Christ Our Security

Zechariah 10:4
Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail,
out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.

The Lord is our cornerstone - the foundation of our faith. In Eph 2:19-22, we are part of the household of God, the citizen of the city where Christ is the cornerstone. Strengthen our faith on the word of The Lord, and take our step in faith towards Him. God's word is also the perfect reference point in our faith, where all doctrine and moral values are measured against. We need to know more about His word to understand God's will for us.

The Lord is our nail - the nail that held all things together, the nail that strengthens the faith in our hearts. He was on earth and he went through it all. He knows our pain, needs and wants. He is very near us so long as we plead with him. Man can fail us, but God cannot fail us!

The Lord is our battle bow - he fights for us! He fought for his people throughout the history. Deut 3:22 - The Lord your God shall fight for you! God always win. He is our sure and certain security! He is our safe heaven.

Where else in the world would you wish to be? None else but the Lord's.

Saved from Satan and Sin

Zachariah 3:1-7

This is Zachariah's 3rd vision, a passage of comfort. God will deliver His people from sin and Satan.

Verse 1 - Joshua the high priest was one of he 50,000 that returned from the exile to the promised land. He represent his nation in this passage. The angel of The Lord is The Lord Jesus Christ in his pre-incarnated self. He is the judge, Joshua was the accused, and Satan was the accuser.

While Satan may accuse Joshua for his sin, Israel is not innocent as well, for the nation did sin against God.

Verse 2 - "The Lord rebuke thee". The Lord here refers to the covenant God, that chose his own people.

Verse 3 - 4 - "clothed with filthy garment" refers a life full of sin. The Lord took away the sin and clothed him with a change of raiment. The Lord did so with the shedding of His own blood and clothed us with a righteous garment of God.

Verse 7 - To continue to have privileges from God means to walk in His ways and keep His commandment.

Once God chose us as His child, Satan will not be able to take us away, so long as we follow God and keep His commandment.

Peace, Prosperity and Protection

Zachariah 2:1-13

True peace, prosperity and protection comes only from God. This is the third vision from the book. God remembers hHis promise. God is jealous of His people, and protects them. This third vision is a prophesy of comfort.

Verse 1 - man in red horse is the Messiah, the angel of Jehovah. Zach 6:12 "name is the BRANCH". This is prophetic. Jesus as the son of God, son of man, our Saviour. The measuring line is to measure the city, so as to rebuild the city and the temple. God is our architect of our salvation and life. He will protect and provide for us.

Verse 4 - there will come a time where Jerusalem will be without walls, and have peace. The multiple of men and cattle will stay in this city, there will be prosperity.

Verse 5 - God will be in the midst of his people when He comes again. The wall of fire is for our protection and warmth, similar to the one that protected the Israel people when they come out of Egypt.

Verse 8 - God will protect the apple of His eye. He is jealous and zealous for His people.

Verse 12 - God will still choose Jerusalem even though the people has sinned against Him again and again. Once God has chosen us, He will still choose us again even though He will chastise us for our sins.

We are saved purely by God's grace and we should avoid sinning because we love Him. In return, He will be faithful to provide us with peace, prosperity and protection.

New Year Study - Zechariah

Zechariah 1:1-6

Jehovah Remembers

Zechariah means Jehovah remembers, it is a good name. It is very comforting to know that God remembers us.

Verses 2-4: God remembers to punish His people. He is a holy God; He punishes the evil and the unjust. It should cause fear in our hearts, and yet we should rejoice, for this lead us to holiness. God chose the people of Israel to bless them if they follow Him. Verse 3 - Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. God will bless so long as the people turn towards Him. However He must punish and judge if the people disobeyed Him (Deut 8). In the history of the kingdom of Israel, the kingdom flourished when there were godly kings to lead the nation to God. The nation declined when they turned away from God.

God will also keep His promise; He sent His words to the nation through His prophets. he promised to restore Israel and He did when He lead His people out of Babylon after 70 year. His prophet Jeremiah had prophesied on God's good word to the nation. God's promise was very precise in the boom of Isaiah, including the number of years and the name of the King that will release the people to go back to their land. This prophesy was delivered 150 years before the events happened.

How can we take God's words lightly? Should we not have the highest regard for His words, and study it diligently?