Psalms 10:12

 Psalms 10:12 says, Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.  David asked God to arise and to not forget the humble.  As Christians, we are to be humble people and we have God's promise that He will never forget us.  Verse thirteen adds, Whereforte doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.  David said the wicked deny God's authority and power.  Those who say that there is no God or that He is just One of many and of limited power will one day realize how wrong they were.  Still, there will always be more people who deny God than who accept Him and the salvation that He freely provides.  Verse fourteen states, Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.  David said that God had seen the evil in the world, and again spoke about the mistreatment of the poor.  He said God had committed Himself to help the poor and the fatherless.  We as followers of Christ are called on to help the poor and needy and the fatherless.  We are not called to judge them but to help them.  Verse fifteen adds, Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.  David called on God to defeat the wicked and to search them out until there were none.  Though God is at work in the world today and does hold people accountable for their evil ways, until the return of Christ at God's judgment day, evil people will always exist.  Verse sixteen declares, The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land. David declared the eternal nature of God.  God is the everlasting King, and those that oppose Him will ultimately be destroyed.  The only way to avoid God's destruction is by putting our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Just as God is the everlasting God, so will the punishment of those who do not put their faith in Him be everlasting.  Verse seventeen adds, LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:  David said that God had heard the humble.  We can never go to God full of self pride and making demands, but must always go to Him with humble hearts.  Verse eighteen concludes, To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.  David again asks God to help the fatherless and the oppressed so that they would no longer be oppressed.  As God's people in the world today, we need to be active in helping the less fortunate, and we certainly should never be guilty of mistreating them.

Psalms 10:1

 Psalms 10:1 says, Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?  Though David asked why God was standing afar off, I don't believe that God is ever afar off from His people.  If we as Christians don't feel that God is close to us, we need ask what we are doing that makes us feel that way.  God never deserts His people, those who have put their faith in Him.  Verse two adds, The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.  David seemed to base his feeling that God was far away on the actions of the wicked not being immediately punished.  David said that they were persecuting the poor.  We can never base whether God is near on the basis of material things.  Verse three states, For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.  David said the wicked boasted of having everything that their heart desired and blessed those who were covetous, which God hated.  We don't have to look too far today to see this attitude in the world, even with some who call themselves Christians.  Verse four adds, The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.  David said that due to self pride that the wicked would not seek God, so much so that God was not even in their thoughts.  God does not call people to boast about themselves but to boast about God instead.  We don't have to look far in the world today to find people who do not even retain God in their thoughts.  Verse five continues, His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.  David said that the wicked saw doing what God asked as being a burden and His judgment to be far above and out of sight.  Some people today may believe that if there is a God that He really has nothing to do with the world today and that His judgment will never affect them.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  Verse six declares, He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.  David said that the wicked said that they would never be moved to come to God because they would never face adversity.  They were too filled with self pride.  Many people today put all their faith in material possessions and declare that they have no need for God.  Verse seven adds, His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.  David said that the speech of the wicked was full of cursing and deceit and fraud.  He also said they spoke out of mischief and vanity.  As followers of Christ, we need to let our words be such that they reflect the glory of God.  Verse eight continues, He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.  David said that the wicked hid in places where they could murder the innocent.  The actions of the wicked will usually be done in hidden places or in secret.   Verse nine says, He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.  David then said that the wicked were out to catch the poor in their net.  Too often today the poor people of the world are seen simply as a way to more riches for those in power.   The poor may not be murdered outright, but they are slowly killed by lack of the things needed to have a quality life.  Verse ten adds, He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.  Verse eleven concludes, He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.  David said that the wicked abused the poor and believed that God would never do anything about it.  No matter how much people deny God and believe that if He exists that He is not involved in the world today are very mistaken.  God is real and very much involved in the world today. 

Psalms 9:11

Psalms 9:11 says, Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.  David called on people to sing praises to the LORD.  We need to do the same thing today as Christians, no matter what is going on in the world or our life.  Verse twelve adds, When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.  David said that God avenged those who were unjustly killed and never forgot the humble.  God expects His people to live with humility and He will never forget those who are unjustly harmed.  God is our defender if we are followers of Christ.  Verse thirteen declares, Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:  David asked God to remember him in his time of trouble and to have mercy on him.  We should always look to God in our times of trouble and ask that He reach out to us in mercy.  Verse fourteen adds, That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.  David said that because of God's mercy on him that he would show his praise to God.  We should never forget to show our praise to God for His merciful gift of salvation.  Verse fifteen says, The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.  David said the heathen were caught in their own traps.  People who chose to not believe in God or accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord will one day realize that they were caught in their own trap.  Verse sixteen adds, The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.  David said that God is known by His judgment but the wicked are snared by their own works.  Whatever a person does without putting their faith in Christ and being directed by the Holy Spirit, the work of the persons own hands, is a snare to everlasting life.  The works may not even be wicked in the eyes of the world, but if they are not done under God's authority, they are still a trap.  Verse seventeen declares, The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.  That is a very plain statement, and is still true today.  The wicked, and nations that forget God, will be turned into hell.  Verse eighteen adds, For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.  Once more, David reminds us that the poor and needy will not be forgotten.  Of course, this would apply to the poor and needy who put their faith in God.  Just being poor and needy does not save anyone, but those who put their faith in Christ and are poor and needy will never be forgotten by God.  Verse nineteen states, Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.  David called on God to arise in judgment.  We don't really have to call on Him to do so, because He already does whether we recognize it or not.  Verse twenty adds, Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.  David asked God to put fear in his enemies, so that people would know that they were but men.  

Psalms 9:1

Psalms 9:1 says, To the chief Musician upon Muthlabben, A Psalm of David.  Again, the introductory remarks, then verse one states, I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.  David said he would praise God with his whole heart, or in other words with all that he was.  Our praise to God should encompass all of our being out of gratitude for all that He has done for us.  Verse two adds, I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing  praise to thy name, O thou most High.  David said that he would be glad and rejoice in the Lord and sing praises to Him.  We as Christians need that same attitude today.  We should nor just be glad in the Lord and sing praises to Him when things are going well, but should do so at all times.  Verse three states, When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.  David said that God, and not David himself, would cause his enemies to fail and be turned back.  If we seem surrounded by enemies today, we needcto look to God Who has already secured the victory for us.  Verse four adds, For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right. Again, David gave God credit for his success.  If God is to be our source of strength, we must live under His guidance to the best of our ability.  Verse five declares, Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.  David said that God had forever defeated his enemies, and the enemies of God Himself.  God's enemies should be our enemies.  We know that when Jesus Christ died on the cross that He secured an everlasting victory over His enemies.  Verse six adds, O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.  David continued to speak of God's complete victory over his enemies.  We have that same reason to praise God today as followers of Christ.  Verse seven says, But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.  David declared the eternal nature of God.  God's victory would always last and one day He would sit on His throne of judgment for the final judgment.  God is in charge everyday, but one day His final judgment will come.  Verse eight adds, And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.  David said that God would judge the world by His righteousness and would minister judgment in uprightness.  If we are to be found righteous when God's judgment comes, it can only be by putting our faith in Jesus Christ and His righteousness.  Verse nine states, The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.  David said God would be a refuge for the oppressed in times of trouble.  Of course, this means that those who are oppressed must put their faith in Jesus Christ to have God's protection.  Simply being oppressed without faith in Jesus Christ does not give anyone a promise of God's protection.  Verse ten adds, And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.  David said these promises applied to those who put their faith in God.  If we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, God will never forsake us. 

