Peace, Prosperity and Plenty!

The People Return to the Kingdom

Zechariah 9 has furnished us with hope of the returning king to Jerusalem. He sweeps with might and power bring judgment on all the opposing nations. We have discussed this in two previous Blogs: HERE and HERE. The final exposition of the chapter is in verses 11-17.  With verse 11 (“As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.” (Zechariah 9:11, NIV), the Lord signals a new section.  With the security of Israel within and without and having established a reign, it is not time for the return of the people.

God promises to set the captives free and restore them upon the basis of “...the blood of my covenant with you . . .” (Zechariah 9:11, NIV). Some think that this is the Covenant that God made with Moses. "The "blood of my covenant with you" probably has in view the Mosaic covenant (Exod 24:3-8)." [1]  Also see Note 2. Others appeal to the Abrahamic Covenant ("The nation Israel is addressed and promised by the blood of thy covenant (i.e., the Abrahamic covenant which was an unconditional covenant which was ratified by blood sacrifice, hence, the most binding of covenants—cf. Gen 15:9–18) that thy prisoners (i.e., Israelites still remaining in Babylon) will be sent forth … out of the pit wherein is no water." [3]).  In either case, God is bringing His people back, not based upon merit, but by the grace within the promise, sealed with blood, granting them a full and complete restoration.

The assured victory is stated in a "bold metaphor" as God compares Himself to a warrior using Judah and Ephraim as His weapons. [1]  "Protected by God, the people gain victory, not with the sophisticated weapons that have been removed from the kingdom (Zech. 9: 10) but with the lowly sling, an allusion to David’s victory over Goliath (1 Sam. 17: 40, 50). The latter half of Zech. 9: 15 describes the victory in battle through images drawn from drinking and sacrifice." [4]

With the victory comes great blessing: prosperity, peace, and fullness of provisions. "Partial fulfillment of this prediction came as the Maccabees successfully won their independence from Greece in the days of Antiochus Epiphanes (175–163 B.C.). But again, the fullest meaning of the passage looks forward to the messianic reign (Rev. 20:1–6)." [5]  "God’s people rest secure as sheep under His care (13:7; Ezek. 34:11–24; 37:24), and will become glorious as a result of God’s presence (2 Cor. 3:18). [6]

In the midst of this highly graphic and hopeful passage we observe that “The Lord their God will save his people on that day as a shepherd saves his flock. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown.” (Zechariah 9:16, NIV).

The Gospel writers clearly saw the fulfillment of Zechariah 9 commencing and continuing through the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem.  Through the suffering Servant, He was installed as the reigning King over His people -- not just believing Jews, but from all nations. The New Testament is not vague about this Divinely Royal King who vanquishes His foes and is the faithful Davidic son who unites and secures His people under His gracious reign.

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” (Ephesians 2:13–16, NIV)

Father in this day of terror, traumas, torture, we look forward to the day of peace, prosperity and plenty.  I am thankful for the Gospel that teaches us that this Day has already come, but yet it is still to come. On that Day Christ came and marched into Jerusalem, He said, "I am Your King."  His rule has never been abrogated.  His decree has never been repealed.  Reign today in our hearts and lives, Father.   Bring Your people from the Nations to the New Jerusalem, Your Church, Your Bride. Deliver death blows to the enemies crouched at Your feet.  Come Lord Jesus, come.  I thank you today for the Cross that does what no other device of terror could do -- bring reconciliation with God and with people.  Come, Lord Jesus, come.  Amen.

___________________________________

1. Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Zechariah/Exposition of Zechariah/V. Two Prophetic Oracles: The Great Messianic Future and the Full Realization of the Theocracy (9:1-14:21)/A. The First Oracle: The Advent and Rejection of the Messiah (9:1-11:17)/1. The advent of the messianic King (9:1-10:12)/c. The deliverance and blessing of Zion's people (9:11-10:1), Book Version: 4.0.2

2. "This combination of “ blood” and “covenant” constitutes an allusion to Exodus 24: 8, which describes the ceremony in which, after the reading of the Book of the Law and the acceptance of the commandments by the congregation, blood was sprinkled on the people to ratify the covenant between God and his people. 41 On the basis of this ancient covenant agreement, God promises salvation for his exiled people."-  Boda, Mark J. (2009-05-26). Haggai, Zechariah (The NIV Application Commentary) (Kindle Locations 8253-8257). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. 

3. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (1825–1826). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

4. Boda, Mark J. (2009-05-26). Haggai, Zechariah (The NIV Application Commentary) (Kindle Locations 8300-8303). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. 

5. Believer’s Study Bible. 1991 (W. A. Criswell, P. Patterson, E. R. Clendenen, D. L. Akin, M. Chamberlin, D. K. Patterson & J. Pogue, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (Zec 9:13). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

6. Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). The Reformation study Bible: Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture: New King James Version (Zec 9:16). Nashville: T. Nelson.

The Road to Thanksgiving (An Exposition of Psalm 116) - The Destination

The personal psalm of thanksgiving, now adopted by the worshiping congregation instructs us about genuine expressions of gratitude.  When we are thankful we bring to mind the circumstance that becomes our story.  We contemplate its impact in our lives; and lastly we commit to live differently because of the Lord's help. The second half (like the first) reflects this pattern.  Today we want to look more closely at how the psalmist determined to live because of the Lord's mercy to him.

Psalm 116:13–19 (NIV),

¹³ I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. ¹⁴ I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. ¹⁵ Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants. ¹⁶ Truly I am your servant, Lord; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains. ¹⁷ I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord. ¹⁸ I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, ¹⁹ in the courts of the house of the Lord— in your midst, Jerusalem. Praise the Lord.

As an expression of his thanksgiving, the psalmist brings "a thank offering" (v.17) together with a drink offering (cf. Num 28:7), which he calls "the cup of salvation" (v.13). In other words, the answer is "public worship".  "A public display of gratitude meant to bolster God’s reputation." [1]

In a public testimony the writer acknowledges the Lord's great love for his saints.  They are precious to Him; and their adversity and even their death is not treated lightly by our Lord. 

Freed men and women respond to the Lord in gratitude with humble service to Him.  

The paying of vows likely reflects the custom "of making promises to God in gratitude or making a promise to repay in return for divine help." [1]

"Note, Those whose hearts are truly thankful will express their gratitude in thank-offerings. We must first give our ownselves to God as living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1, 2 Co. 8:5), and then lay out of what we have for his honour in works of piety and charity. Doing good and communicating are sacrifices with which God is well pleased (Heb. 13:15, 16) and this must accompany our giving thanks to his name."[2] 

The writer teaches us that true gratitude is expressed publicly in worship, service and obedience to the Lord.  He is not suggesting that gratitude is the motivation.  He is suggesting that the natural follow-through of gratitude reflects these expressions.  Gratitude ought to be the ground for all we do.

Father, thank you for Your Word.  Thank you for Your mercies -- even the very breath I have this morning.  Thank You for the Lord Jesus Christ in whom we pray; and who continually intercedes for us.   Today I offer myself as a living sacrifice.  May my life be a public display of worship.  May it be always in service to You.  May the commitments of my heart find complete fulfillment according to Your will.  May gratitude be the ground of all that I do.   For the sake of Christ, 

_________________________________________________

1. Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ps 116:14). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

2. Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: Complete and unabridged in one volume (911). Peabody: Hendrickson.

Proclaim Liberty!

Galatians 4:28–31 (NIV),

²⁸ Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. ²⁹ At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. ³⁰ But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” ³¹ Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

So the Apostle brings this conclusion: If you are a Christian you are like Isaac.  You are a child of promise.  You are the believing seed that is identified "and your children after you." But here's the downside: "Whosoever are born and live in Christ, and rejoice in this birth and inheritance of God, have Ishmael for their enemy and their persecutor . . . But God overthroweth their judgment and pronounceth this sentence against them, that because they are the children of the bondwoman, and persecute the children of the free-woman, therefore they shall be cast out of the house, and shall have no inheritance with the children of promise; to whom only the inheritance belongeth because they are the children of the freewoman." [1]  Legalists, slaves hate people who are free, but will have no part of the blessing.

