Zechariah 5:1-4 says,...Bible reading week 32, day 1

Today we are back in the book of Zechariah at chapter 5 and looking at verses 1 through 4.

v.1 - Then I lifted up my eyes again and looked, and behold, there was a flying scroll.

We are onto the 6th night vision of Zechariah of the 8 recorded in this book.  The scroll in the Bible is usually referring to the Word of God itself.  God's word is flying.

v.2 - And he said to me, "What do you see?"  And I answered, "I see a flying scroll; its length is twenty cubits and its width ten cubits."

Zechariah answers the angel's question with probably an approximated guess that works out to be 20 cubits long or about 30 feet and a width of 10 cubits which would be about 15 ft.  A cubit is about 18 inches.  This is also the size of the Holy Place in the tabernacle.  This flying scroll that is the same size as the Holy Place makes us connect the two.  God's Word is very important to us as the Holy Place of the tabernacle was to the people of Israel.  The Word of God was to receive a reverence like the similar size space in their house of worship. 

v.3 - Then he said to me, "This is the curse that is going forth over the face of the whole land; surely everyone who steals will be purged away according to the writing on one side, and everyone who swears will be purged away according to the writing on the other side."

 We learn that the flying scroll which is unfurled has writing on both sides.  I get the picture of a flying carpet in my head.  The angel also identifies two faults of the people of God, stealing and swearing.  Those who steal and those who swear will be purged away.  This is written down on the scroll and the scroll is made known to all over the face of the whole land.  The actions of purging are coming after they have been told and it is written down for reference that it is wrong.  

Let me try to draw a comparison here.  What if on one side of the scroll is the first four commandments of the ten commandments that deal with our relationship with God and some are swearing which is an affront to God.  What if on the other side of the scroll is commandments five through ten that deal with our relationship with others and some are stealing which is an affront to others.  Jesus summed the ten commandments into love God and love others.  The stealing could be representative of all sins against others and the swearing could be representative of all sins against God.  If we reject what God's Word says then He is going to purge us according to His Word.

v.4 - "I will make it go forth," declares the LORD of hosts, "and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of the one who swears falsely by My name; and it will spend the night within that house and consume it with its timber and stones."

God is not passive but active.  What is written in His Word is going to be fulfilled.  Those who swear or sin against God and those who steal or sin against others will be put under the fire of His judgment.  It is a judgment that is known because it has been given to us in His Word.  This judgment will purge these activities from the people of God.  These actions do not glorify God and if allowed to linger will hinder His bride, the church.

This is a vision to see how important the Word of God is.  It is a vision to simplify our obedience to loving God and loving others.  When we cross the line with swearing or giving allegiance to some other god or when we cross the line with stealing or taking from others rather than building them up then know that these actions will bring an action from God.  How do we know?  Because the Word of God tells us.  It is not hidden from us but actually it is flying around us in many forms to take in what it says but so few are looking at it these days.  How about you?  Is your flying scroll within reach and are you availing yourself to what it says so that you can obey for the glory of God and not experience the known judgment of God?  Let us pray.

"Lord, Your Word is so precious.  Your Word points us back to You.  Your Word gives us Your direction for us to live our lives.  May we take seriously these words given out of love so that we can love You more and love others.  Amen."

Pastor Adam