Search The Scriptures —Study 2 — Zechariah 3 and 4

Study 2  From the Book of Zechariah is: Zechariah 3 and 4

1. Joshua, as high priest, acts as the representative of the people. How is the people’s guilt to be removed? By whose intervention is Satan rebuked and Joshua cleansed? Cf. Rom 8:31-34; Heb. 7:25; 9:26.
2. What is the meaning of the vision of chapter 4? What is its relevance today? Cf. Ho. 1:7; 2 Cor. 10: 4, 5.

Note.  3:8, 9. ‘My servant’, ‘the Branch’, ‘the stone’ are all titles of the Messiah. Cf., e.g., Is. 28:16; 42:1; Je 23:5. The ‘seven facets’ may represent the omniscience of the Messiah. Cf. Rev. 5:6.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 1 — Zechariah 1 and 2

Study 1 From the Book of Zechariah is: Zechariah 1 and 2

1. What do we learn from Zc. 1: 1-6 about the Word of the Lord and the different consequences of obeying and rejoicing it? What is and always will be true of it, whatever men do? With verse 6, cf. Mt. 5:18.
2. In these chapters are three visions (1:7-17; 1:18-21; 2:1-13). How do these answer the following questions? (a) What is God’s real attitude towards Jerusalem? How can the nations which oppress them be subdued? (c) Can the city, now desolate, have any future?
3. Consider how much that is said here of Jerusalem is true spiritually for us in Christ. See e.g., 2:5, 8b, 10-12. Is there not the same call, to us to believe, as there was to the people of Zechariah’s day? Cf. 2Cor. 1:20.

Notes

1. 1:11. There was not sign of any stirring among the nation to fulfil God’s purposes toward Israel.
2. 1:20, 21. ‘Four smiths’ : agents appointed by God to destroy the ‘horns’ (i.e. strength) of the nations.
3. 2:4, 5 The proposed measurement of Jerusalem is cancelled for the reasons given here.
4. 2:6 ‘The land of the North’: Babylon (or Persia), where they had been exiled. See verse 7

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Search The Scriptures — Study 0 — Zechariah Introduction

Study 0 From the Book of Zechariah is: Zechariah Introduction

Zechariah began his prophetic ministry two months after Haggai (see Zc. 1:1; Hg. 1:1). His book falls into two parts (chapters 1-8 and 9-14), and these are so different in character that many have thought that the second part must have been written by someone other than Zechariah. Such a supposition, however, is by no means necessary. The differences may be explained by the change of theme, and by the fact that the second part was written many years later than the first. A close study also reveals remarkable resemblances between the tow parts.

The first part of the book has to do mainly with the rebuilding and warning to the people and their rulers. After an opening call to repentance (1:1-6) there follows a series of eight visions, which supply an answer to doubts and questionings in the peoples’ minds. The first part closes with the prophet’s reply to an enquiry from the people of Bethel (7: 1-) about  the continuance of the fasts which the Jews had been observing in mourning for the calamities that had overtaken them.

The second part of the book consists of two oracles (a9-11 and 12-14). Both sections as David Baron says in his valuable commentary, treat of war between the heathen world and Israel, but ‘in the first judgment through which Gentile world power over Israel is finally destroyed, and Israel is finally destroyed, and Israel is endowed with strength to overcome all these enemies’, is the main theme; and in the second, the judgement through which ‘Israel itself is sifted and purged in the final great conflict between the nations, and transformed into the holy nation of the Lord, forms the leading topic.’

Zechariah’s writings foreshadow the appearance of Zion’s King both in meekness and in majesty, and declare both His rejection and His dominion over the whole earth. They are therefore frequently quoted in the New Testament with reference either to Christ first or to His second coming to the earth.

Search The Scriptures —Study 2 — Haggai 2

Study 2  From the Book of  Haggai is: Haggai 2

Tomorrow we start the book of Zechariah

1. Picture the desolate scene and the despondency of the people (verse 3). But how did the prospect appear to Haggai’s eye of faith (verses 4-9)? On what grounds did he reassure them, and to what vision did he direct their eyes?
2. Verses 1-19. How does Haggai show that (a) in the sanctified life contact with unholy things must be avoided, and that (b) mere contact with holy things is not sufficient? Is it possible to deceive ourselves today, as the Jews of Haggai’s day did? Cf. 2 Tim. 2:19-22.
3. What will be the fate of all human activity and organization carried on without God, and what is the work that will stand, whose does are blessed from the day they set their hand to it? Cf. 1 Jn. 2:17. Why would Zerubbabel be safe when the Lord would shake the heavens and the earth?

Note. Verse 23. ‘Like a signet’: a symbol of honour and authority. Cf. Je. 22:24.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 1 — Haggai 1

Study 1  From the Book of Haggai is: Haggai 1

1. How did the Jews of Haggai’s day reckon their priorities? What was the consequence? And what was the Lore’s command? What lesson did God wish them to learn? Is there a present-day application? Cf. Mt. 6:33.
2. How had the people failed to live up to the purpose for which they had been allowed to return? Cf. Ezr. 1:2-4. Contrast their first beginnings with the conditions described by Haggai. Is this at all your experience? Cf. Rev. 2:4. What happened once they obeyed God’s voice?

