live in San Jose, California.

Following the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001, San Jose gained national recognition as the American city best prepared for terrorist threats, including nuclear, biological, and chemical assaults. The city has prepared its emergency personnel, stockpiled antibiotics and other medical supplies, and trained a thousand ordinary citizens in civil defense. “National defense is local defense,” said one leader.

On the Day of the Lord, it will be not physical preparedness but spiritual preparedness that determines life and death. Those who stand in their own strength will fall.

Today’s reading gives more images of judgment, this time specific judgments on the Gentile nations surrounding Israel. Their cities will be abandoned, ruined, uprooted, and destroyed. Once-bustling places will become open fields or wastelands; they will share the destiny of Sodom and Gomorrah. As with those two cities, and as we’ve already seen in Zephaniah, the cause of judgment was sin. All of these nations were guilty of disrespect for God’s people, aggression toward them, pride, and idolatry (plus influencing Israel toward idolatry).

Through judgment, God will demonstrate His superiority to all idols, and will receive His rightful worship (v. 11). One hint that the worship will be universal is found in the fact that the passage moves geographically, from west (Philistia) to east (Moab and Ammon) to south (Cush/Ethiopia) to north (Assyria usually attacked from this direction). He is the God and Judge of all the earth, not just of one region or nation!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today, we suggest that you examine your heart for the kind of self-exalting pride for which Assyria was condemned in Scripture (v. 15). Do you base your security on your own abilities or success? Do your words and actions show arrogance? Have you put yourself at the center of your own universe? Does God have a minimal impact on your priorities and decisions?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Zephaniah 3:1-8
The Lord within her is righteous; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice. - Zephaniah 3:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
Pilgrim William Bradford recounted the story of a sailor on board the Mayflower: He was “proud and very profane,” and often ridiculed the colonists about their seasickness. He even went so far as to say he hoped to bury half of them at sea, then to “make merry with what they had.” He swore at those who reproved him.

“But it pleased God before they came half seas over, to smite this young man with a grievous disease, of which he died in a desperate manner, and so was himself the first that was thrown overboard. Thus his curses [fell] on his own head, and it was an astonishment to all his fellows for they noted it to be the just hand of God upon him.”

In today’s reading, the justice of God is contrasted to the corruption of Jerusalem. In Zephaniah, we’ve moved from judgment in general to judgment on Gentile nations to judgment on Judah. Wickedness is wickedness wherever and whenever it’s found, and God responds to it in the same way, no exceptions.

What were Jerusalem’s sins? Oppression, tyranny, rebelliousness toward God, pride, idolatry, and a general lack of faith. The people didn’t draw near to their God (vv. 1–2). The leaders in particular were targeted for condemnation for their role in leading the nation astray (vv. 3–4).

Given their behavior, did Judah really think they could escape the same fate as the other sinful nations? The northern kingdom of Israel had already been taken into captivity by Assyria, and Zephaniah had proclaimed the doom of their Gentile neighbors. After these historical and prophetic warnings, one would think that they would be anxious to repent, but in fact “they were still eager to act corruptly in all they did” (v. 7).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One way that you can respond to today’s Scripture is by planning a special worship time for yourself, your family, or your small group. Let the theme of the hymns and songs you choose be the holiness and justice of God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Zephaniah 3:9-13
Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder. - Zephaniah 3:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
The perspective of the biblical prophets has often been compared to a person looking at a distant mountain range. From his perspective, the majestic peaks soar upward, one after the other in quick succession. The mountains appear quite close to one another. In fact, though, there may be plains and valleys between them that aren’t visible from his perspective.

The prophets spoke of “mountain peak” events, and from their point of view, these events appeared quite close to one another. In fact, though, there are intervening times during which God is continuing to work out more hidden dimensions of His plan.

One implication of this is that sometimes a prophet foretold events as if they would happen at nearly the same time. But one part of the event might have happened a long time ago, while another part is still future--for example, the First and Second Comings of Christ. These are interpretive differences that we’ll often find while studying Zephaniah and Zechariah.

In today’s reading, for example, God promised to purify and redeem His people, and this prophecy has both near and distant time implications. In the near future, He would bless a remnant who would return from the Exile to their homeland. But the entire prophecy wasn’t fulfilled at that time, and so in part it also refers to the future reign of Christ over all the world. What did God promise to do? To purify the people from sin--to completely remove it from Jerusalem. Pride will not be found in God’s domain, as haughty people will already have been judged and expelled. The meek will inherit the earth (v. 12; cf. Matt. 5:5).

God will enable His people to worship and serve Him as they ought. Their righteous actions will reflect His character--they’ll do no wrong, just as He does no wrong (vv. 5, 13). And since He Himself will dwell with them, they’ll live in perfect security (cf. Micah 4:1–4).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Only the meek and humble, not the proud, will be allowed to live in the city of God (vv. 11–12). Humility and faith are inseparable. A true sense of God and a true sense of self go hand-in-hand.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Zephaniah 3:14-20
He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. - Zephaniah 3:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
Ethelda Bleibtrey, the first woman ever to win a gold medal for the United States in the Olympics, was quite an unlikely hero.

