Old Testament in a Year

December 31st Old Testament Readings

Malachi 3:1-4:6
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Happy New Year!  Congratulations to everyone who completed the One Year Old Testament journey in 2022 today! It has been awesome to go through the journey this year with each of you.  It is quite a blessing to realize that you've read through God's Word this past year!  It has been a huge blessing for me.  God has continued to transform me this past year through this journey.  Reading through the Bible in a year will change us.  For the better!  :) For those of you wrapping up the One Year Old Testament today in 2022, I'd like to ask you to post up your reflections on this experience in the Comments section below.  The reason for this request is because we have hundreds of new folks signing up to take the One Year Old Testament journey in 2023.  What advice would you give them?  Any encouragement?  What has reading the Bible on a daily basis meant to you over the past year?  Has this experience changed you in any way?  Thanks for sharing! I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this One Year Old Testament Blog ministry! If this blog has been a blessing to you in 2022, please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Today we finish the book of the prophet Malachi, and it is an awesome 2 chapters we read today!  The first half of Malachi chapter 3 verse 1 is prophesying 400 years in advance of the coming of John the Baptist, who will prepare people's hearts for Jesus by preaching repentance of sins: ""Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me." This is a great thing to reflect on as we close out one year and begin anew.  Do we need a messenger from God to encourage us to repent from our sins?  Will we listen to that messenger and make way for the coming of Jesus into our hearts and lives?  The second half of verse 1 then prophesies that Jesus is indeed coming to usher in the new covenant, or the new testament: "The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming," says the LORD Almighty."  The Good News for us today is that Jesus has come already for the forgiveness of sins and Jesus is coming again in glory!

 

Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992.
To order prints visit her "Revelation Illustrated" site.

Verse 2 tells us this about Jesus: "For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal or like a strong soap that whitens clothes."  Will you allow Jesus to refine you through his holy fire?  And make you pure through his holy soap?  (Okay, I realize this is a bit cheesy wording here - has anyone ever called Jesus holy soap before?? :) Actually, would you believe it - I found an image of "Jesus soap" online, as you'll see below! How this all ties into our Malachi readings today I've lost track of... I apologize for my end-of-year giddiness... :)

Verses 6 & 7 are so powerful for us to reflect upon: ""I am the LORD, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already completely destroyed. Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my laws and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty."  As I reflect back upon our One Year Bible readings this year, it is so true that God does not change.  He has shown so much compassion over and over again to the Israelites in the Old Testament.  And he continues to show so much compassion to us today over and over again.  In light of God's holy and unchanging love and compassion for us, will we return to Him?  As you look back on our One Year Bible readings this year, do you agree with God's statement here that He does not change?  Do you believe that all the way from the Old Testament's Genesis to the New Testament's Revelation God does not change?

Verse 10 is one of my favorites and one of the most challenging in the Bible: "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do," says the LORD Almighty, "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Let me prove it to you!"   This verse has and will continue to be interpreted so many ways.  Check out the NIV translation of Malachi 3:10 (slightly different than the NLT version above) - "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."   It is very rare in the Bible that God says "test me" and follows it up with an incredible promise of a blessing.  This next year, will you test God with a tithe?  In this new year, will you trust God with your tithe?

Chapter 4 verse 2 makes me smile with the metaphor of us being compared to a calf frolicking in a field: "But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture."  Do you want to be set free?  Truly free from your burdens and doing things that you do not want to do?  Will you entrust your life to the Sun (Son?) of Righteousness, Jesus?   And then - are you looking forward to leaping with joy like a calf let out to pasture??  :)   I love this metaphor...  it will stick with me.

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Malachi titled "God's Justice and Faithfulness" is at this link and "Preparing for the Day of the Lord" is at this link.

Worship Video: Today's readings reminded me of the Steven Curtis Chapman song "Heaven is the Face." Here's a great live version of this song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nT88tmF5O8

Can you imagine meeting Jesus in heaven?  Click here and make your imagination real!

