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This is a podcast sharing thoughts and insights for the accompanying the daily reading schedule for the book, Reading the Bible Cover to Cover in 365 Days.
Welcome to day 359 of Reading the Bible Cover to Cover in 365 Days!
Let us pray:
O Lord, thank You for another day in Your Word. Help us hear the message You have for us today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Let’s see what Zechariah has for us today in chapter 3!
Zechariah is shown Joshua, the high priest at the time, standing before the Angel of the Lord. Interestingly, Satan is standing next to Joshua. Verse 1 tells us he is there as an adversary to accuse him. In verse 2, the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan!” While the enemy continues to accuse us before the Lord, God rebukes him as we stand before Him. While the accuser hurls accusations against us, we must know that the Lord does not receive them.
The Lord chooses Jerusalem to be His. In verse 2, God said that He habitually chooses Jerusalem. No matter what accusations the enemy hurls at them, the Lord chooses them. This is God’s nature. He always chooses His people.
Joshua stood before God in filthy rags, signifying his sin, but God said, “Take away the filthy garments from him. And He said to [Joshua], Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with rich apparel.” We see that we cannot make ourselves clean before the Lord. Only He can make us clean, which He did through the sacrifice of His Son. He desires to cleanse Joshua just as He made a way for us to be pure before Him.
Verse 7 is familiar because God said it throughout the Old Testament. “If you will walk in My ways and keep My charge, then also you shall rule My house and have charge of My courts, and I will give you access [to My presence] and places to walk among these who stand here.” Let’s set our hearts and minds to walk in God’s ways so that we can sit in His presence. There is no better place to be.
The Lord told Joshua He was bringing them the Branch meaning the Messiah. Jesus brought forth the sevenfold Holy Spirit of God to the people. Verse 9 says, “I will remove the iniquity and guilt of this land in a single day.” Only God can take our sins away. We serve a loving God Who sent His Son to die in our place so that we wouldn’t die in our sins. We can praise Him today for all He has done for us.
In chapter 4, Zechariah is awakened from sleep by the angel. He saw a golden lampstand, a bowl full of oil, and seven lamps on it. Seven pipes led to these seven lamps. Two olive trees fed the pipes continuously with oil. The angel made sure Zechariah understood what this vision meant. We understand that the seven lamps are the sevenfold Holy Spirit. Verse 6 encourages Zerubbabel, the leader of Jerusalem, to rebuild God’s temple. It won’t happen because of his own strength or might but by God’s Holy Spirit. The rebuild was a difficult task, and this vision helped the leaders know that God was with them, helping them and making His will come to pass.
Verse 7 points out the rebuild was like a mountain of obstacles before them, But God promised He would make that mountain a plain or a little molehill, according to the Amplified Bible. God would help them, and the people would know He was their help.
They had few resources to do this rebuild; God assured them He would not only give them what they needed to start, but He would make sure they had everything they needed to finish the temple. And we know He did. He provided everything they needed, plus food for the people through Persian leaders and others. The two olive branches mentioned in verses 12-14 represent the leader Zerubbabel and the high priest Joshua. They were responsible for rebuilding the temple with God and His Holy Spirit.
Let’s see what Proverbs chapter 28 will teach us today!
Verse 13 says, “He who covers his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes his sins will obtain mercy.” Jesus told us to repent and forsake our evil ways. May we go to the Father, confess our sins, and receive His mercy.
Verse 14 says, “Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is the man who reverently and worshipfully fears [the Lord] at all times [regardless of circumstances], but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.” I appreciate that the Amplified Bible tells us we are blessed when we worship the Lord regardless of our circumstances. Though we go through trials – large or small – we are secure in the Lord, and He deserves our praise.
Verse 18 promises that those who walk upright will be safe. We can hang onto that promise today.
Verse 26 says, “He who leans on, trusts in, and is confident of his own mind and heart is a [self-confident] fool, but he who walks in skillful and godly Wisdom shall be delivered.” Let’s seek more wisdom and understanding and walk in it as God grants us wisdom.
Let us pray:
O Lord, thank You for speaking to us through Your Word today. Help us lean into You, seek You, and walk in Your wisdom. May You lead and guide us today and every day. In Jesus’ name, amen.