Zechariah 11;1

 Zechariah 11:1 says, Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars.  This is a call from God for people to get ready for destruction.  Matthew Henry says one interpretation of this is that it is a warning of the destruction of the temple, which was built of the cedars of Lebanon and was burned by the Roman's.  Others see it as the Jerusalem falling, and the cedars representing the great men of the Jews.  We do know that both occurred, so God's prophesy was fulfilled.  Verse two adds, Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled: howl, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down.  If the mighty cedars had fallen, what hope was there for the weaker trees.  If the mighty men had fallen, having given in to the temptation of sin, what hope was there for weaker men if they followed them into sin.  They should howl at the fall of the mighty men.  If the mighty men of the country today, those who are in power, fall under the power of sin, we who are less powerful in the eyes of the world should cry out against their sin and coming destruction, but we should never follow them into their sinful ways.  Verse three continues, There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.  Matthew Henry says this refers to the leaders who were to be shepherds to the flock, God's chosen people.  Instead, they had relied on their own strength and went their own way without concern for protecting them.  Some people in power today are more concerned with themselves than they are with doing what God wants or even about what is best for those who are less powerful, but we need to make sure that this isn't true in the church, or even in our own life as followers of Christ.  Verse four declares, Thus saith the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter;  Then verse five adds, Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not.  God calls on those who are supposed to be shepherds to begin acting like true shepherds.  They are to have compassion for the flock entrusted to them, instead of bragging about their own riches which they attribute to God's blessing them.  Instead of doing what was best for all of God's people, the rulers had become concerned only with what enriched themselves.  We cannot use our status as Christians to be viewed as a way to enrich ourselves with no concern for the less fortunate, especially if we are a leader in the church.  Verse six continues, For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour’s hand, and into the hand of his king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them.  God said that He would no longer have pity on those who were supposed to be His people, and He would no longer deliver, or protect, them.  If anyone refuses to accept God's gift of salvation today, then He will not protect them, but will give them up to everlasting punishment when Christ returns.  Verse seven states, And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock.  God said that since the shepherds had failed in their responsibility to care for His flock, that He would take over their care Himself.  God said that Jesus Christ was coming to take care of both the spiritual and material needs of those who put their faith in Him.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, our spiritual need is met immediately, as our sins are forgiven, and we have the promise of God that He will meet our material needs as well as long as we are being obedient to Him through faith.  Verse eight adds, Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me.  God said He was going to cut off those false shepherds who had claimed to be following God's guidance in leading His sheep.  When Jesus Christ came to redeem mankind, the religious leaders of the people of Israel were cut off, because they refused to obey God's word.  If those who profess to be leaders of God's people today but who have not accepted Jesus Christ and do not listen to and heed God's word, then one day, when God's final judgment comes, they will be cut off from the kingdom of God. 

Zechariah 10:5

 Zechariah 10:5 says,  And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded.  God said that there would be mighty men fighting for Judah because the LORD was with them.  We really don't need to look to how powerful we are militarily if we are not on God's side.  It is not whether God is on our side, but whether we are on His.  Verse six adds, And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them.  This was God's promise to Judah.  He would strengthen and save them, because He had mercy on them.  God saves us and strengthens us spiritually today because He has mercy on us.  Just as the people of Judah could not save themselves, neither can we.  God said He was not going to cast them off, because He was their God and would hear them.  As followers of Christ, God is our God and He will never cast us off and will always hear our prayers.  Verse seven states, And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD. God said that He would strengthen them and that they would rejoice in the LORD once more.  As Christians, our faith should strengthen us in the world today and we should always rejoice in the LORD.  Verse eight adds, I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased.  God made it clear that He was the One responsible for their success.  He would gather those who put their faith in Him because He had redeemed them.  One day, God is going to gather all those who put their faith in Jesus Christ to their everlasting home,because God has redeemed them.  Verse nine adds, And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again.  God said that those who had been scattered to the far countries would hear His word and return to Him.  God's kingdom was going to expand to all the world and His word was going out to all the people of the world.  This is our responsibility today, to share the gospel with all the world.  Verse ten declares, I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them.  God said He was going to gather them, and He still gathers those today who put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Verse eleven continues, And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away.  God said that He would defeat all the enemies of His people when they lived by faith in Him.  This promise still applies to us today.   Verse twelve concludes, And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD.  God said when He strengthened them that they would go everywhere in His name.  As followers of Christ today, wherever we go and whatever we are doing should be done so that God's name will be magnified in the world and His kingdom advanced. 

