October 24, 2024

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“’[On that Day] In the whole land,’ declares the Lord, ‘two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it. This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.‘” (Zechariah 13.8-9)

“At that moment, from noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?‘ (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”.)” (Matthew 27.45-46)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

You have heard it said, and perhaps said by your own mouth, “I have been through hell.” I don’t suppose we have seen anything yet that will closely resemble it. Perhaps we can consider Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (not Abendego as too many incorrectly pronounce it) and their stint in the fiery furnace as recorded in Daniel’s prophetic work to capture what is told to Zechariah. Those three young men were committed to serving only God when even their own countrymen (and women) in exile were choosing to be of the world and not merely in it. As I look back at the mispronunciation of Abednego’s name which I hear too often (honestly, you don’t like when someone mispronounces your name do you?) and perhaps there is a lesson to be learned from it. Abednego remained steadfast in not adopting Babylonian customs and traditions as were mandated by King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel refused as well and those young men followed his lead. The king’s advisers were frustrated with such insolence because it was more of a reflection on them than it was actually on the King. Nebuchadnezzar wanted obedience within his own kingdom and not specifically addressing the exiles. But it was a “god” thing (notice lower case g) for the advisers and demeaned their “importance” as religious leaders and political pundits. I guess the more things change (time and place), the more they stay the same (attitude and actions). That also means the more the similar consequences stay the same. In this case, “Faithful to God” -1 and “Unfaithful to God” -0. Wish today’s religious leaders and political pundits would learn from that lesson.

When it comes to the people of Israel as they returned from exile in the days of Zechariah, however, a lesson still had to be learned. It was a season of transition for the old guard who had escaped exile, the old guard who were in exile and the common people who were suffering and forced into becoming multi-cultural and multi-national. They might as well have been looked upon as the Samaritans were but they weren’t. Instead, they merely watered down their Jewish faith and practice so as not to conflict with what local authority was in power at the time. That authority they placated enough to make a reasonable appearance. Now the time had come for restoration. God was making it definitively clear that another time of purging was being required not by Him but by the choice of the people to not be faithful. Some people do not understand this process well or think it is harsh. We ought to remember that Israel was called as an agrarian people from the beginning. Adam and Eve were stewards, shepherds and farmers. They would have been that in or out of the Garden of Eden. Because of their sin, which was redeemed by the blood of God’s holy lamb (an image of Jesus to be sure), they performed their work in the world. They were not to be of the world but in the world manifesting God’s grace and obedience to His word. However, things did not go as He hoped (it doesn’t mean He didn’t know how it would go.) Cain killed Abel over appropriate thanksgiving sacrifices. God spared Cain with a mark on his forehead to alert everyone that his life had been spared. (Jesus bore marks as well which verified it was Jesus had who been crucified and raised so that our lives would be spared.) However, sin was in full throttle. By the time we get to the days of Noah, things had gone far worse than “going south” (which was a literal left-handed statement). So, God had to purge the land of the people He now resented making. I do not think He resented making Adam and Eve. Perhaps, He was in remorse for “making them a people” to live in the world. Yet, God was and is love. His mercy abounds in keeping a promise He made on the sixth day when He blessed them. He could not go back on His word or else He would not be God. So, Noah and his family (who were agrarians, too) were spared along with a sampling of all creation from a great flood which drowned all hopes of worldly living. Such tragedy impact we have seen recently in North Carolina and eastern Tennessee due to floods caused by Hurricane Helene which exacerbated rainfall just prior with a strong low pressure system days before. It was a matter of justice as the people of the world under an evil influence did not gravitate to trust and faith in God. After that event, there were the exiles of Egypt and Babylon. Once liberated from Egypt, an entire generation (or crossing over two or three generations during that forty year span) was committed to living in the desert within sight of the Promised Land. Why? Because they did not believe they could possess what God had promised. They feared the world more than they “feared” the Lord. Unjust? It was a consequence to which they had been given warning. Such a consequence was made evident in the dealings with Pharaoh by God through Moses. Actions have consequences.

Now Zechariah is told of consequences and a purging of the nation of Israel again. Some scholars have remarked that Israel is a hard-headed and hard-hearted people. No wonder Ezekiel cried out for a new heart and a right spirit knowing the reputation. Even now, as Israel was being liberated in the exiles (the ruling and elite class) homecoming, there was still “bad blood.” It had to be rendered out. God declared that 2/3 of the population would be struck down. The remaining 1/3 would pass through what we might call “a living hell.” They would be “tested by fire” and refined in the heart, mind, soul and spirit. Who? Those who, like Job, in spite of dire circumstances, would not lose faith in God. Paul knew this history as he wrote to the Philippians “Regardless of the condition of life I find myself in, I will be content and trust in God.” (Philippians 4.11-13) Jesus Himself passed through such a “hell” like that in less than twenty-four hours. Arrested around 3 a.m., tried and condemned from 6 a.m. until nearly noon, carrying His cross and hung on the hill called Golgotha to His death near 3 p.m. and hurried buried before Sabbath began at sundown, He suffered death-defying agony. It was only by His choice to believe in God that merciful and redeeming death was granted by God. For the survivors, their “hell” was just beginning in grief that endured even after the resurrection. It is the story of the Early Church as it faced, as Jesus prophesied, persecutions and deaths for believing in Him and professing His name with faithful service. It continues into the modern age. Indeed, a remnant is still being cultivated even now as we face elections for the next president and congress of the United States of America. The Church locally, nationally and globally is being tested and refined. Those who will choose to be faithful to the Christ and live in the coming of the Messianic Kingdom will be saved. Saved for what? Revelation tells us of the Millennial Reign of the Messiah. The whole world as it exists today will not see it. The Accuser of the Messiah, God and the Church will see it from hell’s prison. We do not know when it will come. We know only that it will. We know we must be prepared for the testing, the fire, the calling out and the planting of a new people who will exist with only one name: He who is Our God- Immanuel.

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 in order that others 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 so we would know we are Your people and 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.