Comments From You and Question of the Day: For those of you wrapping up the One Year Old Testament today in 2022, I'd like to ask you to post up your reflections on this experience in the Comments section below.  The reason for this request is because we have hundreds of new folks signing up to take the One Year Old Testament journey in 2023.  What advice would you give them?  Any encouragement?  What has reading the Bible on a daily basis meant to you over the past year?  Has this experience changed you in any way?  Thanks for sharing!  Also, for everyone, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

December 30th Old Testament Readings

Malachi 1:1-2:17
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Today we start the very last book of the Old Testament by the likely last prophet of the Old Testament era, Malachi!  Some say Joel was the last prophet, but most commentaries suggest Malachi. There is some great stuff in this short book... particularly when we get to tomorrow's readings.   The name Malachi means "my messenger."  Malachi was written in approximately 430 B.C. and he was likely a contemporary of Nehemiah.  Malachi was written to the returned exiles in Jerusalem well after the temple had been rebuilt under governor Zerubbabel in 516 B.C.   By 430 B.C. there was a spiritual malaise in the land.  It is speculated that this is in part because Jerusalem was then just a small province in the large Persian empire. But, the big reason is probably because the glorious future of God sending his Messiah, Jesus - as pronounced by Isaiah, Haggai and Zechariah and other prophets - had not yet come to fruition.   A good overview of Malachi is online at bible.org at this link.   Below is an icon from the Orthodox church of the prophet Malachi:

Chapter 1 verse 2 stood out to me in today's readings: "I have loved you deeply," says the LORD."  I guess this really resonated with me since we are now reading the last book of the Old Testament.  As I look back on our readings earlier this year - all of the books of the Old Testament that we have read and all of the interaction between God and his covenant people, I have to absolutely nod my head in agreement with these words from God in verse 2.  God loved deeply in the Old Testament.  And God loved deeply the New Testament.  And God loves us deeply today.  Do you believe that God loves you deeply?  And do you believe that he always will?  Do you in turn love God deeply?  Today will you reach out and jump in to the deep end of the pool of God's love?

Verse 7 also stood out to me: "You have despised my name by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar." The chapter goes on to describe how blind, crippled, and diseased animals were sacrificed to God - which were unacceptable holy sacrifices to God per his laws in Leviticus 1:3 and Deuteronomy 15:21.  We are no longer under the law of these sacrifices, as Jesus was the final sacrifice once and for all on the cross.  However - I wondered to myself as I read this verse, do we still offer "defiled sacrifices" to God in some ways today in our lives?  Do we give God maybe the left-overs of our life?  Our left-over time, finances, energy, prayers, love, etc.?  Should we instead be giving God our best sacrifices - our firstfruits, our early morning energy, our constant prayers, our deepest love?  Indeed, as Oswald Chambers puts it, are we giving God our very Utmost for His Highest?  Are you giving God the very best of who you are?  Every day?  Or is God typically just getting your leftovers?

Did anyone else catch a couple of Delirious? (Christian worship band) lyrics from their song "Lead Me" in Malachi's readings today?  :)  How about chapter 2 verse 17: "You have wearied the LORD with your words."  What a sad statement to think about - we can weary God with our words...  do you suppose this is still possible today?  Have we wearied God with our words?  And then another Delirious lyric in verse 13: "You cover the LORD's altar with tears."  What does it mean to flood God's altar with our tears?  When would this be good?  When would this be not so good...?  As Delirious continues to sing in "Lead Me": "Great God, our promises we've broken.  Oh Lord, forgive me... "  Beautiful tune.

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Malachi titled "God's Faithful Covenant Love" is at this link, "Worship That God Rejects" is at this link, "Faithful Teaching of God's Word" is at this link, and "Profaning the Marriage Covenant" is at this link.

Worship Video: Today's readings remind me of the beautiful MercyMe song "I can Only Imagine:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNDEyxEMNp0

Can you imagine meeting Jesus in heaven?  Click here and make your imagination real!

Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

December 29th Old Testament Readings

Zechariah 14:1-21
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Today we finish the book of the prophet Zechariah!  Only one more book in the Old Testament to go with Malachi, which we'll read over the two remaining days of this year.  In Zechariah chapter 14 today we read about the Lord's reign on earth - this reading fits in very nicely with the Revelation readings we have been going through recently.  Verses 6 through 8 gave my imagination a great workout today: "On that day the sources of light will no longer shine, yet there will be continuous day! Only the LORD knows how this could happen! There will be no normal day and night, for at evening time it will still be light. On that day life-giving waters will flow out from Jerusalem, half toward the Dead Sea and half toward the Mediterranean, flowing continuously both in summer and in winter."  How does this sound to you?  Not bad, eh.  The light and the life-giving waters sound wonderful to me!  When it comes to the continuous Light mentioned in these verses, where do you suppose the continuous Light will be coming from?  Or - rather than from where - perhaps I should ask from Whom do you suppose the continuous Light will be coming from...

