By: Elder Allen Daniels
As the end of another year comes to a close, we may have a tendency to dwell on the past rather than look ahead to the future. In some ways, this time of year for many is filled with melancholy. The big build up of the Christmas season has passed and perhaps we are faced with a lot of extra bills, or perhaps we are looking back on the previous year with regret for our lack of accomplishments; for one reason or another we are sad.
How do we escape this sadness? The answer lies not in “things,” but in a person whose name is Wonderful, Emanuel, Savior, Jesus Christ. We must not let our minds dwell upon the things that might have been if we had only done this or that, but turning our eyes away from self we must look upward to our Lord.
As we come to the close of another year, we come to the end of our yearly Bible reading schedule, but before starting over with Genesis (the book of beginnings), let us look at what the Lord says at the end of the Old Testament. Time and space will not permit a discussion of all that could be written here, but I commend to your reading the last two books, Zechariah and Malachi. The inspired words of these two prophets of God not only give us a glimpse of our past failures and sins, but also give us a view of the mercy, kindness, love and forgiveness of our Gracious Lord, renewing hope for future days.
The time of the writings of Zechariah and Malachi is not agreed upon by all, but most theologians agree that the prophecies were delivered to the remnant of Jews returning from the Babylonian captivity. The design of the books was to stir them up to rebuild the temple and restore the pure worship of God, encouraging their faith and hope in the expectation of the coming Messiah. The time of Zechariah seems to be at the beginning of their return and Malachi after it, when the temple was rebuilt and the worship of God restored and settled. Both books consist of various visions and prophecies relating to the first advent of Christ and the establishment of the New Testament Church.
For the purpose of this writing, I direct your attention to the 8th Chapter of Zechariah. As we consider these beautiful and encouraging words to those despondent Jews, I pray that we also may be blessed to renew our strength and commitment to be more diligent in our service to the Lord in the coming New Year of 2011.
As we read this passage notice the phrase, “Thus saith the LORD”. The prophet wants us to know WHO is speaking:
Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness. Zechariah 8: 3-8
Remember, these people had been seventy years in bondage and captivity in Babylon. They had seen their families and friends killed, the temple of God destroyed, and the walls of the city thrown down. Their beloved Jerusalem was in ruins and ashes. Oh! How wonderful these promises must have sounded in their ears! “Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth.”
My dear readers, in the midst of such perilous times when it seems that the world is getting more wicked by the day and the leaders of our beloved America have caused our nation to be a disgrace in the eyes of the world, is there still hope for us? Can we also claim these encouraging words of Zechariah? I tell you, YES!! The promises are ours! Insert your name into the blank of this statement: “I will bring _____ , and he/she shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem [the kingdom of God]: and he/she shall be my child, and I will be his/her God, in truth and in righteousness.”
As we read a little more in this chapter, consider our bad economy and the high unemployment rate, then think of how bad it must have been back then.
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built. For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbor. Zechariah 8:9-10,
Did these people have reason to be discouraged? I am sure that they were convinced that the Lord had forsaken them and they were doomed forever, but listen to the rest of the story.
But now, I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts. For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong. Zechariah 8:11-13
Is there hope for the Lord’s church in our perilous times? Can we experience revival? The Word of God says, yes.
Therefore, as we begin a new decade, let each of us resolve to obey the words of our Lord as spoken to us by Zechariah, “These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbor; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.”
We harbor no allusion that all the world will obey these words, but we who love the Lord can pledge to do so, and the world in which we live (our neighborhood, our workplace, our church, our home) will become a better place in the coming months!
Published: 2011-01-02 by WAD
About Allen Daniels