OUR FATHER WHO ADVISES US NOT TO DESPISE THE DAY OF SMALL BEGINNINGS

In the book of Zachariah chapter 4, the prophet Zachariah describes his experience of a vision and he recorded his conversation with the Angel of the Lord as he sought to understand the meaning of the vision.

1 Now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” So I said, “I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. 3 Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.” 4 So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?”

The Angel of the Lord who had interacted with Zachariah upon his arrival in the spiritual realm stirred him from a trance and inquired as to what he saw in his vision.  Zacharia explained that he saw a lampstand with a reservoir elevated above seven oil lamps with pipes running from the reservoir to each lamp. This arrangement would allow oil in the central bowl to flow continously to the lamps to keep them perpetually burning as long they were connected to the reservoir. Zacharia also said that on either side of this lampstand, he saw two olive trees which dripped golden oil into a receptacle.

Zacharia, unable to decrypt the vision, asked the Lord for guidance on what the vision signified. Curiously, the Angel of the Lord seemed surprised that Zacharia was not able to make the connection between the items in the vision and the historic events they represented.

5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

The Angel of the Lord then explained to Zacharia what the symbolic arrangement of the lampstand with seven lamps and the two olive trees stood for.

6 So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:

‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.

7 ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!

And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” ’ ”

8 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

9 “The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you.

10 For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see

The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord,

Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.”

The angel revealed to Zachariah that the lampstand with seven lamps was the word of the Lord of hosts given to Zerubbabel which told him that it was neither by might nor power that was needed to lay the foundation of the temple but rather by the Spirit of God. 

Zerubbabel, powered by the Spirit of God, would level a mountainsto become a plain upon which the temple would be built and finally completed with a capstone. This temple being built by Zerubbabel represents the spiritual temple that is constructed with each person who is saved. Each individual being built may seem like a small thing but in the end will cause God to rejoice when His eyes scan to and fro across all the land and finds those who are aligned to the plumbline of the builder.

11 Then I answered and said to him, “What are these two olive trees—at the right of the lampstand and at its left?” 12 And I further answered and said to him, “What are these two olive branches that drip into the receptacles of the two gold pipes from which the golden oil drains?”

After the explanation of the lampstand with seven lamps, Zacharia asked what the olive trees on either side of the lampstands represented and the Angel of the Lord answered that the olive trees that were dripping golden oil into the receptacle through two gold pipes were the two annointed beings that stand on either side of the Lord of the whole earth. 

13 Then he answered me and said, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

14 So he said, “These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.”

These two annointed beings are likely the cherubim who are depicted in Psalm 99 verse one which says;

The Lord reigns,

    let the nations tremble;

he sits enthroned between the cherubim,

    let the earth shake.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO GAVE THE SIGN OF THE CORNER STONE TO THE PRIESTS

The passage from Zacharia chapter 3 verses 6 - 10  decribes what happened after Joshua the priest was given clean garments and a clean turban. 

6 Then the Angel of the Lord admonished Joshua, saying, 7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts:

‘If you will walk in My ways, And if you will keep My command,

Then you shall also judge My house, And likewise have charge of My courts;

I will give you places to walk Among these who stand here.

The  Lord of hosts addresses Joshua the priest and counsels him to walk in the ways of the Lord and keep His commands for doing so would qualify him to be a judge in Godˋs house and have responsibilities in the courts. The Lord told Joshua that he would be given roles to play among those who were already serving in heaven.

8 ‘Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, You and your companions who sit before you,

For they are a wondrous sign; For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH.

9 For behold, the stone That I have laid before Joshua: Upon the stone are seven eyes.

Behold, I will engrave its inscription,’Says the Lord of hosts, ‘And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

10 In that day,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘Everyone will invite his neighbor

Under his vine and under his fig tree.’ ”

The Lord of hosts, addressing Joshua by his title of high priest, tells him that there would a wonderous sign given to the lineage of priests who would continue to sustain the office of the priest and that would be sign of ˋthe BRANCHˋ who would come as a servant.

