People of the Promise: Exile & Return – Lesson 17

 

Zechariah was a priest and a prophet.  He prophesied to the people of Judah after they returned from 70 years on exile in Babylon.  He pictures Christ in both His 1^st coming and His 2^nd coming.  According to Zechariah, Jesus will come as Savior, Judge, and ultimately as King ruling His people from Jerusalem.  He provided specific prophecy about the exiles future.  They would be cleansed and restored; God would rebuild His people.  He ends the book by looking into the distant future, the rejection of the Messiah and then His eventual reign.

Call to Repentance – Zechariah 1:1-6

The Word of the Lord spoke to Haggai in the 2^nd year and 6^th month of King Darius’s reign and then to Zechariah 2 months later.  The returning exiles were not all dedicated to serving God.  Haggai and Zechariah were prophets who counseled them to repent.

The people had started rebuilding the temple, but there were people that opposed them so they stopped rebuilding.  They had decided to build houses for themselves and a wall for protection instead.  Zechariah told them to build the temple first and God would protect them.

In Zechariah 1:2 Zechariah told the people that God had been very angry with their forefathers and that they should not be like their ancestor who had rebelled. 

God’s anger is different from human anger, because He is righteous and driven by His holiness and love.  He is slow to anger (Psalm 103:7).  Human anger is filled bitterness and often selfishness and revenge.  It can be petty and lead to destructive actions.  This bitterness is very evident in today’s society with mobs of protesters and rebellion of hate for those of opposite beliefs. 

Sinful people can escape God’s wrath by repenting of sins and then accepting and following Jesus.  Jesus came into the world to save all sinners. (John 3:36; Romans 5:10; 1 Timothy 1:15).

In Zechariah 1:3 God instructed Zechariah to tell the people to return to Him and He would return to them.  “Return to me…and I will return to you” - Zechariah 1:3.  Repentance is not a one-sided action, but a turning point where God shows mercy and restores the lost sinner.  All a sinner has to do is return to Him and He forgives and restores.

James 4:7-10 tells us to “Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come near to God and he will come near to you……”.  These verses encourage believers to submit to God’s authority, to resist temptations, draw near to God through prayer and fellowship, and be humble before God.

Zechariah called for the people to learn from the sins of their forefathers.  They should not be like their forefathers.  The prophets warned them that God would punish them if they didn’t obey.  The people didn’t obey so God sent them into exile in Babylon.  He reminded them that life is temporary and they are a part of a larger story.  By remembering their history and the struggles of their ancestors, they should gain wisdom in their lives.

We need to reflect on history because we learn from mistakes.  It teaches us what to do and not do.  It helps us understand and learn about ourselves.  It empowers us to make conscious choices about how we want to live our life.  It can boost our confidence and motivation.  It can change our opinions and viewpoints.

Their ancestors probably repented while in exile when they realized God meant what He said.  They began to remember His words.  They knew they could not run away from God.

To repent means to be sorry for wrong things you have done and promise to try not to do them in the future.  It means changing your behavior and turning away from sin.  It’s humbly denying yourself and involves a change of heart as well as actions.

Psalm 32:1-5 tell us there is agony in unconfessed sin, but a blessing to those who confess.  Acknowledge your sin and God will forgive you. 1 John 1:8-9 tell us if we think we are without sin we deceive ourselves, but if we confess He will forgive us and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Principle:  God has wrath against unrepentant sinners, but is full of love and mercy to those who repent.

Next week we will continue our study in Zechariah. -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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People of the Promise: Exile & Return – Lesson 16

 

 

 

The Book of Haggai is named after the prophet Haggai.  His prophecies are recorder in the book, but the authorship of the book is uncertain.  It is thought that a disciple of his wrote the book.  He encouraged the people who had returned from Babylonian exile to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem.

Haggai 1-2

The Call to Continue the Temple – Haggai 1

The Jews had returned from exile and began to rebuild the temple.  They found opposition among the people living there causing them to became discouraged and the building stopped.  The people began thinking of themselves.  God sent the prophet Haggai to speak to them.  Haggai told them that they were making excuses for not building the temple.  They said it wasn’t God’s timing and the work was too hard.  Haggai told them they had their priorities all wrong.  They had found the time to build their houses and live in luxury while the temple was in ruins.

We should see ourselves here.  We are just like the people in Haggai’s time.  We’re all prone to make excuses for not putting God first with our time and money.  To let the temple lay in ruin was to  neglect the worship of God.  When we make excuses for reading our Bible or going to church, we are neglecting the worship of Him.

Haggai’s word from God challenged the people.  Two times in verse 5 and 7 he said, “Give careful thought to your ways”.  Are you giving careful thought to your ways?  How are you spending your time and money?  What is your aim?  Is it to glorify God or yourself?

The Lord said, “I am with you” – Haggai 1:13.  The people respected Haggai and they feared the  presence of the Lord so their spirits were stirred.  It began with Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest.  The people responded by obeying the Lord and began to work on the temple again.

Principles: 

God wants us to put Him first and when we do He empowers and encourages us to do what He commands.

