When It Looks Bad, Keep Praying"

O. T. #2272  " When It Looks Bad, Keep Praying"

Sept. 5, 2022 

Zechariah 1-Part 4

LET IT GLOW 

I was looking at a chronological Bible telling the sequence of the events and books where they were found:

• The Levites 20 years and older were put in charge of the construction of the Temple to the LORD, the God of Israel, when they arrived in Jerusalem. (Ezra 3)
• The builders laid the Temple foundation.
• The priests put on their robes and blew their trumpets with clashing cymbals praise the LORD in song-He is so good! His faithful love for Israel endures forever!
• There was joyful shouting and weeping.

What a joyful and exciting time to live in for the returnee Jews at Jerusalem!

However, the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard what was happening and approached Zerubbabel and the leader, offering to help them. They lied saying they had sacrificed to God ever since the king of Assyria sent them there.

Zerubbabel and the leaders said those enemies would have no part in the work. The Jews would build the Temple for the LORD just as King Cyrus of Persia commanded them. (Ezra 4)

The local residents tried to discourage and frighten the people of Judah to keep them from their work. They bribed agents to work against them and to frustrate their plans. (Ezra 4:1-5) 

During this time, Daniel was praying to the LORD. Satan was battling the archangel  Michael in the spirit world, blocking Micahel's way to Daniel with the answer to his prayer. Finally, Daniel received a vision from God concerning a time in the future. (Daniel 10-12)

So the work on the Temple stopped for about 10 years or so. (Ezra 4:24) Then Haggai and Zechariah prophesied the messages from God to the Jews. God told them to return to Him and He would return to them. So they did repent and return to the task of building the Temple. 

Have we neglected what God has told us to do? 

How powerful are your prayers? Have you become discouraged and stopped praying?

Keep on praying for loved ones. God hears the prayers of a righteous person. 

LET IT GROW

Then one night Zechariah had 8 visions. 

The first 5 night visions are conciliatory and bring comfort to Zechariah, Joshua, Zerubbabel and the people of their day. The last 3 deal with God's judgment that will be poured out upon sin and sinners individually, nationally, and universally. The 8 visions are complementary to Daniel's vision, for both of them deal with the times of the Gentiles-from the point of view of both , looking from Israel's perspective.

(Liberty Bible Commentary)

I hope you will stay with me as we study those 8 visions. We are in there, as Gentiles, brought into fellowship with and service of Jehovah through the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

I pray for wisdom as the Lord directs this, for I am no Bible scholar. commentaries of wise and spiritual men are spread out over my desks. It takes a lot of studying, but I think we will benefit from it.

LET IT GO

Bless the LORD, oh my soul; worship His holy name.

Sing like never before, oh my soul.

Lord Jesus, I will praise and worship You.

And they sang [to Jesus] a new song: "You are worthy...because You were slain, and with Your blood You purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation." (Revelation 5:9)