Psalms 8:1

 Psalms 8:1 adds,To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of David.  Another introduction, then verse one says, O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.  David said that God's name was excellent in the earth, and that God had set his glory in the heavens.  I am not sure how many people today consider God's name to be excellent, but it still is.  His glory will always exist in the heavens, even if many people do not acknowledge it in the world today.  We like David as followers of Christ need to acknowledge the excellence of God's name.  Verse two adds, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.  I believe that David was saying that with God's help, even babies and young children could defeat God's enemies.  We know a Baby Who came to grow up and be a sacrifice for all sins defeated God's enemies once and for all time.  Verse three declares, When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;  David said that when He saw heavens, the stars and the moon that he acknowledged them as a part of God's creation.  When we look at the heavens today, even the vast universe, we can either acknowledge them as God's creation or not.  As followers of Christ, though, we must see all of creation as God's work.  Verse four adds, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?  David asked why God would even consider, or be concerned with, people who were so small compared to the universe.  Yet, God Himself said that mankind was created in His image, therefore giving them their great value.  Without God, we really have very little value.  Verse five continues, For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.  David said that people were made a little lower than the angels, but God crowned people with His honor and glory.  We may be less powerful than the angels, but we will one day judge them.  Verse six states, Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:  David reminds us that we were created to take care of the earth under God's direction.  That is not to say that this was the only reason, since we were also created to have fellowship  with God, but this was mankind's first task.  Verse seven adds, All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;  Verse eight continues, The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.  David declared everything to be a part 9f God's creation, and that people were to take care of God's creation.  This is still our responsibility today.   Verse eight concludes, LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!  David concluded with the same statement that he started with, declaring the excellency of God's name.  We need to continually acknowledge the same thing today. 

Psalms 7:10

 Psalms 7:10 says, My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.  David said that his defence was in God and not in himself.   As stated before, David may have been viewed as a powerful man by the world, but he knew his strength came from God, who saves the upright of heart.  These were the people who tried be live true to their covenant relationship to God, just as we today must live true to our relationship with Jesus Christ if we are to be upright of heart.  Verse eleven adds, God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.  David said that God judges the righteous.  Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are still to live by the guidance of God, and if we stray away from Him, He will let us know.  At the same time, those who are wicked will face the judgment of God.  Verse twelve states, If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.  David said that those who would not turn to God in faith would face His destruction.  This has always been and always will be true.  Verse thirteen adds, He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.  God has already secured the victory over those who oppose Him.  Verse fourteen says, Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.  David said that those who live in iniquity already have God's arrows aligned against them.  They had brought forth falsehoods against God.  Those who deny God are already defeated.  Verse fifteen adds, He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.  David then said that the enemies of God would fall into their own trap.  Denying the truth of God is a trap unto itself.  Verse sixteen continues, His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.  This continues with the reality that those who devise plans against God will die in the trap of disbelief.  Verse seventeen declares,  I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.  David said he would praise God for His righteousness, and so should we. 

Psalms 7:1

Psalms 7:1 says, Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite.  There is an introduction telling what David wrote this about, then verse one says, O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:  David said he put his trust in the LORD to save him from all his enemies.  We need to have that same trust in God today.  God does not save us from some enemies, but from all, no matter what happens in this lifetime.   Verse two adds, Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.  David recognized that his strength came from God.  Even though he may have been viewed as powerful by the world, David recognized God as his source of strength, and so should we.  Verse three states, O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;  David also recognized that he was not perfect.  He asked that God judge whether he had been guilty of any sin.  We are not the judge of whether or not we have sinned, but God is and we should ask Him daily to judge our actions.  Verse four adds, If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)  David asked God to judge whether he had misused people.  We are still responsible for treating people fairly even as followers of Christ, or maybe more so.  Verse five continues, Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.  David said that if he was guilty of any of these things, then God should allow his enemies to defeat him.  We need to be honest in our relationship with God, and ask Him to judge our actions.  Verse six declares, Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.  David asked God to come against his enemies in judgment and power.  We today are instructed to pray for our enemies, but even so, we need to ask God for His strength when we are confronted by them.  Verse seven adds, So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.  David continues to ask God to help him and the people of Israel.  Verse eight continues, The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.  Though David asked God to judge him according to his righteousness and integrity, we must ask God to judge us through our relationship with Jesus Christ.  After we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, then we need to come to God with integrity in our relationship with Jesus Christ.  Verse nine concludes, Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.  David asked that God put an end to the wicked and establish the just, those that believed in their relationship to God.  This will one day happen, when Jesus Christ returns in victory. 

Psalms 6

Psalms 6:1 says,To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. Verse one says, O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.  David did not proclaim himself innocent, but asked that God not rebuke Him in anger.  We today are not innocent, but are all guilty of sin, so God could rebuke us in anger, but we can come to Him by His grace instead, if we accept the salvation of Christ.  Verse two adds, Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.  David asked for God's mercy, because he was weak and his bones were vexed.  We need to ask God's mercy, because by our own abilities we are weak and too often are vexed, or troubled, by the temptations and troubles of the world.  Verse three states, My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?  David said his soul was troubled and asked how long it would be before God gave him some relief.   If we find ourselves troubled in our souls today, we need to go to God in prayer, and we need to patiently await His answer.  Verse four says, Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake.  David asked God to return and deliver his soul for the sake of God's mercy, not because David deserved it.  When God delivers us from our sins and troubles in this world, it is because of His mercy and not because we deserve it.  Verse five adds, For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?  Though this might be interpreted as David saying there was no life after death, I believe he was saying that we must make our decision about whether we are to follow Jesus Christ in our lifetime.  Once we die, it is too late to do so.  Verse six adds, I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.  David said he was weak and wary and crying all night.  I think we can say that he 2as very stressed and maybe depressed, even though he is known as one of the great men of God.  Though if we truly put all of our trust and faith in God we shouldn't be, there may be times when the world wears us down, but if so, we need to cry out to God even more.  Verse seven continues, Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.  I believe that David was saying that he could no longer look at the world with hope or with God's vision of the world.   We need to never lose our spiritual vision of what God wants from the world and from us as individual followers of Christ.  Verse eight declares, Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.  David then asked that all the workers of iniquity depart from Him, because God had heard His crying.  We need to know that God hears us and then we can tell all those who work iniquity to depart from us and know that they have no power over us.  We have the everlasting victory through Christ.  Verse nine adds, The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.  David said God had heard his prayers and had answered them, just as He will always hear and answer the prayers of Christians today.  Verse ten concludes, Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.  David asked that all his enemies be made ashamed of their actions against him, and when God's judgment comes, all those who have denied Him and were at war with His people will be ashamed.  It will be too late for it to do them any good though, so we need to be praying for their salvation today. 