Zechariah 10:1

 Zechariah 10:1 says, Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. God said that if they prayed for rain with faith in Him that He would send rain so that the crops would grow.  God did not say that He would rain down riches from heaven though.  Even then, the prayer was to be in accordance with God's will.  This call to pray for rain also followed God's promise to bless them with an abundant harvest.  God has promised us everlasting life and that He will meet our needs, but we still need to be in prayer daily that we will know and do His will for us individually.  Verse two declares,  For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.   God said that those who had put their faith in idols and those who had called on them to do so were left without a shepherd.  These false prophets had spoken lies, and there are many people today who would have us follow after false gods, but if we do, we will one day realize how empty their promises are, and if we continue to follow them instead of following Jesus Christ, we will be left without a Shepherd to save us.  Verse three adds, Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle.  God said His anger was kindled against the false shepherds and that He had punished the goats, those who professed to be the sheep of His pasture, but were not what they professed to be.  We may claim to be the sheep of God's pasture, but if we are following after false gods and worshipping idols, we are goats instead.  Verse four states, Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.  God said that He was the cornerstone of the redemption and that He would secure those that believed in Him and lived by faith in Him.  Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our salvation and we must put our faith in Him if we are to be saved, and once we do, we must reject all the false gods in the world and never be guilty of worshipping any idol.  If we put our faith in anything other than Jesus Christ, then we are worshipping a false God or idol.  Once we put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, He secures us to the heavenly Father forever. 

Zechariah 9:9

 Zechariah 9:9 says, Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.  The people of Israel were called on to rejoice because the Redeemer was coming.  He would come in a lowly estate, not as a regal King, though He was the King of glory.  They were told that their King would come on the foal of an ass, and Jesus Christ fulfilled this prophesy.  Verse ten adds, And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.  The coming King, the Messiah, would establish His kingdom, not by military might, but by bringing spiritual peace to those who put their faith in Him, even the heathen if they put their faith in Him.  God does not call us to us to convert people by military might, but by spreading the gospel of Christ, which is based on the love of God.  Verse eleven states, As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.  God said the coming Messiah would bring hope where there had been no hope.  Whether they realize it or not, until people accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, they are without hope.  Verse twelve adds, Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;  God called on people come to His stronghold where they would where they would be prisoners of hope.  God also said He would bless them with double blessings, and He stands ready to do so today.  Verse thirteen declares, When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.  God said He would be with the people of Judah and give them victory over their enemies.  Through our faith in Jesus Christ, we have victory over all the forces of the world that work against us today.  Verse fourteen adds, And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.  God's people were not to be victorious because of their own ability, but because God was going to give them the victory.  We today will not be victorious over sin because of our own abilities, but because Jesus Christ has given us the victory.  Verse fifteen continues, The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.  God said that His people would be able to eat in peace and make a joyful noise to Him.  We today as followers of Christ should eat in peace no matter what is going on in the world because God is our protector and we should therefore rejoice in the Lord.  Verse sixteen states, And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.  Zechariah said that the LORD their God would save them in that day.  As Christians, we know the day is coming when God will bring His judgment on the world, and as followers of Christ we will be as stones in the crown of Christ.  Verse seventeen concludes, For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.  We need to always proclaim the goodness of God, just as the His people were called on to do then.  

Zechariah 9:1

 Zechariah 9:1 says, The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD.  Syria had been a burden to the people of Israel, but now they were going to face the burden of the LORD.  This was to happen when the people of Israel looked to God in faith.  The world today may burden us down as followers of Christ, but if we look to God in faith, He will always give us relief spiritually, and one day He will deliver us from all oppression and suffering.  Verse two states, And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise.  Next, Tyrus and Zidon were added to those that God was going to punish, even though they thought themselves to be very wise and above God's punishment.  Some countries today think of themselves as being too wise to believe in God, but one day they will realize just how foolish they really were.  Verse three adds, And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.  Tyrus had built itself up as a strong and rich city, thinking these things would keep them safe without God's protection and even in defiance to Him.  Too many people today put their faith in material things to keep them safe and ignore or even defy God.  Verse four declares, Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.  Zechariah said that the LORD was going to destroy Tyrus, in spite of the people there thinking that they were above His punishment.  They did not really believe in God or His power, but that did not remove them from His judgment.  Just because someone, or even some nation, today claims there is no God, one day they will find out how wrong they are.  Verse five states, Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.  God next pronounced judgment on the Philistines.  God said their king would perish and their cities uninhabited.  Veree six adds, And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.  A foreigner was to rule over the land of the Philistines, someone who was not of the royal family.  Matthew Henry says this prophesy was fulfilled when Alexander the Great conquered most of the known world.  Verse seven states, And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.  God said that those of the Philistines who put their faith in Him would be saved by His power.  We may be in the camp of the enemy as followers of Christ, but if we remain true to Him, we have an everlasting victory.  Verse eight adds, And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.  God said that He would protect His people, those that put their faith in Him, from all enemies, and He still does today.  No matter what happens in this life, as long as we continue to put our faith in God, He secures us to Him forever.  God has already won the victory for us.

