Zechariah 10 says...Bible reading week 37, day 5

Today's verses are Zechariah 10:1-12, which read,

1 - Ask rain from the Lord at the time of the spring rain—the Lord who makes the storm clouds; and He will give them showers of rain, vegetation in the field to each man.

2 - For the teraphim speak iniquity, and the diviners see lying visions and tell false dreams; they comfort in vain.  Therefore the people wander like sheep, they are afflicted, because there is no shepherd.

3 - “My anger is kindled against the shepherds, and I will punish the male goats; for the Lord of hosts has visited His flock, the house of Judah, and will make them like His majestic horse in battle.

4 - “From them will come the cornerstone, from them the tent peg,

from them the bow of battle, from them every ruler, all of them together.

5 - “They will be as mighty men, treading down the enemy in the mire of the streets in battle; and they will fight, for the Lord will be with them; and the riders on horses will be put to shame.

6 - “I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them back, because I have had compassion on them; and they will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the Lord their God and I will answer them.

7-  “Ephraim will be like a mighty man, and their heart will be glad as if from wine; indeed, their children will see it and be glad, their heart will rejoice in the Lord.

8 - “I will whistle for them to gather them together, for I have redeemed them; and they will be as numerous as they were before.

9 - “When I scatter them among the peoples, they will remember Me in far countries, and they with their children will live and come back.

10 - “I will bring them back from the land of Egypt and gather them from Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon until no room can be found for them.

11 - “And they will pass through the sea of distress and He will strike the waves in the sea, so that all the depths of the Nile will dry up; and the pride of Assyria will be brought down and the scepter of Egypt will depart.

12- “And I will strengthen them in the Lord, and in His name they will walk,” declares the Lord.

We have a whole chapter this morning.  Lets march down these verse by verse.

Verse 1 has them calling to God for the spring rain.  In the last verse of the previous chapter is the reference of much grain and grapes for wine.  These come from adequate rain at the right time and so the people of God are to call to Him for these spring rains.

Verse 2 gives the other option of calling upon false gods.  Even though they promise much what comes from them is sin.  They tell lies, give falsehoods, and provide false comfort.  Those who follow them are wandering like sheep without a shepherd.  Not only do they wander but they are afflicted so there are consequences beyond just being off track.

Verse 3 tells us that God is angry with the shepherds.  He has issue with the leadership of the people.  Jesus had the same concern when He addressed the Sanhedrin and the Sadducees and the Pharisees.  They were not giving His leadership to His people, His flock.  God sees how the leadership is leading but that will not be the end product for the people of God.

Verse 4 gives us a picture of the coming Messiah, the Cornerstone.  The tent peg was what everything hung upon.  The bow was what slung the arrows.  Someone is coming from the house of Judah that will lead properly the people of God.

Verse 5 shows the outcome of following this Leader.  The Lord will be with them.  They will be able to stand and even tread down the enemy which seems to be more powerful as they have the horses but they are one horse under the leadership of their God.

Verse 6 gives God's promise to the house of Judah and the house of Joseph.  This promise is fulfilled out of His compassion for them and it will seem as if they never had wandered from God.  A strength is coming to them.

Verse 7 gives God's promise also to the north and the house of Ephraim.  His restoration will be seen by the children and they will benefit from their parents calling out to the Lord.

Verse 8 tells us that God whistles or it is a picture of Him calling in a dog or some livestock to feed.  The whistle is used as a sign of connection with that animal.  You are not yelling at the animal or prodding it with a stick but giving a familiar whistle for them to come closer.  I have something good for you.  God is whistling for the people of God to come closer and experience more of His goodness.

Verse 9 tells us there will be a scattering of God's people, the Jews, but then there will be a time of coming back.  There will be a remembering of God even though they are not in the Promise Land.  

Verse 10 continues with this gathering from Egypt to the south and from Assyria to the north.  This will be a great migration back to the land of Israel.  History has been bearing out these events for us to witness.

Verse 11 tells us that God will make a way for them to return.  Whatever physical or political obstacles will be removed like God parting the Red Sea for the Israelites and their flight from Egypt.  God will dry up rivers so they can cross and take down powers so they can travel through to get back home.

Verse 12 ends with this beautiful transition to see that not just physically are they returning but spiritually.  They will be strengthened in the Lord and they will walk in His name.  The Lord will truly be their God and the One they are calling out to continuously.  

This chapter mirrors our world.  We have many false teachers calling out their false promises.  We have many Christian leaders who are not shepherding the flock to follow the actual words of our God.  But God has provided a way home.  God has provided a Cornerstone for us to build upon.  God will get us to Him as He calls His own to Himself.  He whistles.  Though the world looks too strong with its many horses, God's family is one majestic horse with its sole rider of their Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.  Our lesson this morning is to be sure that we are asking God for the rain that we need and not trying to find it somewhere else.  Let us pray.

"Lord, what a chapter of hope.  Thank You that You have provided a way and even when the road gets cluttered with distractions of evil, if we keep our eyes on You, You make the way clear.  Thank You for Your compassion for Your people and also for Your unfailing commitment to Your promises.  May we with our words and actions show that we are remaining in You and walking with You.  Amen."

Pastor Adam