Jealousy

O. T. #2273"Jealousy"

Sept. 6, 2022

Zechariah 1-Part 5

LET IT GLOW

After about 3 months, the Word of the LORD came to Zechariah to deliver a series of 8 visions one night. Two months earlier the Lord appeared to Haggai and gave him a message for the remnant of Israel to resume the rebuilding of the Temple. Concerning Zechariah's first vision in verses 7-17, we read about:

• a man riding upon a red horse (verse 8), is identified as the angel of the LORD (verse 11)-this is a Christophany, the pre-incarnate appearance of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, part of the Trinity. (Jesus had not appeared on earth in the form of a man yet.) So Jesus was riding on a red horse, which speaks of blood and bloodshed. (Later, Jesus shed His own blood on the cross in order to provide our salvation.)
• He stood among the myrtle trees in the bottom (Valley of Hinnom) outside the Temple area. Those trees were native to Syria, which linked Israel's past exile in Babylon with their present time. 
• Jesus was accompanied by the angelic army of God, riding speckled and white horses. They had a multipurpose, behind the scenes. Jesus is their Commander and the angels report to Him after walking to and fro through the earth. (verse 10-11)
• There was peace for the Jews concerning their enemies. (verse 11) During the 5,000 years of history, there were only about 200 years of peace. (McGee)

What can we learn from this? When we hit rock bottom, we can look up to Jesus and He will come to our rescue. 

Matthew Henry says that Christ intercedes for us and His church and sends guardian angels on God's errands. 

Is your clapper clapping yet?

LET IT GROW

Who hasn't been jealous of another some time or another. Maybe it was the outgoing personality another had, material things others possess, or the attention given to another by a spouse. We discover that God is jealous. Read on to see why.

In verse 12, we learn that Jesus asks God the Father how long until He shows mercy to Jerusalem and Judah after the 70 years of captivity. Jesus received words of comfort and commissioned Zechariah to shout the message for all to hear:

The LORD of Heaven's Armies says: My love for Jerusalem and Mount Zion is passionate and strong. But I am very angry with the other nations that are now enjoying peace and security. I was only a little angry with My people, but the nations inflicted harm on them far beyond My intentions. (verses 14-15, NLT)

In the King James Version, it uses the word jealous, which mean to be zealous (in a bad sense); envious. This jealousy springs from God's intense love for His people. (They had served and worshiped false gods, idols previously.)

Wow! Do you feel loved by God right now as I do? He desires us to love Him first and more than anything.

In Exodus 20:5, the Jews were told Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them (graven image), nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God...

In 34:14, For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

What is the condition of our heart?

LET IT GO

Help us to love You with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, our Father.

May we only serve You.