Note. Verse 1. ‘The sixth month’ : corresponding to our August-September.
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Search The Scriptures —Study 0 — Haggai

Study 0 From the Book of Haggai is: The Introduction of the Book Haggai

The prophets Haggai and Zechariah are mentioned together in Ezra 5:1 as prophesying at that time in Jerusalem. Ezra 5 and 6 should be read in order to fit the ministry and God-given messages of these prophets into their historical setting.

The exact date of Haggai’s prophesying is given in Hg. 1:1 as being the second year of Darius, king of Persia, i.e., 520 BC. (cf.Zc.1:1). In 538 BC, the first company of exiles, under Zerubbabel, had returned from Babylon to Jerusalem, and had set about the work of rebuilding the Temple. But Samaritan opposition and intrigue proved too strong, and the work ceased (see Ezr. 4: 1-5, 24). The people became occupied with their own concerns, and said with regard to the Temple, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord’ (Hg. 1:2).

The prophecies of Haggai consist of four utterances, which contain repeated promises of God’s presence and blessing, if only the people will give themselves to the work of building the Lord’s house. Haggai’s words express for our instruction the abiding truth that God gives Himself and His best to those who fully honour Him and seek first His kingdom. There is no other hope of survival in the day of trouble and judgment, when God Himself will shake all things and reveal the worthlessness of every other boasted confidence (see Hg. 2:21-23; and cf. Heb. 12:25-27). Thus did Haggai, by the light of the Spirit of God, discern the truth about life’s immediate circumstances, and foresee the similar, if greater, certainties of the final consummation in the day of the Lord.

Search The Scriptures —Study 84 — Psalm 106:34-48

Study 84 From the Book of Psalms is: Psalm 106:34-48

Tomorrow we will study the book of Haggai

The ending of this psalm, particularly verses 45-47, suggests that, whereas the function of Ps. 105 was to stimulate obedience, the purpose of the historical retrospect here, which dismal though it is, is crowned by a reassertion of God’s steadfast love, is to strengthen faith among an exiled people, tempted to despair.

1. A new generation entered Canaan (see Nu. 14:29-32; 26: 64, 65), but the sinning continued. What was their first failure, and to what sins of ever deeper degradation did it lead (verses 34-39)? How are Christians to avoid similar entanglement? Cf. 2 Cor.6:14-7:1; 1 Jn. 2:15-17.
2. What wonderful comfort can we take from the fact which this psalm demonstrates, that man’s rebellion did not exhaust the compassion of God? See verses 1-5, 45-47. What challenge do these verses bring?

Note. Verse 48. Probably a doxology to mark the end of Book IV of the Psalms.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 83 — Psalm 106:1-33

Study 83 From the Book of Psalms is: Psalm 106: 1-33

This section consists of a summons to praise the Lord, a prayer, and then (verses 7-33) a confession of seven instances of Israel’s sin from the exodus to the entrance into Canaan.              

1. What feature of Israel’s failure is mentioned three times in these verses, and what were some of its consequences? Dt. 8:11-20.
2. Why did God, after delivering the Israelites, later overthrow them in the wilderness? Note the four things mentioned in verses 24, 25 which caused Him to change His attitude. With what awe and seriousness should the Christian take warning from this incident? Cf. Heb.3:12, 17-19; 4:1.
3. The reference in verses 14, 15 is to Nu. 11 (see verses 4, 34). What inspired the Israelites’ request, and what serious consequence followed? The New Testament indicates that we are involved in a war with fleshly lusts. How are we to fight them? Cf. 1 Cor. 10:6; 1 Pet. 2:11; Gal. 5:16.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 82 — Psalm 105

Study 82  From the Book of Psalms is: Psalm 105

This psalm opens with a call to remember and recite the mighty deeds of the Lord. It is itself a historical retrospect, made we may surmise from verse 45; with a view to encouraging obedience to the redeeming Lord. ‘Remembering’ was never a merely intellectual process in Israel’s worship; it had a moral purpose.

1. Verses 1-5. List the imperatives used here. Think of appropriate times when you should obey them. Cf. Ps. 119: 164. Might it be particularly helpful to turn to these verses and this psalm when depressed?
2. What reason is given in verses 7-10 and 42 for God’s intervention on behalf of the Israelites? Cf. Lk. 1-72-74. For what similar reason do we know that He will not fail or forsake us? Cf. Heb. 13:5b, 6, 20, 21.
3. What may we learn from this psalm about the ways in which God protected, delivered, trained and provided for His chosen people? Will He do less for us? Cf. 1 Sa.12:22.

Notes

1. Verse 2. ‘Tell of’: the meaning is ‘meditate on’; but the Israelites seldom meditated silently.
2. Verse 28b. A difficult clause. The Lxx omits ‘not’; and this may be the original reading. Or the Hebrew (see mg.) may be a rhetorical question, ‘Did they not rebel?’5

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Search The Scriptures —Study 81 — Psalm104

Study 81 From the Book of Psalms is: Psalm 104

This psalm has been described as a poetical version of Gn.1. The two chapters may be compared with profit. Note the measure of agreement.

1. How is the dependence of the creature on the Creator brought out in verses 27-30? Cf. Ps. 145:15, 16; Gn. 1:29, 30. Ponder the beautiful picture of God which this affords. What ought it to make us do? Cf. Mt.6:25-33.
2. Do we share the desires and resolves of the psalmist’s heart, as expressed in verses 31-35?

Note. Verse 26. ‘Leviathan’ here refers to the sea monster. Cf. Gn. 1:21; Am. 9:3 for similar references.
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