Psalms 5

Psalms 5:1 says,  To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David. Then verse one begins, Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.  David asks God to listen to his words.  God does not have to listen to us, but if we are followers of Christ, He always will.  Verse two adds, Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.  David might have been the king of Israel, but he acknowledged that God was his King.  No matter how powerful a person may be in the world, God is still the only real King and the only true God.  Those who do not acknowledge this in this lifetime will one day acknowledge it when God's judgment comes, but it will be to late for them to claim salvation through Jesus Christ.  Verse three states, My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.  David said he would start his day in prayer to God, and so should we as Christians.  Verse four adds, For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.  David said that he knew that God had no pleasure in wickedness and did not dwell where evil was.  As followers of Christ, we should be the same way, not delighting in wickedness or living with evil ruling our life.  Verse five declares, The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.  The foolish, those who say there is no God, will not stand in God's sight, because God hates those who work iniquity.  David said this then, and it has never changed.  Verse six adds, Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.  David said that God hates deceitful people, those who live guided by anything but the truth of God.  Verse seven says, But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.  David said that no matter what anyone else did, that he was going to worship God in His house because of the multitude of God's mercy.  We will never lack God's mercy if we put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse eight adds, Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.  David asked God to lead him and make his paths straight.  David was not looking to his own righteousness to guide him, but was looking to the righteousness of God to do so, and so must we.  Verse nine continues, For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.  David said there was no righteousness in his enemies, and until a person accepts Jesus Christ as his or her personal Savior and Lord, the is no righteousness in that person.  Verse ten states, Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.  David called on God to destroy those who did not put their faith in Him, but we are called to pray for their salvation and not their destruction.  God will one day hold each person accountable for his or her sins, and faith in Jesus Christ is the only to avoid everlasting punishment.  Verse eleven adds, But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.  David then called on those who put their faith in God to rejoice.  As Christians, we should daily rejoice in the Lord.  Verse twelve concludes, For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.  David said that God would protect those who put their faith in Him.  I don't believe that this means that as followers of Christ we will never encounter difficulties in life, but that we can rest assured that God has already secured the victory over sin and death for us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. 

Psalms 4

 Psalms 4:1 says,To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. There is an introductory instruction, then verse one begins, Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.  David calls on God, whom he calls the God of his righteousness, to hear him.   He said God had enlarged Him, or made him greater than he was on his own when he was in times of distress.  If God is to help us in times of distress, He must be our God personally.  Verse two adds, O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.  God asked how long people would turn His glory into vanity.  Anytime we deny, doubt, or misuse the word of God, we are making it a vanity, or nothing.  Verse three declares, But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.  David said that God had set apart to Himself those that were godly, those that put their faith in Him, and that He would hear them when they called to Him, just as He heard David when He called.  God will always hear His people, those who follow Christ by faith, when they call out to Him.  Verse four adds, Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.  David may have been a great King, but he told people to stand in awe of God and to commune with Him even while they were in bed.  We should never lose our awe of God nor have times when we do not commune with Him.  Verse five states, Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.  David said our faith should lead to action.  We should offer sacrifices to God and put our faith in Him.  When we become followers of Jesus Christ, we sacrifice all that we have to Him and there should never be a time when our faith in Him falters.  Verse six says, There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.  David said many people would ask who would show them any good and would call on God to shine the light of righteousness on them.  Though the people of the world may never show any goodness to Christians, God has already shined the light of righteousness on us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.  We simply have to accept His sacrifice to live in His light.  Verse seven declares, Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.  David said God had put gladness in his heart more than material blessings did.  We need to have that same gladness of heart today because of our relationship with Jesus Christ.  Verse eight adds, I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.  Even though he was often under attack, David said because of  his faith in God that he could sleep in peace.  As followers of Christ, we should be able to sleep without worry today.  God is still in charge and our victory through our faith in Jesus Christ is already assured.

Psalms 3

Psalms 3:1 says, A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.  After the introductory remarks,  verse one says, LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.  David was not at peace with the world.  Even his son was attempting to kill him.  We should not be surprised if we are not at peace with the people of the world today as Christians, and this may at times include our own family.  Like David though, the important thing is that we are at peace with God.  Verse two adds, Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.  David said people were saying that it did no good for him to serve God because there was no peace in doing so.  The dictionary says selah could refer to a break in the singing or mean forever.  There are many people today who say that there is no peace in serving God, but we as followers of Christ know that no matter what happens in this life that we have a forever peace with God.  Verse three states, But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.  David did not listen to the people who said that there was no peace with God, but declared God to be his shield, or protector, Who lifted up David's head in times of trouble.  God is the same for all who put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Verse four adds, I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.  In his time of great trouble and distress, David called out to God, and God heard his cry.  It was bad enough that so many people wanted to kill David, but it was made that much worse by his own son wanting to do so.  Still, David did not lose His faith in God.   No matter how bad things might become in our life today we must never lose our faith in God.  God is our shield, our defender in times of trouble.  Verse five declares, I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.  David said God's protection allowed him to sleep at night.  If we are having difficulty sleeping, maybe we simply need to put our faith completely in God and His protection of us.  Verse six adds, I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.  David said that even if ten thousand people aligned against him that he would not be afraid.  There should be nothing in the world today that causes us to live in fear if we are truly followers of Christ.  Verse seven states, Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.  David did not look to his own strength and position to save him, but looked in faith to God to do so.  We need to be the same way, looking to God for deliverance and strength no matter what the situation may be.  Verse eight adds, Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.  David recognized that salvation came from God alone and was available to all who put their faith in Him.  This always has and always will be true.

