July 5, 2024

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Then the Lord showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The Lord said to Satan, ‘The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick  snatched from the fire?‘.” (Zechariah 3.1-2)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

I hope we get the full picture of what happens in the spiritual realm by reading these two verses from Zechariah 3. I would refer you back to the story of Job. In Job 1.6, we are introduced to what was a common scenario in the courts of Heaven. It was not uncommon that in the “war room” of Heaven, like a tribunal, The Lord gathered with certain angels, messengers of God who were sent into the world to determine the state of the land, and received their reports. We are given a glimpse of that in the introduction of “The Myrtle Man” at the beginning of Zechariah. In the court of Heaven, these reports were made and sometimes it was with witnesses. The proceedings were much like a courtroom today. God, or the Christ as Lord, was the judge and often the defense attorney. Sometimes, it would be one of the angels of the Lord such as Gabriel, who would serve in the position. Then there would be the prosecuting attorney who would raise an accusation against one of God’s creatures. In Job and Zechariah, we only hear of accusations be raised against the people of God. Satan was a term used in Phoenician lawcourts to identity the prosecuting attorney as “The Accuser.” Any conversation concerning Lucifer after his expulsion from the fullness of Heaven identified him as “Satan.” Satan’s only heavenly privilege was to attend “court.” In both Job and Zechariah we are given the opportunity to see such a proceeding, hear the argument and watch the execution of judgment. The ultimate conclusion in both proceedings is the exoneration of God’s people who were the faithful executioners of justice and mercy on earth. For just a moment, I would invite you again to consider the fall of Lucifer. It speaks mightily to me as I pray it will to you of our own fate, condition and calling. Lucifer was “the” worship leader in Heaven. Pardon the pun, but he must have had a “helluva” worship band. In truth, Lucifer is sometimes described as the entire band; sort of like a “one angel band.” In that case, he must have had quite a backup group to “sing his praises.” Of course, those praises were purposed by God to lead all heaven in worship of God. The worship of God in that case was not an ego stroke but a testimony of the extent of God’s mercy, grace, wisdom and love. It was not that God needed such praise but that all heaven was enriched by maintaining the proper balance of praise and worship which is the evidence of authentic living. At some point in time, Lucifer “changed his tune.” It was his opportunity, of course, to do so because free will is granted to His living creatures. There is no manipulation on the part of God in His relationship with His creation. God does not force His will but reinforces the consequences, pro and con, of the choice to abide in or out of the will of God. Our first collision with such a consequence is in the creation story culminating with the temptation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

So, we have some idea of this “before” picture of Lucifer. Then we are given the “after” picture of Lucifer when the court of Heaven ruled against his accusations against God. I invite you to read Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28 and Revelation 12 for poignant descriptors. I believe you will be fascinated and challenged by the vision which God gives to Ezekiel on this matter as it relates then to the King of Tyre. The picture of Lucifer “after the fall,” resulting in also his identification by either the name of Satan, Devil or Beelzebub (dependent of the cultural influence at the time) is far different. Regardless of the name by which he is called, his job description remains the same. He is the “accuser.” We can only imagine the accusations Lucifer placed before God about God and His Heaven. We may hear some of them from our own children about living in our house (and if we don’t, then we may not have been doing as good a job parenting as we think.) We certainly have voiced some of those accusations about others and direct them toward God in our own laments living here in the Kingdom of God on earth as it is supposed to be in Heaven. I am not sure, however, that we understood nor understand the full implication of “living in the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in Heaven” which is a part of our prayer template taught to us by Jesus, God’s Son. He should know better than any what that life is in accommodating the word of God and implementing it in real time. Regardless, on earth as Satan, as he did as Lucifer in Heaven, the accusations continue to roll out like thunder with flashes of lightning attempting to divert our attention from the truth. Only by faith are we able to “see through” the arguments proposed by Satan as he accused God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit (now that’s a real danger as the Holy Spirit is akin to the Chief Defense Attorney) and each one of us. Imagine, if you will, that “most beautiful and cunning creature in all the Garden” who will a glint in his eye spoke creatively to Eve knowing full well that Adam was listening. His words rumbled. His eyes flashed. With a flick of the serpent’s tongue and a wily wink of the serpent “double-eyes,” the thought of anything other than God was considered. The same scenario happened in the Heavenly court in the case of Job. The same was happening in the Heavenly court in the case of Joshua the Chief High Priest. Accusations of failure. Defenses of faith, hope and love. The same battles rage today in the court of Heaven on our behalf and now the team of Christ and Holy Spirit stand to defend us. But do we know that our case is on trial? If arrested today, would the convictions stand for and against? Mighty ones of God, are we a dying ember or a burning stick snatched out of the fires of hell on earth as they are in Hell by the very hand of God? Are we as steadfast and trusting in the midst of this battle and conflict as were Shadrach, Meshach and Abedneggo? This battle is being waged today and while the war has been won, we must continue to fight the fight and run the good race clothed with victory (the full armor of God) for victory (the blood shed for us by Jesus the Christ.)

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, before we were conceived in the womb, You had already formed us in Your love and by Your Spirit brought us into being. Each one of us is blessed with the opportunity of doing right, being good and producing the fruit of the Spirit so that others may be fed the truth of that same love so that the two will become one. It is our soul’s sincere desire to embrace the oneness You have in mind that we would know that we are Your people and that You are our God. Lead us in that discovery of the truth and the manifestation of that love for us all. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.