This also implies "that those who teach the false gospel of justification by works should not be allowed to remain and teach in a church that follows Christ." [2]  "Christendom is critically infected with the deadly doctrine of the legalists. The crying need of the hour is for uncompromising men to proclaim the liberty in Christ which is the birthright of every believer." [3]

This then will lead us to the next topic that Paul addresses:“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1, NIV)

 

Father this is decisive language of the Apostle.  It is not politically correct.  It will hurt people's feelings.  Christians are not to dance with those who do not believe in justification by faith in Christ and Christ alone.  Stop the music.  We are to cast them out.  We are to ἐκβάλλω [ek·bal·lo] -- deprive them of power and influence -- expel them -- with force but not violence. I live in a time Father where this is not accepted.  We are to tolerate people.  As long as they believe in Jesus.  This is the kind of language that gets people into trouble Father.  Will I have the courage of these biblical convictions to be strong in this day of tolerance?  Grant Father, even as that ancient brother prayed, grant me the ability to do Your will.  May the chips fall where they may.  Fight for freedom.  Freedom which Your Son and my Savior bled and died for. There is no compromise for the fame and glory of Christ and the ultimate freedom and joy of His Church.  Amen .

__________________________________

1. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 4:29). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

2. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2253). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

3. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (2395). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Abraham's Seeds, Seed and More Seeds.

Galatians 3:23–29 (NIV),

²³ Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. ²⁴ So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. ²⁶ So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, ²⁷ for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Verses 23-24 are very difficult to interpret.  It might be interesting to the reader that Luther gave this section very little attention.  We don't know why but perhaps the complexity of it was part of the reason. 

 Paul has already established that the faith of Abraham and the Christian faith are synonymous. So the faith he refers to in verse 23 must have a different nuance. The key is the idea of something being "locked up".  I would conclude that this must refer to Paul's notion of "mystery" where in other places he describes an idea that for a period of time God's plan for the ages was "locked up" -- a mystery.  But now it has been revealed.  "A “mystery” in the New Testament is something that had at one time been hidden but is now revealed to God’s people. Jesus spoke of “the mystery of the kingdom of God” (Mark 4:11, NAS) that He was at that point revealing to His disciples. The apostle Paul used the word mystery 21 times in his Epistles. In each case, the “mystery” involved a wonderful declaration of spiritual truth, revealed by God through divine inspiration. A mystery is that “which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets” (Ephesians 3:5). [1]

This mystery of the Kingdom had long been prophesied  Abraham along with others had a sense of it.  But as to how and when and by whom was not clear until the time of Christ. Now we see that it was the presence of the Law that kept God's eternal plan under wraps.  But now that Christ has come, the mystery is no longer a mystery.  Here we see another purpose of the Law.  Why? 

"So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian."  That word "guardian" can also be translated "tutor." It is the Greek word παιδαγωγός [2] [pahee·dag·o·gos] [see Note 3].  So the Law was a means of protecting the "mystery" until the fullness of time had come; until this mystery could be comprehended in maturity.  I think this will become more clear as we look into Galatians 4:1f.

So now Paul reaches his conclusion to the theological argument.  “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:26–29, NIV) "The Galatians, though they are Gentiles, are eligible for adoption through faith in Christ. Observance of the law is not a requirement or condition for becoming a child of God . . . he emphasizes here that the standard categories (race, social status, and gender), which normally divide people, no longer apply to those “in Christ.” It is not that people cease to be male or female; rather, these distinctions are not grounds for exclusion from the life that God offers all people in Christ." [5]

How does one benefit from this relationship? Paul introduces a new word in this Letter: "baptized". "This is how one becomes united to Christ. This is not baptismal regeneration and does not refer to water baptism, for that never put anyone into Christ. Paul speaks of the baptism of the Holy Spirit which places all true believers into a living union with Christ (1 Cor 12:12–13), and with each other (Eph 4:15–16). The Greek passive voice means that this was done for them and not by them. Baptism in water symbolizes, but does not effect, this glorious experience." [6]  Salvation then is essentially union with Christ and it is accomplished through faith in Him -- alone.