Verse 16 is interesting: "In the end, the enemies of Jerusalem who survive the plague will go up to Jerusalem each year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Shelters."  Tyndale's One Year Bible Companion has a great Question of "Why will there still be an Old Testament Feast during the Messiah's Kingdom?"  And an answer that basically says the Feast of the Tabernacles (also called Shelters or Booths or simply Sukkot) will still be appropriate because it is a festival of thanksgiving, celebrating those who love God with all their soul.  The other feasts of the Old Testament won't be celebrated as they were all fulfilled - The Passover in Jesus' death - Day of Atonement in Jesus' Salvation - Feast of Firstfruits in Jesus' resurrection - and Pentecost with the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Zechariah titled "Oracle Concerning Israel" is at this link.

Worship Video: Today's readings remind me of the "Revelation Song" performed here by Kari Jobe:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dZMBrGGmeE

Do you look forward to singing the Revelation Song in Heaven one day?  Click here and sing!

Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

December 28th Old Testament Readings

Zechariah 12:1-13:9
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Today in Zechariah chapter 12 we begin the second oracle in the book of Zechariah!  It is interesting to note that the Hebrew term for "oracle" or "the word of the Lord" is only used 3 times in the Old Testament - here in 12:1, in Zechariah 9:1 and in Malachi 1:1.  This indicates that Zechariah chapters 9 through 14 were likely written at about the same time as the book of Malachi - the last book of the Old Testament - which we'll be reading in a couple of days!  :)  This 2nd oracle in Zechariah consists of the final siege of Jerusalem and Jesus' return as Messiah to defeat Israel's enemies and establish his kingdom.  Below is a Russian artist's icon of the prophet Zechariah from the 1400's:

Chapter 12 verse 10 is a powerful Messianic verse in today's readings: "Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on all the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died." The first sentence indicates a pouring out of the Holy Spirit.  In the second sentence it appears that Jesus is speaking in the first person - here in the Old Testament!  The use of the word pierced here is similar to Psalm 22:16 - "they have pierced my hands and my feet"  and John 19:34-37 - "Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”"  Below is an oil painting from the year 1515 of the One they pierced by the German painter Matthias Grünewald:

Chapter 13 verse 7 is another powerful verse about Jesus: ""Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, the man who is my partner, says the LORD Almighty. Strike down the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn against the lambs."  This last sentence is quoted by Jesus just before his arrest in Matthew 26:31 and Mark 14:27.  It is applied to the scattering of the apostles, but can also be considered for the dispersion of the Jews in A.D. 70 after the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem.  And yet, even after the sheep were scattered, do you realize that Jesus is seeking after his lost sheep?  Have you been found by Jesus?

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Zechariah titled "Oracle Concerning Israel" is at this link.

Worship Video: Today's readings remind me of Handel's Messiah's Hallelujah Chorus and here it is live on December 24, 2006 from Olympic Square park in Hong Kong:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH52IKiTIlA

Have you been invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb?  Click here for your invitation!

Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

December 27th Old Testament Readings

Zechariah 10:1-11:17
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

We continue to read some incredible prophesies from Zechariah today about Jesus, the Messiah, coming in 500 years!  In chapter 10 verse 4 today Zechariah calls Jesus the "cornerstone": "From Judah will come the cornerstone, the tent peg, the bow for battle, and all the rulers." Why do you think Zechariah called Jesus the cornerstone?   You'll recall that we read earlier in the year this passage in Matthew chapter 21 verse 42: "Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.'"  Have you heard Jesus referred to as the cornerstone in our world today?  Is Jesus the cornerstone of your church?  Is Jesus the cornerstone of your life?

In Zechariah chapter 11 verses 12 & 13 we have a foreshadowing of Judas betraying Jesus for 30 pieces of silver - and Judas' money being used to buy the potters field:  "And I said to them, “If you like, give me my wages, whatever I am worth; but only if you want to.” So they counted out for my wages thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—this magnificent sum at which they valued me! So I took the thirty coins and threw them to the potter in the Temple of the Lord."  (hopefully you caught Zechariah's sarcasm in "this magnificent sum"...)  A couple things to note here - 30 pieces of silver was the price of a slave among the Israelites in ancient times.  Paying this price to Zechariah was an insult.  However, paying this price for the life of Jesus was an unfathomable insult.  Our Lord's life was sold for 30 pieces of silver...  During this Christmas season this is really sad to think about - it's sad to think about this at any time, but somehow just celebrating our Lord's birth 2 days ago, and then now thinking about how his precious life was sold for 30 silver pieces is just incredibly sad for me today.  Zechariah was rejected.  Jesus was rejected.  Think it's possible that if you and I really live our lives for God - really live our faith - that we too may be rejected some day?  That perhaps someday our lives could be sold for just 30 pieces of silver?  (There are modern day martyrs whose lives were taken for much less than this amount...)   Below is the artist Rembrandt's painting from the year 1629 of "Judas Returning the Thirty Silver Pieces" and below that is a replica of 30 silver shekels from the 1st century:

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Zechariah titled "Oracle Concerning YHWH’s Sovereignty" is at this link.

