The closing pages of both Old and New Testaments are filled with the glory of the LORD. Both prophets and seer are given a vision that reminds us that in the end, the One Who was before time, will be seen for Who He is. He has always been glorious. In our brokenness, we so often fail to see His glory. Worse yet, we human beings strive to claim His glory as our own and deny Him that which is His du...  Read More

The Spirit of grace and prayer (Zechariah 12:10). Such is the work of the Spirit that He opens our eyes to what we have done, how great is our need, and how through grace alone we can encounter the love of God as we seek Him. The language of Zechariah implies a season of repentance and restoration. There will come a time when the season of repentance is past (Revelation 20). However, grace and pra...  Read More

"The bow of war will be removed, and he will proclaim peace to the nations." (Zechariah 9:10b, CSB)Our monthly pastor's prayer gathering via Zoom contained a lesson on Hebrew parallelism, among other things (it was really a prayer meeting that was blessed with the presence of God and, co-led by our own Pastor Walt). As we have been reading about Jerusalem in both Zechariah and Revelation, I have b...  Read More

"Then he said to me, 'This is what the LORD says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.'" (Zechariah 4:6, NLT)Some translations render 'Yahweh Sabaoth' as 'LORD Almighty.' It is a fitting translation. Here, it cannot be lost on us that 'the LORD Almighty' reminds us that our own strength, power, might, force, prowess (all words used i...  Read More

Zechariah has a favorite reference for God: Yahweh Sabaoth, LORD of Heaven's Armies. He is our Covenant and Ever-present LORD Who is All-commanding and Sovereign in the execution of His will...His power backs up His Word, His promises. How beautiful to hear Him speak so tenderly to His faithful remnant: "In mercy/with compassion I have returned to Jerusalem and I will rebuild..." (Zechariah 1:16)....  Read More

Today I find it challenging not to pause from the judgment of Zephaniah, Haggai, and Revelation and focus on the birth of Jesus. True, His arrival on earth is an aspect of God's judgment. It was our sin, our Sin, that necessitated His advent. That is to our shame...that is, the shame of the human race. Though judgment comes wrapped in swaddling clothes, it's so difficult not to see the greater rea...  Read More