Psalms 2

 Psalms 2:1 says, Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?  David asked why the heathen raged against God and imagined a vain thing.  We can easily ask the same questions today.   We only have to listen to the news to see examples of these two things.  Verse two adds, The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,  The earthly rulers aligned themselves against God.  Even when they may disagree with each other about many things, many of the rulers of the world today are aligned against God, either denying His existence or the power and truth of His word.  Verse three continues, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.  These rulers believed that they could defeat God.  No matter how big an army or how strong a nation may be, God will never be defeated by anyone.  Verse four declares, He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.  David said that the One Who sits in the heavens would laugh at them.  God is not up pacing and worrying about the world overcoming Him, but He is sitting and holding them in derision.  Verse five adds, Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.  Even though the rulers of the world may believe that they are not subject to God, one day He will speak to them in wrath.  The only way to avoid the wrath of God is through faith in Jesus Christ as one's Savior and Lord.  Verse six states,Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.  This King is Jesus Christ, Who the people of Israel looked forward to then and Who we look back on now.  Verse seven declares, I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.  Again, this refers to Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God.  That is the distinguishing factor between Jesus Christ and all others.  He is the only begotten Son of God.  Verse eight says, Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.  If we wish to be victorious over those who deny God, we need to look to God for the victory.  Through Jesus Christ, God has already secured the victory, and we simply have to accept this by faith.  Verse nine adds, Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.  God said that those who followed Him would be as powerful as a man with an iron rod fighting against a man armed with pottery.  We have no reason to fear anyone if we are living by faith in God.  Verse ten states, Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. God calls on the rulers of the earth to be wise, and wisdom comes only from God.  Verse eleven adds, Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  No matter how powerful we may be in the world, when we come before God it must be with great humility and respect.   We cannot stand proudly before God.  Verse twelve concludes, Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.  We are to come before the Son, Jesus Christ, with love and honor for Him.

Psalms 1

Psalms 1:1 says, Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  David said that the man, and we can add woman, is blessed if they do not follow the council of the ungodly or follow the way of the sinners and the scornful.  If we would be blessed by God today we need to heed this advice.  I don't believe that this means that we are to completely withdraw from the world, though, since God tells us to go into the highways and hedges to spread the gospel.  Instead, I believe it means that we are not to allow ourselves as followers of Christ to be ruled by the wisdom of the world. We are to be in but not of the world.  Verse two adds, But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.  David said those who would be blessed would delight in and meditate on the law of the LORD day and night.  In other words, we are to continually be guided by God's word, and in order to be guided by His word, we must study it.  God's word should not be something we meditate on once or twice a week, but should be something that guides all times. times.  Verse three states, And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.  David said that when we avoid the council of the ungodly and delight in God's law that we will be like a tree planted by the waters.  We will be fruitful and will not wither and whatever we do will prosper.  I believe this refers to spiritual, and not material, prosperity.  Verse four declares, The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.  David also gave a warning to the ungodly.  He said that they are like the chaff, which blows away when the good grain is separated from the bad.  Those who do not follow God will one day see all their accomplishments in this world blown away by God.  Verse five adds, Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.  David stated that the ungodly would not stand in God's judgment, nor would sinners be found in the congregation of the righteous.  Unless a person accepts Jesus Christ as His or her Savior and Lord, he or she cannot be made righteous in God's eyes, and therefore cannot stand in His judgment and be a part of His congregation or kingdom.  Verse six concludes, For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.  We do not determine if we are righteous or not, but God does.  If we are to be declared righteous, we must put our faith in Jesus Christ. 

Malachi review

First, the book speaks of the burden of the word of the LORD.  God is burdened when His people do not listen to His word, and so should we be as followers of Christ.  God spoke of His love for Jacob, because Jacob was sincere in his relationship to God.  God also said He hated Esau, or I believe more accurately Esau's actions.  Esau had concern only for the material things of life and not his God given heritage.  Though God loves everyone, He expects people to be obedient to His will and value their relationship with Him.  God also said that Esau's descendants refused to turn to Him in obedience.  They were not the only ones though, as even the descendants of Jacob, through Isaac or Israel, many times refused to acknowledge God as their Father and give Him the respect that He deserved.  God does not accept us as His children simply because of where we were born or who are parents are.  The people of Israel had polluted their worship of God and He said that He would reach out to the Gentiles with His gift of salvation.   The people of Israel were supposed to reach the world with the message of God, but they chose to ignore His commands.  We as followers of Christ are now commissioned to reach the world with the gospel, and we need to remain true to that calling.  God then directed His disappointment to the priests, who had totally failed in their calling.  As followers of Christ, we are a part of the priesthood of believers, and we need to be dedicated to doing what God calls us to do.  God said that empty worship was useless.  We may go through the motions and show all the emotions, but if they are not sincere, then they mean nothing to God.  God then said that the people of Israel were robbing Him by offering less than the best that they had to Him.  He also called on them to bring all the tithes into the storehouse.  We need to give God our best today and not just what we have no real use for or need of.  This includes our time, talents, and material possessions.   God then concluded by saying that He was sending a Redeemer to those who would accept Him.  Jesus Christ has already brought salvation to everyone, but we can either accept it or reject it.  

Malachi 4:1

Malachi 4:1 says, For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.  God said His day of judgment was coming, and it still is.  In that day, everything that goes against God's word will be burned up, and those that do not put their faith in Jesus Christ will be sent away to the everlasting fires of hell.  It is up to each individual to decide where they will spend eternity.  He or she can choose everlasting life with God through faith in Jesus Christ, or everlasting punishment through rejecting Him.  Those are the only two choices.  Verse two adds, But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.  God then offered the opportunity of everlasting life through Jesus Christ.  Once more, each individual must make the choice of accepting salvation through Jesus Christ or rejecting His salvation.  If we accept Him, we have God's promise that He will keep us safe forever.  Verse three continues, And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.  God said that His people by His power under His guidance would tread down the wicked in the day that God prescribed.  We have no reason to fear the wicked of the world, because God has already secured the victory through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.  Verse four states, Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.  God's people were instructed to remember God's law given to Moses.  It had not changed then nor has it changed since then.  Though our sins are forgiven by faith in Christ and we cannot be saved by the law, we are not exempted from obeying God's law as followers of Christ.  Verse five adds, Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:  The prophetic age was coming to an end, but there would come on more great prophet with the same spirit that Elijah had, and that was John the Baptist.  He came to call on the people of Israel to make ready for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.  After Jesus came, there was no need for a prophet.  For those who do not accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, when He returns it will be a great and dreadful day of the LORD.  Verse six continues, And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth withheld a curse. THE END OF THE PROPHETS.  Jesus does indeed unite those who put their faith in Him in love.  Those who do not put their faith in Jesus Christ God will smite with a curse.  Again, it is up to each individual which he or she will choose. 