Zechariah 8:16

 Zechariah 8:16 says, These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:  God told the people of Judah what He expected of them.  They were to speak the truth to their neighbors, execute judgment and live at peace with one another.  I believe the truth and judgment would be God's truth and judgment, and when they spoke His truth and executed judgment in accordance with His word that His peace would follow, and this still applies to Christians today.  Verse seventeen adds, And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.  Just as there were some things that God expected them to do, there were some things that He expected them not to do.  They were to not even imagine, or think about, doing evil to their neighbors and they were to love no false Gods.  God still expects that of followers of Christ today.  We are to love our neighbors, and we are to love nothing more than we love God.   Ir we do love anything more than God, it becomes an idol to us.  Verse eighteeen declares, And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying,  Verse nineteen adds, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.  God said that their fasts in the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months were to be fasts of joy.  We may not associate fasting with joy, but God said these times of fasting were to be times of joy for the people of Judah.  I believe this was because these were to be days associated with all that God had done for them and were to be days dedicated to giving up the richer things of the world in order to show their obedience to Him.  When we worship God today, we should put aside all the things of the world that could come between God and us, and we should do so joyfully.   If we do fast to show our love for God, we should not do so to call attention to ourself, but to show our devotion to God and we should have joy in our life when we do it.  Verse twenty states, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:  Verse twenty-one adds, And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also.  God said there were going to be people of many other cities coming to worship Him.  God said they were going to come speedily and pray to Him.  God did not redeem just the people of Judah who put their faith in Him, but people everywhere who did.  We should recognize that God does not just redeem people from certain countries today,  but He redeems everyone who accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.   Verse twenty-two continues, Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.  God said people from many strong nations were going to come to Jerusalem to worship Him. Verse twenty-three concludes, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.  God said that people from everywhere would come to the Jews and tell them that they would go with them because God was with them.  People come to Christians today when they are seeking the truth of God, and we need to lead them to Him.  Sadly, this does not happen too often today, but we are still to be a Godly example to the world.

Zechariah 8'9

 Zechariah 8:9 says, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.  God called on the people who heard the word of God from the prophets and who had laid the foundation of the temple to be strong in continuing the work.  We as followers of Christ today must continue to build on the foundation of faith in Christ that brings us salvation.  We should never stop listening to God's word.  Verse ten adds, For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour.  God said that before this time, because His people would not listen to and obey His word, that He had left them with no one to do the work.  If we do not listen to God today and obey His word, we will be left with noone to do His work.  Verse eleven declares, But now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts.  God said that He would no longer be the same to the residue, or remnant of the people.   He was no longer going to turn away from them, because they had returned to Him in faith.  If we turn away from God, as a nation or an individual, we should not be surprised if God turns away from us, but if we return to Him once more, He stands ready to bless us once more so that we can do His work.  Verse twelve adds, For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.  God promised that they were going to once again be blessed with an abundance of what they needed.  I believe that this was a promise to meet their everyday needs with an abundance, and not a promise to give them everything that they wanted.  We have God's promise to supply all our needs, but not to supply all our wants, and our needs are supplied so that we can do the work that God has called us to do.  Verse thirteen continues, And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.  God said that when they obeyed Him, that He would once again make them a blessing to the heathen, those who did not believe in Him, instead of the curse that they had become.  This was a promise to all those who were called His people, both Judah and Israel.  The people of God may have divided themselves physically, but they were still all God's people united in faith.  God said they need not be afraid to be strong in doing His work.  We today, even if we are physically separated, are all united by faith in Jesus Christ if we are His followers, and we need not be afraid to do what He calls us to do.  The only way that we as Christians can be a blessing to the lost people of the world is if we are obedient to God and do what He calls us to do.  Verse fourteen states, For thus saith the LORD of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the LORD of hosts, and I repented not:  God said that their fathers had not been faithful to Him and that He had allowed them to be defeated.  God also said that He did not repent, or believe that He had done wrong in this.  If we are punished for our sins because we refuse to follow God's call, then we cannot expect Him to suddenly say that everything is ok and that He should not punish us for our sins.  He makes salvation available to everyone, and if we refuse to accept it, the blame is not His, but ours.  Verse fifteen adds, So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.  God said that He had now determined to do good to His people, because they had returned to Him in faith.  God awaits to do good to those who will come to Him by faith in Jesus Christ today.