Give careful thought to your ways.

Hope for  the Future – Haggai 2

The people looked at the partially rebuilt temple and became discouraged.  They compared it with the original temple that Solomon built in all its glory and beauty.  God reminded them of how He was always with them and how He provided for them in the past (Exodus 29:45-46; Nehemiah 9:20).  He said the rebuilt temple would be more glorious than the first.  God told the leaders and the people to be strong. 

In Haggai 2:10-19 he emphasizes the importance of following God’s ways in their daily lives.  He gives examples of purity and defilement and shows how it applies to the people.  In order to gain all God has for them, they must abide by His covenant commands.  The commands were made for their good and following them will lead to fulfillment in life.

He talks of the defiled, dead, and unrighteous.  This defines all people.  Romans 3:10-26 tell us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  The remedy is Christ Jesus.  We are justified by his grace through the redemption that came by Jesus when He sacrificed Himself on the cross.

God understands the discouragement we face when we serve Him.  He knew what they were thinking and feeling and He knew those who were discouraging them.  Satan always tries to dampen our enthusiasm and attacks us continually especially when we are doing the Lord’s work.  So God told them again to not be afraid because He was with them.

God encouraged Zerubbabel and the people saying He will assert His sovereignty over the nations.  He will shake heaven and earth, the sea and the dry land.  He will shake all nations and the desire of all nations will come and fill the temple with glory.

God made a promise to Zerubbabel.  He said He will make him like a signet ring. A signet ring is a token of royal authority.  Zerubbabel was chosen of God and included in the ancestry of Jesus.  Jesus is the Signet Ring on God’s right hand.  Here He is the announcing the future coming of Messiah Jesus.

Principle:  Following God’s ways lead to fulfillment in life.

Promises from the Book of Haggai:

God is with us.

His Spirit is with us.

His Glory is with us.

He has everything we need.

He is in our  future.

His peace is with us.

Next week we will continue our study in Zechariah.  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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People of the Promise: Exile & Return – Lesson 15

 

Esther 8-10

God Makes Things Right – Esther 8

King Xerxes gave Haman’s estate to Queen Esther.  She told the king how Mordecai was related to her.  Then the king elevated Mordecai to royalty and gave him his signet ring which had been previously given to Haman.  Mordecai was appointed over Haman’s estate.

Esther wept and pleaded with the king to stop with Haman’s plan to annihilate the Jews.  She asked him to issue an official order on behalf of the Jews.  Again Esther used wise judgment when she approached the king.  She showed restraint and sensitivity by humbling herself before the king.  She was a true intercessor for God’s people.

You’ve heard the old saying ‘you catch more flies with honey than vinegar’ and ‘kill them with kindness’.  That’s exactly what she did.

A new decree was written and went out to all the provinces stating that the Jew were not to be harmed.  It also allowed the Jews to arm themselves and defend themselves against any hostile group that tried to harm them.  The people rejoiced and held feasts to celebrate the reversal of their fate.  Some of the people of Persia were afraid and declared themselves Jews.

There are parallels between Esther and Jesus:

Both were Jews.

Both served others.

Both were unique, Esther was one-in-a-million picked out of the Persian empire, Jesus was the one unique sinless man.

Both were royals, Esther a queen and Jesus a king.

Both accepted a responsibility that they alone could fill.

Both sacrificed to save their people.

Both defeated a murderous accuser, Esther defeated Haman and Jesus defeated Satan.

Both saved their people from death.

Both stories were orchestrated by God.

Both stories ended with God winning.

Principle:  In the end God always makes things right.

The Jews Fight Off Their Enemies – Esther 9

Those who hated the Jews hoped to get the advantage over them, but the opposite happened.  The Jews defended themselves against their enemies.  They gathered together with aid of government officials.  They struck down all their enemies by killing and destroying them.  They destroyed 500 including the 10 sons of Haman and later 75,000, but they didn’t take any plunder.  This was not an attack of aggression but of self-defense.

Principle:  We need to trust in God’s providence even when we can’t see it working.

They celebrated with a feast called Purim.  This feast is to remind the Jews that God is in control of history and He is faithful to protect His people.  Haman had selected this day for the destruction of the Jews, but this turned out to be the day for the Jews’ salvation.   It was to remind them of God’s protection, deliverance, rest and peace, provision, joy, faithfulness, righteousness and justice.

We should always be joyful no matter what life brings.  Phil. 4:4-6 – “Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”  1 Thess. 5:16-18 – “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Mordecai Honored – Esther 10

Mordecai became 2^nd in rank to the king.  He demonstrated great leadership and used his power to benefit his people.  He was faithful to God and his people.  He was held in high esteem by the Jews.  He continually worked for the good of the Jewish people.

This book of Esther is a story of coincidences and reversals that forces us to see God’s purpose at work behind every scene.  It teaches us to trust in God’s providence even when we can’t see it working.  It reminds us that even in our very worst moments there is always hope because Jesus is alive.

Principle:  Always work for the good of others and speak up on their behalf.

Next week we will continue our study in the book of Haggai. -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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