Through the Bible - Zechariah 7-12, Revelation 19
Good morning,
The Old Testament Bible reading plan (above) is in the book of Zechariah. Today's verse comes from yesterday's reading, I'll start with the translation from The Message which is what I read it from:
Zech 4:10 Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings? They'll change their tune when they see Zerubbabel setting the last stone in place!"
Or from the NKJV
Zech 4:10 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." NKJV
The temple had been destroyed. Zerubbabel was commissioned by God to rebuild it. It may have been discouraging to some, seeing that in it's plans, it would not measure up to the original temples' scope and grandeur, but in effect he was saying "don't despise what pleases God. MacArthur writes " this was only a picture of the glorious restoration when Messiah comes to reign."
Over this Christmas season, I'm sure that many have come away from it changed. Pastor Bob's Christmas Eve message was "A Baby Changes Everything", for those turning or returning to Christ, it will have an impact and change the way they live their lives.
It may not be a drastic change at first but as these verses say "don't despise" these "small beginnings". It is only a glimpse of "the glorious restoration" when the Messiah comes to reign in hearts and lives.
One of the things that happens when someone turns to Christ is that they realize that their lives had been "off centered", out of plumb as a carpenter would say. The walls in our lives need to be torn down, down to the foundation, the cornerstone of our faith, Jesus Christ. He can rebuild the broken walls of our lives using the plumb line of His Word to guide us, to build us straight.
Christ also builds us by functioning as Priest:
“Our Lord Jesus Christ is doing for His people the work which the Jewish high-priest of old did on behalf of the Israelites. He is acting as the manager, the representative, the mediator in all things between His people and God.
He is ever presenting on their behalf His own perfect sacrifice, and His all sufficient merit, before God the Father. He is ever obtaining daily supplies of fresh mercy and of fresh grace for His poor, weak servants, who need daily mercy for daily sins, and daily grace for daily necessities.
He ever prays for them. He presents their names before God the Father. He carries their names upon His heart, the place of love; and upon His shoulder, the place of power, as the high-priest carried the names of all the tribes of Israel, from the least to the greatest, when he wore his robes of office. He presents their prayers before God. They go up before God the Father mingled with Christ’s all-prevailing intercession, and so are so acceptable in God’s sight.
He lives, in one word, to be the friend, the advocate, the priest, the all-prevailing agent, of all who are His members here upon earth.” —J.C. Ryle,
From the humble beginnings of a changed heart, Christ will be faithful to complete it.
Phil 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
NIV
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Zech 4:6-5:1
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 capstoneWith shouts of "Grace, grace to it!"'"
8 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
9 "The hands of ZerubbabelHave laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will knowThat the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. 10 For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to seeThe plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.They are the eyes of the Lord, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth." 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?"
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."
NKJV
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