The prophet Zacharia writes that there was a stone that would be laid before Joshua the priest which would have seven eyes. This alludes to the chief corner stone who is the Christ who would take away the sins of the land in one day.

In the day of redemption, hearts will change and people will invite their neighbours to share in the wine and oil of the kingdom of God.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER REFINES HIS PEOPLE IN THE FIRE

Zachariah chapter 3 verses 1 - 5 records a vision that Zachariah the prophet had of the court of heaven where Joshua the high priest was standing accused by Satan for having unclean clothing. The Angel of the Lord, not rebuking Satan directly, said, ˆˋThe Lord ( who had chosen Jerusalem and who was referred to as the Lord of Hosts ) rebuke you, Satanˋ and the reason given for this rebuke was that Joshua the priest was a brand plucked from the fire. The priest had been subjected to great heat to carry the insignia of the Lord and as such, was going to have his filthy garment taken from him and be given rich new robes.

1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?”

3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.

4 Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.”

5 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by.

The prophet Zacharia added that a clean turban should be put on Joshuaˋs head and they put a turban on his head along with the new clean robes and the Angel of the Lord oversaw the exchange. 

The clean new turban may represent a renewed mind that a believer works towards in order for the patterns of thought that they had before they were born-again would stop recurring.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO

Zacharia chapter 2 verses 6 - 13 says this;

6 “Up, up! Flee from the land of the north,” says the Lord; “for I have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven,” says the Lord. 7 “Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.”

This passage carries an urgent warning to Zion to escape the land of the North where they were dwelling with the daughters of zion.  The reason they need to evacuate is that the Lord of hosts had been sent by the Glorious One against the nations who had harmed Zion and they would be brought to ruin such that even their slaves would plunder them.

8 For thus says the Lord of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. 9 For surely I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me.

10 “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” says the Lord. 11 “Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. 12 And the Lord will take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for He is aroused from His holy habitation!”

After the nations who harmed Zion were brought down, the Lord of hosts would come to dwell among His people and many nations would be joined to the Lord in that day.

Judah will be taken by the Lord as his inherited possesion and will select Jerusalem as His dwelling place forever and as the Lord occupies Jerusalem, all of humanity will be silent before Him.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO IS A WALL OF FIRE AROUND HIS PEOPLE

Zachariah chapter 2 verses 1 - 5 says this:

1 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 So I said, “Where are you going?”

And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.”

3 And there was the angel who talked with me, going out; and another angel was coming out to meet him, 4 who said to him, “Run, speak to this young man, saying: ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it. 5 For I,’ says the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’ ”

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHOSE MERCIES NEVER COMES TO AN END

Zachariah chapter 1 verses 12 - 20 says this;

12 Then the Angel of the Lord answered and said, “O Lord of hosts, how long will You not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which You were angry these seventy years?”

13 And the Lord answered the angel who talked to me, with good and comforting words.

14 So the angel who spoke with me said to me, “Proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts:

“I am zealous for Jerusalem And for Zion with great zeal.

15 I am exceedingly angry with the nations at ease;  For I was a little angry,

And they helped—but with evil intent.”

In this passage, Zacharia records a conversation between the Angel of the Lord and the Lord of hosts regarding the city of Jerusalem and reveals that the lackadaisical  attitude that Babylon had towards Jerusalem had angered the Lord of Hosts. The Lord of hosts was jealous and zealous for Jerusalem but Babylon had chosen a life of ease and punished and exploited Jerusalem beyond  the acceptable threshold.

Therefore, the Angel of the Lord instructed Zachariah to proclaim the words of the Lord Almighty that said that He would return to Jerusalem with mercy and that He would build His house there and that He would bring prosperity that would cause cities to spread throughout the land and the Lord would re-establish His favour and proximity over Jerusalem.

16 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord: “I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy;

My house shall be built in it,” says the Lord of hosts,

“And a surveyor’s line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.” ’

17 “Again proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts:

“My cities shall again spread out through prosperity; The Lord will again comfort Zion,

And will again choose Jerusalem.” ’ ”

18 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were four horns. 19 And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these?” So he answered me, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.”