Malachi 3:12

Malachi 3:12 says, And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.  God said that when that the nation of Israel would be called blessed and would be a delightsome land when they were once again obedient to their covenant relationship with Him.  Verse thirteen adds, Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?  God said that His people had spoken stoutly, or loud and strong against Him.  They asked Him when they had done this.  They were so far away from God that they didn't even know when they spoke against Him.  As followers of Christ, we should always know what God's word says, and we should be so close to Him through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that we never speak against Him.  We definitely should never speak strongly against God and not even realize that we are doing so.  Verse fourteen continues, Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?  God said they had spoken stoutly against Him when they asked what good it did to serve Him.  They said that there was no profit in serving God, though He had given them the land they lived in and had always met their needs.  Some people who profess to be Christians turn away from or at least speak out against God when they suffer any problem in the world instead of continuing to give Him the praise He deserves.  Verse fifteen concludes, And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.  God said that His chosen people now called those who were filled with self-pride happy and those that worked wickedness were set up as people to be admired.  No matter how rich a person may be today, if they are full of self-pride instead of giving God the glory for their success, then we do not need to look up to them as an example.  We certainly do not need to look up to them if they have become successful through wicked, or ungodly actions.  Verse sixteen declares, Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.  Not everyone spoke out against God.  Some still gathered in His name and listened to His words.  Their names were written in God's book of remembrance.  This is where we need to be today, gathering in God's name.  When we continue to worship and praise God no matter what through faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, our name will be written in the Lamb's book of life.  It is faith in Jesus Christ that allows our name to be written in God's book of life, but we are still called on to be obedient to Him.  God will never forget those who are truly His.  Verse seventeen adds, And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.  God said that those who were faithful to Him would be His forever.  He would spare them as a man spares His own son.  This would be made possible because God did not spare His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.  Verse eighteen concludes, Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.  God said that when He restored His people that they would be able to discern between the righteous and the wicked and between those who served Him and those who didn't.  This still applies to us as Christians today. 

Malachi 3:7

 Malachi 3:7 says, Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?  God said that His chosen people who had entered into a covenant relationship with Him had turned away from the covenant and His ordinances for years.  God said that if they would return to Him that He would return to them, but they asked why they should return.  God will always stand ready to retore His people to Himself if they stray away and will even call them to return.  It is then up to them to acknowledge that they have turned away from Him and need to return.  Verse eight adds, Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.  God asked a question.  Would a man rob God?  It seems that this would be a ridiculous question to ask of those who were supposed to be in a covenant relationship with God, but He answered by saying that they had robbed Him.  They then asked when they had done this.  We need to ask ourselves the same question today and look to God for the answer.  We are not the ones qualified to answer the question.  Only God is.  Verse nine declares, Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.  God said the whole nation was cursed because the whole nation robbed Him.  This was not just an isolated incident with a few of His chosen people.  God said the whole nation was robbing Him.  We need to make sure that even if everyone else in the nation is guilty of robbing God that we as an individual are not.  Everybody is doing is not an excuse or justification for not obeying God.  Verse ten adds, Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.  God called on them to bring all the tithes into the storehouse, not because He needed anything, but to show the obedience of His people.  We really have nothing to offer God that is not already His except our obedience to Him through our relationship with Jesus Christ.  We must put God and His commandments first if we are to successfully spread the gospel.  God said that if they brought the tithes  that He would pour out blessings that they would not have room to receive.  If we have needs today as followers of Christ, the way to have those needs met is to put God and His work first.  Verse eleven continues, And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.  God said that when they faithfully brought His tithes into the storehouse that He would protect and provide for them.  God has not changed this promise.  Verse twelve concludes,  And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.  God said that if they followed His command and put Him first that all nations would call them blessed.  If we want the rest of the world to call us a blessed nation, it must start by our being obedient to Him and putting the things of God first.

Malachi 3:1

Malachi 3:1 says, Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.   God said that He would send His messenger to prepare the people for the coming Messiah.  This is a prophesy of the coming of John the Baptist, called by God to prepare the people for the coming of Jesus Christ.  The people were told that the Messiah would come suddenly, and we are told that He, Jesus Christ the Messiah, will one day return suddenly.   It is our task as followers of Christ to share God's gospel so that people can accept His salvation and be prepared for His return.  They were told that the Messiah would come to the temple, the place of worship, and that those who put their faith in Him would delight in Him.  We know that when Jesus Christ went to the temple that the religious leaders did not delight in Him, but those who accepted Him as the coming Messiah did.  When we gather together in God's name today, we should delight in our relationship to Him.  Verse two adds, But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:  The people of Israel and Judah were asked who could stand before the coming Messiah, since He was coming as a refiner of the covenant between God and His people.  The answer was and is that no one can stand before God by their own merit, but must come through faith in the refined covenant brought by Jesus Christ.  Verse three continues, And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.  God said that when Jesus Christ came that He would purify the sons of Levi, the priests of Israel.  We also know that as followers of Jesus Christ that we are called a priesthood of believers, so our relationship with God should be purified by our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse four states, Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years. God said that after the Messiah came and the temple was purified that the offerings of His people would be acceptable again.  If our offerings to God are to be acceptable to Him they must be presented through our relationship with Jesus Christ.  We can offer everything we have to God, but unless we offer it through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ it will not be acceptable.  Verse five adds, And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.  God said that He would be a witness against sorcerers, adulterers, and those who mistreated workers and widow and orphans.  God has always called on His people to help the less fortunate who are in need and to deal honestly with everyone.   He still expects this of Christians today.  Verse six continues, For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.  God said this was to happen because He was the LORD, and He did not change.  We must accept God for Who He is, and if we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we will not be consumed by the forces of evil in the world nor in the coming judgment of God. 