Affected by polio as a child, Bleibtrey took up swimming to help her overcome the effects of her illness. By the time women’s swimming was added to the 1920 Olympic program, she held the world record in the 100-yard backstroke. Unfortunately, only three events were scheduled, and her specialty wasn’t one of them. She entered the races anyway--and won three gold medals! In fact, she won every race in which she swam between 1920 and 1922.

Victory brings gladness and joy. On the Day of the Lord, God’s triumph will spur praise from His people. Today’s verses are actually the second and third stanzas of a prophetic oracle begun in yesterday’s reading. Now that we understand that the Day of the Lord is a day of redemption (not only wrath or judgment), the natural conclusion to the book of Zephaniah is praise.

In fact, praise is the primary responsibility of God’s people. When God does what He has promised for Israel, they are to sing, be glad, rejoice, and fearlessly trust in Him. The same principle holds true for us--when God does what He promises, we praise His name and trust Him to guarantee the future.

In an immediate sense, we see in Scripture how some of these words were fulfilled when God brought a remnant back from Exile. In a future sense, we know He’ll still keep these promises to Israel during the glorious reign of Christ. Since the prophecy and encouragement flows from God’s character, all believers can rejoice in these words of hope.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you wish, do additional Bible study today or sometime soon on the phrase “the day of the Lord.” Where else does it appear in Scripture? In what contexts? What meanings are associated with this phrase and what events take place on this day? How might this concept affect your daily spiritual life?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Zechariah 1:1
The word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah. - Zechariah 1:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
As we begin to study the book of Zecha-riah, we’ve moved forward about 100 years in time. Since Zephaniah’s day, Judah had been conquered and exiled to Babylon. Later, the Jews had been given permission to return to their homeland; a relatively small group had done so in 538 b.c. under the leadership of Zerubbabel, the governor, and Joshua, the high priest.

Zechariah’s family had been among those who returned (his grandfather Iddo is listed in Neh. 12:4). The prophet began his ministry in 520 b.c., during the reign of King Darius of Persia, proclaiming the word of the Lord to these repatriated Jews, a community numbering about 50,000 people. It’s known that Zechariah was a priest, and tradition says he was also a member of the “Great Synagogue,” a ruling council of the day. His name means “the Lord remembers,” evoking God’s covenant faithfulness (cf. Ps. 86:15).

Zechariah’s immediate purpose was to rebuke, encourage, and motivate the people to rebuild the Temple, which had been destroyed during the conquest. His book is highly literary in nature, and conveys a strong Messianic theology. In fact, Zechariah has more to say about the Messiah than any other book except Isaiah, and the New Testament cites or alludes to the book of Zechariah over 40 times. Some of his prophecies have already been fulfilled in or near the first coming of Christ, while others await the end times, which means that the book also has an eschatological or apocalyptic flavor. In addition, we’ll find here the same “mountain peak” hermeneutical challenge as we did in Zephaniah--to the prophet, various future events looked close together, while from our perspective in time, some are past and some are future.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
More often than usual, this month we’ll be suggesting supplementary Bible passages for your reading or study. We want you to see how the images and themes of Zephaniah and Zechariah connect with images and themes elsewhere in Scripture.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Zechariah 1:2-6
If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me. - Jeremiah 15:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
The Book of Common Prayer begins a time of confession with these words: “Here in the presence of Almighty God, I kneel in silence, and with penitent and obedient heart confess my sins, so that I may obtain forgiveness by your infinite goodness and mercy. Amen.”

In a similar spirit, the great hymn “Just As I Am” admits: “Just as I am, without one plea, / But that Thy blood was shed for me / And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee. / O Lamb of God, I come! I come! / Just as I am, and waiting not / To rid my soul of one dark blot. / To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot, / O Lamb of God, I come! I come!”

Repentance, as Zechariah also made clear in today’s reading, is a matter of life and death (cf. Deut. 30:11–20). These early verses set the tone and summarize the point of what follows: learn from history, repent and do right, and blessing will follow.

What was the history? Disobedience, rebellion, and idolatry, as we’ve seen already in the message of Zephaniah. God was faithful to send prophets to warn them, but the nation had refused to listen. Their sin had brought on His anger and the punishment of the Exile. “Where is that generation now?” Zechariah asked rhetorically (v. 5). The Hebrew verb overtake is a hunting term--the Word had pursued and caught them (v. 6). Had they really thought they could escape God’s decrees?

To the remnant who had returned to Palestine, God now said, “Return to me . . . and I will return to you” (v. 3). Is His love then conditional? No, but His blessings are. Conditional upon what? Repentance and obedience (cf. Jer. 18:7–10). To return to the Lord, the people must turn from their evil ways and pursue righteousness. Such repentance also involved acknowl-edging the justice of God; that is, admitting that He was right to do as He had done to them.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Why not answer today’s call to repentance in your own prayer time?