20 Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen. 21 And I said, “What are these coming to do?”  So he said, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, so that no one could lift up his head; but the craftsmen are coming to terrify them, to cast out the horns of the nations that lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.” 

The prophet Zachariah looked up and saw four horns that were the powers that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem. As Zachariah watched, four craftsmen appeared to him. The Angel of the Lord told him that the four horns had scattered and decimated the land of Judah but the craftsmen were going to evict the horns of the attacking nations by bringing terror to them.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE WORDS OVERTAKE  THOSE WHO FLEE FROM  THEM

Zachariah chapter 1 verses 1 - 11 begins with an introduction of the prophet Zachariah as the son of Berchiah who was the son of Iddo who was a prophet. The month and year of the reigning king (Darius) provides the timeline on which Zacharia gave his prophecy to the nation.

1 In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, 2 “The Lord has been very angry with your fathers. 3 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts. 4 “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets preached, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Turn now from your evil ways and your evil deeds.” ’ But they did not hear nor heed Me,” says the Lord.

Zacharia gave the word of the Lord to the people saying that they should give up their evi ways and turn back to God and that God would turn back to them.  

Nevertheless, the people did not listen to the word of the Lord and they did not turn back.

5 “Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?

6 Yet surely My words and My statutes, Which I commanded My servants the prophets,

Did they not overtake your fathers? 

“So they returned and said: ‘Just as the Lord of hosts determined to do to us, According to our ways and according to our deeds, So He has dealt with us.’ ” ’ ”

The word of the Lord spoken by Zachariah  asked where the generation of their fathers was and if prophets lived forever.  This was to warn the people that all opportune times and seasons eventually pass and the generations disappear and if they reject the Lord in their day, they disappear without being saved.

7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet: 8 I saw by night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees in the hollow; and behind him were horses: red, sorrel, and white. 9 Then I said, “My lord, what are these?” So the angel who talked with me said to me, “I will show you what they are.”

10 And the man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, “These are the ones whom the Lord has sent to walk to and fro throughout the earth.”

11 So they answered the Angel of the Lord, who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, “We have walked to and fro throughout the earth, and behold, all the earth is resting quietly.

About 4 months after the first prophecy, a vision came to Zacharia and  he saw a man on a red horse near some myrtle trees and behind him were other horses colored red, sorrel and white. 

This scene puzzled Zachariah and he asked the angel who was talking to him to what the vision meant and the angel on the horse explained that they were the ones who had been sent into the earth to to move to and fro throughout the earth to assess its condition and the angels gave a report that the whole earth was resting quietly.

In the second half of chapter one, the Lord gives his thoughts on the earth being at ease while he was angry with them.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHO GIVES LIFE TO ALL THINGS

The apostle Paul concludes his first lettet to his protege Timothy with chapter 6 verses 11 - 21. He tells Timothy to run away from hazards of loving money but to occupy himself with with the pursuit of righteousness, godliness, faith , love, patience, gentleness. Timothy is famously exorted here to ˆfight the good fight of faithˆ and to grab onto the promise of eternal life to which he had been called and of which he had publically made the good confession.  Paul solemnly charges Timothy before God and before Christ Jesus to follow the commandment of fighting the good fight and to do so without reproach until the day that the Lord Jesus, the blessed and singular chief administrator, ruler and king and who will return at a time set within Godˋs own purview. Paul, with awe, writes of the Lord Jesus as the immortal and invisible God who dwells in unapproachable light and to whom are honor and everlasting power.

11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— 21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.

Grace be with you. Amen.

In some final points, Paul tells Timothy to tell those believers who were rich to to remain humble and not to place their trust in their wealth that is fleeting but rather to do good with their wealth so they can lay up treasures in heaven so as to be a good foundation for their eternal life to come. 

TImothy is also instructed to avoid being part of idle and profane discussions and arguments over contradictions found in false knowledge because even professing  this false knowldge has caused some to stray in their faith.

With that, Paul blesses Timothy by speaking grace over him.

Amen.

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