Malachi 2:10

Malachi 2:10 says, Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?  God asked did everyone not have the same Father, and the answer is that yes we do.  We may never accept Him as such, but God is the Creator, the Father, of every person, whether they acknowledge it or not.  God then asked why people dealt treacherously with one another, profaning His covenant. The answer is that God also gives each individual self-will.  We either choose to follow God through faith in Jesus Christ or we choose not to.  Verse eleven adds, Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.  God said that Judah had dealt treacherously with Him and Israel had committed an abomination.  All those who were to be God's chosen people had turned away from Him and followed idols, giving their daughters in marriage to those who were idolaters.  Verse twelve continues, The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.  God said that people who did this would be cut off from Him.  This would be true of both those who taught such things and those who believed them.  Those who teach falsely about God will be held accountable, but so will those who believe what they teach.  Verse thirteen declares, And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.  God said that the people came to the altar with false humility, covering it with tears that meant nothing.  God does not want our false tears but wants our honest rejoicing when we come to His altar.  If we do shed tears, they should be genuine tears of a truly contrite heart and should lead us to rejoicing at the grace of God.  Verse fourteen adds, Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.  God said that the men had not been faithful in their relationship to their wives.  I believe this could mean more than just adultery but could also mean ignoring the relationship with God as a couple joined as one.  Verse fifteen continues, And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.  God said that in marriage that the husband and wife were made one, not physically but spiritually.  This was so that they could produce Godly seed, or children.  Marriage is much more than one man and one woman, because God must be the center of the marriage.  Verse sixteen states, For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.  God said that He hated the putting away of wives by divorce, especially when the husband had often been cruel to his wife even before doing so.  In that day, the husband was the one who could divorce the wife, but today, when either can do so, God still hates it, unless it is for certain prescribed reasons, of which adultery is the chief.  Verse seventeen adds, Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?  God said that the people of Judah and Israel wearied Him when they questioned His authority, and so does anyone who does so today. 

Malachi 2:1

Malachi 2:1 says, And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. God had a commandment for the priests, those who were supposed to represent God to the people and the people to God.  This is what we as a priesthood of believers are supposed to do today.  Verse two adds, If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. The commandment to the priests was if they did not take God's word to heart, or if they really didn't believe it and give glory to God, then He would send a curse on them.  Simply claiming to be a priest was not enough.  God then added that He had already sent a curse on these priests.  This also applies to those today who claim to represent God to the world but who don't really put their faith in Him.  Verse three continues, Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.  This was very descriptive of how God felt about the actions of those who called themselves priests of Israel.  God hasn't changed His judgment of false priests.  Verse four states, And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.  God reminded them that He had established His covenant with Levi who represented the priests, and He was reestablishing it with those who would be true to Him.  We have a covenant with God through Jesus Christ, and simply claiming to accept Him is not enough.  We must be true to our calling as Christians.  Verse five adds, My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.  God said His covenant with Levi was for life and peace, as long as Levi and the priests who came after Him would represent Him to the people and the people to Him.  If we would have life and peace today, we need to remain true to God.  Verse six continues, The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.  God said that Levi remained true to his calling and He remained true to His covenant with Levi.  Therefore, Levi walked in peace and equity, and did not turn away to iniquity.  We must do the same.  Verse seven says, For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.  God said priests should speak the truth of God's law since they were messengers of the LORD.  Verse eight adds, But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.  God said that the priests of that day had departed out of God's way.  They had also caused the people of Israel to stumble at God's law and corrupted the covenant of Levi.  We as Christians have a covenant relationship with God, and we should never cause anyone to corrupt God's covenant.  Verse nine continues, Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.  God said He had made the priests contemptible to the people, since they had not kept His ways and had been partial in the law.  We cannot show partiality when it comes to God's law and still expect His blessings. 

Malachi 1:6

Malachi 1:6 says, A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?   God stated that a son honored his father and a servant his master, but then asked where was His honor from the priests of Israel.  God aided that the priests despised His name, and we know that when Jesus Christ came, this was especially true.  The religious leaders despised His name.  We cannot afford to do the same thing today.  Verse seven adds, Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.  When God said that the priests offered polluted offerings, they asked when they had done this, just as they had asked when they had not honored God.  Anytime we offer less than our best out of a sincere heart to God, we offer a polluted offering to Him.  Verse eight continues, And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.  God said that when they offered the blind and lame for a sacrifice that what they were doing was evil, and asked if the governor would be pleased with such an offering.  We cannot give more to the rulers of the world than we give to God.  Verse nine declares, And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts. When they prayed to God, they were asked if God would regard their requests graciously if they had no real respect for Him is what I believe the question means.  We cannot see God as a source for what we want while at the same time not having any real reverence for Him.  Verse ten adds, Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.  Just as people would not shut a door for no reason, they should not offer sacrifices for no reason, or without any real concern for what they represented.   When they did, God said He would not accept their sacrifices, and He still won't today.  God does not have to accept our leftovers just because we bring them to Him.  Verse eleven continues, For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.  God said that since His chosen people, the Jews, had rejected Him that His name would be made great throughout all the world of the Gentiles.   Jesus Christ came to save not just certain people, but everyone who put their faith in Him as their Savior and Lord.  Verse twelve says, But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.  God said that the people of Israel had profaned His table by their cheap offerings.  We must bring the best that we have to God, including the best that we can be as individuals, or we profane God's table, or altar.  Verse thirteen adds, Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.  God said that the people of Israel had declared serving Him to be a weariness.  We should never grow weary in doing God's work and following His will for our life.  Verse fourteen concludes, But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.  God warned against promising one thing to Him and then giving something less valuable.   God will always expect us as followers of Christ to give Him only our best, especially when we have dedicated something to Him.

Malachi 1:1

Malachi 1:1 says, The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.  This message to Israel given to Malachi to present to them was referred to as the burden of the word of the LORD.  God's word can be a burden to those who do not accept it, because it will call them to repent of their sins and put God above everything else.  God's word can also be a burden to those who accept it, because it requires them to share in the responsibility of reaching out to the lost people of the world with God's message of salvation, but it will be a light burden, because they Holy Spirit helps them bear it.  This message was for Israel, God's chosen people, and I believe because of their rebellion against God, they had become a burden to Him.  Verse two adds, I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,  God said that He had loved the people of Israel, but that they questioned when and how He had loved them.  They gave the example of Esau and Jacob, asking if Esau was not Jacob’s brother, but saying that God loved Jacob and not Esau.  Their contention was that God's love was arbitrary, but God loved Esau just as much as He loved Jacob.  Esau just did not love God.  If we suffer God's punishment, it will not be because God does not love us or loves someone else more.  God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for the sins of everyone, not just certain people, and He did so out of love for each person.  Verse three continues, And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.  God's chosen people placed the blame for what happened to Esau on God, and not on Esau himself because of his attitude toward God.  This is the same argument people use today when they rhetorically ask how a loving God can send people to hell.  God has done everything possible to keep people from going to hell if they accept His salvation, but as with Esau the choice is theirs whether or not to put their faith in God.  Verse four states, Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.  God said that the Edomites, the descendants of Esau, said that even though they were impoverished that they would return and rebuild cities in the desolate places.  They did not say that God would do this through them, but that they would do it without God's help.  We may think that we can accomplish great things without God today, but just as God told the Edomites, what we build or accomplish without Him will be torn down by Him.  Verse five adds, And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.  God said that they would see His work in Israel and that He would be magnified.  As followers of Christ today, whatever we do should magnify or glorify God and never be done to magnify or glorify ourselves. 