Then Paul repeats but makes clear that this is the exact way that Abraham was justified and therefore if you are united to Christ, you have the same faith as Abraham.  You are of all intent of purpose a real Jew. "Thus, by union with Christ, believers become "Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Here that which Paul had previously declared to be Christ's—the inheritance of the promise made to Abraham (3:16)—he now applies to the Christian church as a whole by virtue of its actually being Christ's body." [7]

The implications of this are profound and the most important is that all the promises given to Abraham's seed according to the flesh (Israel) are ultimately found in fulfillment in Abraham's Seed, Jesus Christ. And all who have faith in Christ share in the same faith as Abraham (and all true believers from all ages) and are counted as Abraham's spiritual seed, thereby sharing in the promises to Abraham from a spiritual nature.  (To read more on this in detail I encourage you to read Abraham's Four Seeds, by John Reisinger.  It can be read online by going to this LINK.

This teaching of course flies in the face of all who call themselves Dispensational or even Covenantal. It removes the importance of ethnicity and elevates faith.  Even to the Jews of his time, Jesus had to correct their thinking when He said, “If you were Abraham’s children, then you would do what Abraham did.” (John 8:39, NIV).  Abraham believed.  Abraham had faith. Later in this Letter, in Galatians 6:15–16, Paul will make this very plain: ¹⁵ Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. ¹⁶ Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.

Father, Your ways are often so elaborate and complicated, its hard to understand what and why You've done what You've done.  There is a 'not knowing' when it comes to You. This is no surprise to me because You are God and I am not.  Yet You do give us sufficient understanding and this passage is an example of that.  The New Testament writers always understood the prophecies of the Old Testament to be spiritual in nature.  They transcend ethnicity so that they can include all ethnic people.  The Gospel if for all and Christ is the treasure.  Father, by Your Spirit, enable me to embrace with great joy the truth of salvation by faith alone in Christ alone. And Father may that bedrock of faith provide the inertia to live for You more fully and more obediently today.  For the glory of Christ.  Amen!

 

___________________________________

1. Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/mystery-of-God.html#ixzz38IiB9bWJ
2. Strong, J. (2001). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

3.  Among the Greeks and the Romans the name was applied to trustworthy slaves who were charged with the duty of supervising the life and morals of boys belonging to the better class. The boys were not allowed so much as to step out of the house without them before arriving at the age of manhood.

4. Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). The Reformation study Bible: Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture: New King James Version (Ga 3:24). Nashville: T. Nelson.

5. Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ga 3:26–29). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

6. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (2389). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

7. Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Galatians/Exposition of Galatians/II. Paul's Defense of the Gospel (3:1-4:31)/B. The Doctrinal Argument (3:6-4:7)/5. Heirs with Abraham (3:23-29), Book Version: 4.0.2

8. The use of the word "seed" without the article is of great importance, for it keeps the necessity of a union with Christ constantly before the Galatians. The prize the legalizers had been holding before the eyes of the Galatian Christians and by which they had hoped to win them to the ceremonial aspects of Judaism was the possibility of becoming part of the seed of Abraham. They meant physical seed. Paul now replies that what the legalizers were offering through circumcision was actually already theirs in Christ. But it was only theirs in him. He is the seed to whom the promises were made. Believers enter into the promises by entering into him, thereby also becoming spiritual seed to God. (Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Galatians/Exposition of Galatians/II. Paul's Defense of the Gospel (3:1-4:31)/B. The Doctrinal Argument (3:6-4:7)/5. Heirs with Abraham (3:23-29), Book Version: 4.0.2)