By my Spirit
Day 466, Thursday, Nov. 20
Zechariah Chapters 1 – 5
If you remember back to the prophets, the end of the Babylonian exile didn’t happen all at once, but several waves of Jews returned to Jerusalem at different times. Today’s reading refers to Zerubbabel, who was a Jewish leader in the first wave of returnees. He also began the work of rebuilding the temple. Chronologically the events of Haggai and Zechariah begin before the events of Ezra and Nehemiah.
The first word of God to Zechariah is pretty straightforward. Zechariah is to remind the people that God was angry with their ancestors, which led to the Babylonian exile. Now they have apparently learned their lession and God has allowed them to begin returning to Jerusalem. “‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you’….‘Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.’”
The rest of the revelations we read about today are given in the form of visions. In the visions is a heavenly interpreter of the vision, described alternately as a man and as an angel.
Zechariah is told that God will return to Jerusalem and his house will be rebuilt. It is Zerubbabel’s task to rebuild it. “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”
This is yet another reminder that God’s strength, not ours, is what we have to depend on.
Today’s meditation from Psalm 30 amplifies the same theme, that it is God who lifts us up from the pit. In a familiar passage we are also reminded that his anger is not forever: “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
-Rev. Mark Fleming
Thursday meditation
Psalms 30:1-12
I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me. You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead; you spared me from going down to the pit.
Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.” Lord, when you favored me, you made my royal mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.
To you, Lord, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: “What is gained if I am silenced, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness? Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me; Lord, be my help.”
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.
Prayer focus
Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me; Lord, be my help.