Zechariah review

 First, we see that Zechariah was called by God to proclaim God's truth.  We as Christians are called by God to proclaim His word of truth to the world today.  Zechariah did not always immediately understand what God was saying to him, and when he didn't, he asked for help in understanding what God was saying.  If we do not know what God is saying to us today, all we need to do is go to Him in prayer and ask.  God will not leave us confused about His word to us if we are truly followers of Christ.  God spoke to Zechariah by visions of ordinary things that God gave a special meaning.  In Jesus' day, a man dying on a cross was an ordinary event, but the death of Jesus was given an extraordinary meaning, and if we only see a man dying on a cross, we miss God's salvation that came through the death of Jesus Christ.  God called on the people of Judah and Jerusalem to return to Him and follow His commands in all that they did.  God did not just suddenly decide that the people of Judah and Jerusalem were going to be forgiven no matter what they did, and He will never do that with people today.  If we are to be saved then we must come to God through faith in Jesus Christ.  We will never be pronounced forgiven by our own merit.  God told His people that He expected them to use all that He blessed them with for the advancement of His kingdom and to bring glory to Him.  I believe this is still true today.  God said that as the Creator of the universe that He would stand with those in Israel and Judah, all of His chosen people, when they were faithful to their covenant with Him, and He would likewise stand against all who refused to enter into that covenant relationship with Him.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we enter into a covenant relationship with God by which He secures our salvation, and until we do, we will never be a part of God's people.  God fights for His people and against those who oppose them.  He has already secured the victory.  Next, we will look at the book of Malachi.

Zechariah 14:12

 Zechariah 14:12 says, And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.  God basically said that those who fought against Jerusalem would ultimately face a horrible death.  When God's judgment comes, all those who fought against or even denied salvation through Jesus Christ will be sent away to everlasting punishment.  Verse thirteen adds, And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.  God said that when this judgment came that neighbors would be fighting neighbors.  Without God's guidance, people tend to want what is best for themselves without any real concern for their neighbors.  Verse fourteen declares, And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.  Even Judah, those who were supposed to be God's people, would fight against Jerusalem, God's holy city, to claim some of the riches there.  Those called God's people would destroy themselves out of greed.  When someone pretends to follow God, but does so simply for material reasons,  then they will find themselves at war with others who do the same.  Verse fifteen adds, And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague.  God said that the plague that He was going to send would affect not only the people, but their animals as well.  Nothing is going to escape God's coming judgment.  Everything that a person owns will fall under God's judgment, and anything gained outside of obedience to Him will be destroyed.  Verse sixteen states, And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.  All those that were left would continue to worship God, because they had been redeemed by their faith in Him. This is the church today.  We are to daily worship God and be faithful to His calling.  Verse seventeen adds, And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.  God said that those who did not come to worship Him would have the rain cut off from them.  Though we do not come to God to be materially blessed, if we do not put our faith in Him one day we will be cut off from all the good things in life.  Verse eighteen continues, And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.  God said that if the withholding of rain did not bring people to worship Him that He would send a plague on them.  If mild suffering does not bring us to faith in Jesus Christ, then one day we will suffer the everlasting plague in hell.  Verse nineteen declares, This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.  God was now going to pronounce His punishment on all who did not come to truly worship Him, and we know what the ultimate punishment will be for those who refuse to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior today.   Verse twenty adds, In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar.  Verse twenty-one concludes, Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.  God said in that day everything would be consecrated to Him.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, everything we have should be consecrated to Him.

Zechariah 14:1

 Zechariah 14:1 says, Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.  Zechariah said that the day of the LORD was coming, and the people of Jerusalem were going to be divided into those who put their faith in God and those who didn't.  We today as followers of Christ know that the day of the LORD is coming, and the world will be separated into those who believe in Jesus Christ and those who don't.  Verse two adds, For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.  The people of Jerusalem were going to suffer defeat because they did not obey God.  Being God's people in name only was not enough, just as being a Christian in name only is not enough today.  Verse three declares, Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.  Those nations that defeated Jerusalem would not escape the wrath of God.  Just because God allowed other nations to defeat His rebellious people did not mean that they were going to escape His punishment.  Verse four adds, And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.  Matthew Henry says this refers to Jesus Christ taking away the division between the Jews and Gentiles when He offered Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of all on the Mount of Olives.  We know that God will stand in judgment of all people one day.  Verse five continues, And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.  Matthew Henry says this valley is the gospel church.  Verse six states, And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: Verse seven adds, But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.  Matthew Henry says this refers to the time between when Jesus Christ first came and when He returns.  His light is always there, but it is not accepted by all, so therefore is not as bright as it will one day be.  Verse eight says, And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.  God said that the living water, Jesus Christ, would flow out of Jerusalem into all the world.  This began when the Holy Spirit led and empowered the apostles, and it continues today through those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord and proclaim His gospel to the world.  Verse nine adds, And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.  This refers to when God's judgment comes on the world.  People will then realize that there truly is but one God, and He will rule over all the world.  Verse ten states, All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin’s gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king’s winepresses.  Verse eleven adds,. And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.  God was going to restore His land with those that put their faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.  This day is coming, so we need to put our faith in Jesus Christ until it does. 

Zechariah 13:1

 Zechariah 13:1 says, In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.  God said that in that day, after Jesus Christ came, that there would be a fountain to wash away the sins of the people.   This was done by the blood of Jesus Christ.  We must be washed clean by His blood to have salvation from our sins.  Verse two declares, And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.  God said that when people were washed clean of their sins and lived by faith in Jesus Christ that all idols would be removed from their life, as would the false prophets.  If we truly follow Christ, we will never worship idols nor be drawn away from God by false prophets.  We will know the truth of God's word.  Verse three adds, And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth.  God said that the parents of those who prophesied false prophecies would kill them.  This would mean that the parents had put their faith in Jesus Christ and knew His word, and points out the severity of claiming lies in the name of God.  Verse four states, And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive:  When Jesus Christ came, those false prophets who accepted Him as their Savior and Lord would be ashamed of their false prophecies and would hope that no one remembered them.  We, as Christians, should pray that any false ideas that we may have proclaimed about God before accepting salvation through Christ will be forgotten.  These false prophets would no longer wear the garments associated with prophets.  Verse five adds, But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.  The false prophets would no longer proclaim themselves to be prophets, but would declare themselves to be simply men making a living.  These false prophets, once they accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord would admit that they had never been called by God to prophesy.  Verse six says, And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.  Matthew Henry says that this referred to the false prophets having been beaten in order to get them to renounce their false prophecies so that they would not be killed, but I don't believe that people can be beaten into accepting God's truth.  They must come of their own free will.  I believe this is a reference not to false prophets, but to Jesus Christ whose hands were pierced by the Jews, those who were supposed to be His friends.  Verse seven declares, Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.  This is a reference to the coming suffering of Jesus Christ for the sins of mankind.  He took on the punishment for all of humanity so that we might be restored to God.  Because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross, we are restored as little ones to God because of His sacrifice.  Verse eight adds, And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.  God said that the people were to be separated into those who believed in Jesus Christ and those who didn't, with more not believing than those who did believe.  There will always be more people who deny God, and Jesus Christ in particular, than those who put their faith in Him, but this does not relieve us of the responsibility of proclaiming the gospel of Christ to the world.  Verse nine declares, And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.  God said that He would save those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.  He would be their God and they would be His people and He would keep them safe through all the trials of life.  This is still God's promise to those who follow Christ today. 

Zechariah 12:7

Zechariah 12:7 says, The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah.  God said that He would save those who lived in tents in Judah first.  These were the poorer, less powerful people of God.  Then He would save the people of Jerusalem, who were more powerful and protected physically.  God said He would save the people of Judah first so that the people of Jerusalem would have no ability to look down on them.  God will always look out for the weakest first.   As we grow stronger spiritually, we still will never have a reason to feel superior to any other Christian.  Verse eight declares, In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.  God said that He was going to defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and that even when they felt feeble that He would make them as strong as David had been.  God also said His angel would protect them.  When we feel our weakest, if we put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, God will be with us to strengthen and protect us.  Verse nine adds, And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.  God said that in that day, either the day that Jesus Christ first came or when He returns, that God would destroy all the nations that came against Jerusalem.  Spiritually they were defeated when Jesus first came, and physically and spiritually they will be defeated when He returns.  As followers of Christ, we are winners either way.  Verse ten states,cAnd I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.  God said that one day the inhabitants of Jerusalem would mourn the fact that they had crucified Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God.  Whether they do that before the return of Christ or not will make all the difference.  Verse eleven adds, In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.  God said that in the day that Christ returns there will be great mourning in Jerusalem.  They would mourn like people had for King Josiah, because they would realize that their sins had kept them from receiving the gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.  One day, all those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord will go away to everlasting mourning.  Verse twelve states, And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;  Verse thirteen adds,The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart;  Verse fourteen concludes,  All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.  God said all the people of Israel who had rejected Jesus Christ would mourn, and so will every person throughout history and in the world when Christ returns who has not accepted His salvation. 

Zechariah 12:1

Zechariah 12:1 says, The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.  The God of all creation, the only true God, said he was burdened for Israel.  God does not allow people to go to hell without being grieved, which is why He sent His only begotten Son to die so the people could avoid that fate.  Still, it is up to each individual to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord personally.  Verse two states,  Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. God said that He would protect Judah and Jerusalem, His chosen people when they were obedient to their covenant with Him,and anyone who attacked it would be left trembling.  Verse three adds, And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.  God said that even if all the people in the world were gathered against Jerusalem, that they would not be successful in defeating God's people who lived there.  Likewise, if all the lost people of the world today unite against God's church, those people who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, they will not defeat it.  Verse four says, In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.  God said that He would strike down anyone who came against Jerusalem, and this is still true for those who are at war w8th the church today.  God has secured our victory already.   Verse five adds, And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God.  God also said that those in Jerusalem would say in their hearts that their strength was in the LORD, and not in their own power or abilities.  We need to give God credit for our victory over sin in the world today.  We can not be victorious over sin by our own strength and abilities.  Verse six declares, In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.  God said in that day, when He restored Jerusalem, that no one could stand against them, because God was with them. As long as we are following God's will as Christians, no one will ever defeat us spiritually. 

Zechariah 11:9

 Zechariah 11:9 says, Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another.  God said He was no longer going to protect the people of Judah and provide for their needs.  This also applies to all who rejected or will reject the Messiah, Jesus Christ.  Verse ten adds, And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people.  God said that when the people who had entered into a covenant relationship with Him failed to keep their part of the covenant with them, He no longer was going to keep His covenant with them.  We have to realize that God is in charge, and we do not determine the conditions of our covenant with Him.  Verse eleven adds, And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD.  The rich and powerful did not understand God's covenant, but the poor and lowly did.  This does not mean that someone must be poor to obey God's commandments and keep His covenant, but too often the rich and powerful put their faith in the things of this world instead of putting their faith in God.  Verse twelve continues, And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.  God said that He told the people of Judah that if they thought of Him as being good, then they should pay Him what He asked for His blessings.  If they didn't think God was worth His wages, then they could pay Him what they wanted and He would be on His way.  They paid Him thirty pieces of silver, the sum paid to Judas to betray Jesus and a slaves wage.  Now, we really cannot buy God's good graces, but the question really is how much do we value God's gift of salvation.   Do we only look to God for blessings and send Him away if we get what we want?  Verse thirteen declares, And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.  God instructed Zechariah to give the thirty pieces of silver to the potter.  If God's people value their relationship with God so little as to attempt to buy Him with the price of a slave, He says they might as well give what they were offering Him to the potter.  It was of no use to God, and if we attempt to give as little as possible to God today, we will see that it is unacceptable to Him.  God expects us to give Him our best and our all if we have accepted salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse fourteen adds, Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.  God said He had already broken His staff called Beauty, and now He broke the one called Bands.  The first had denoted their ruin of the church by polluting their covenant with God and the second denoted the breaking of the brotherhood between God's people.  If we allow sin to rule our lives, we break our covenant relationship with God and with our fellow believers.   Verse fifteen states, And the LORD said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd.  God told Zechariah to take away the instruments of the foolish shepherds, and if we fail to use the gifts that God has given to us today for His glory, He may take them away from us.  Verse sixteen adds, For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces.  God said that He would set a harsh shepherd over them who would make life almost unbearable.  If God's shepherds do not follow His will, they will put unnecessary burdens and restrictions on His people, as the scribes and Pharisees did in Jesus day.  God did not instruct them to do these things, but He did allow them the free will to do so.  Verse seventeen concludes,  Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.  God pronounced woe on the false shepherds, and those today who claim to be God's shepherds who do not even put their faith in Him will one day feel the woe of the judgment of God.