Worship Video: Today's readings reminds me of the fantastic song "Give This Christmas Away" by Matthew West and Amy Grant, with this terrific video featuring Franklin Graham's Samaritan's Purse’s Operation Christmas Child:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2ulYpoNXC0

Did you give this Christmas away?  Click here and give it all to Jesus!

Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

December 26th Old Testament Readings

Zechariah 9:1-17
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

I love it!  In today's readings Zechariah prophesies 500 years in advance about Jesus entering Jerusalem riding on a donkey to a hail of Hosanna's (days before his death - popularly known as Palm Sunday) in verse 9: "Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt."  This reminds me of a saying of one of my classmates in a Bible study class: "You can't understand the New Testament if you don't understand the Old Testament!" How have the prophecies in the Old Testament this year strengthened your faith in the New Testament? How have they strengthened your faith in Jesus? Below is an image of the fulfillment of this prophesy by the Italian artist Ambrogio Bondone Giotto from the year 1303:

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Zechariah titled "Oracle Concerning YHWH's Sovereignty" is at this link.

Worship Video: As it is the day after Christmas, here is for KING AND COUNTRY singing "Little Drummer Boy:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzEX3QMuVPM

Have you honored the new born king?  Click here to meet your King!

Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

December 25th Old Testament Readings

Zechariah 8:1-23
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Merry Christmas!  Busy week with Christmas - full posts will be back on December 26th.

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Zechariah titled "Oracles Concerning Hypocritical Fasting" is at this link.

Merry Christmas! - I will close out this Christmas day blog entry with a quick reflection here on A Charlie Brown Christmas.  :)

I think sometimes many of us wonder the same things that Charlie Brown did during this time of year.  "What is the meaning of Christmas?"  Well, I'll leave you will Linus' wonderful answer to Charlie and the Peanuts gang straight from Luke 2:8-14 (King James Version):

^"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

Video: Here's Linus in Charlie Brown's Christmas reciting the verses from Luke per above:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eff0cqYefYY

Do you know the true meaning of Christmas?  Click here to meet CHRISTmas!

Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

December 24th Old Testament Readings

Zechariah 6:1-7:14
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Busy this week with Christmas - full posts with images will be back on December 26th. Merry Christmas!

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Zechariah titled "Oracles Concerning Hypocritical Fasting" is at this link.

Worship Video: As it is Christmas Eve, here is "Oh Holy Night" with Josh Groban singing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQWXfHzOKUU

How are you celebrating on this Holy Night?  Click here to celebrate forevermore!

Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

December 23rd Old Testament Readings

Zechariah 4:1-5:11
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Today in the book of the prophet Zechariah we read about Zechariah's visions of a Lampstand and Two Olive Trees, a Flying Scroll, and a Woman in a Basket.  Chapter 4 is essentially a vision of encouragement for the Jews to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem - not by their own might, but by relying on the Spirit of God.  The rebuilding will be led by Zerubbabel, the political leader of Jerusalem at this post-exilic time, as well as by Joshua, the priest - and these two are represented by the 2 olive trees in the vision.  The bowl of oil held by the lampstands in the vision represents God's power through his spirit.  Below is an image of Zechariah's vision of the lampstand and olive trees from a Cervera Bible from Spain from approximately the year 1300:

Chapter 4 verse 6 stood out to me in today's readings: "It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty."  How often in our own lives do we try to do things by our own force or our own strength?  And not look to God?  Would we ultimately lead more productive and peaceful and joyful and restful lives if we instead allowed God's Spirit to move in our lives?  Or will we continue to try to do things by our own force and strength?

Verse 10 is a great reminder for each of us - "Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand."  If we do feel led by the Spirit of God to work on something - and it turns out to be maybe something bigger than ourselves - do we sometimes get discouraged by the task before us?  Do we despise small beginnings?  Be encouraged to know that God rejoices in small beginnings!  Take the first step!  Take the plumb line in your hand!  (I will be honest - it's not always easy to get motivated for typing in this blog each evening.  Most days I am motivated - but not always.  Sometimes I just have to "take the plumb line in my hand" - get started with the typing - and God shows up....)

In chapter 5 we read about the vision of the flying scroll - which is a very large scroll with a purpose of encouraging repentance with a clear message of judgment.  The second vision of the woman in the basket is essentially purging sin from the land of Jerusalem, and plopping it down in a more fitting place where they will build a temple for it!   To worship the sin... Babylon...  Are there areas in our life where we need to deposit some sin into a basket, close the lid, and let the basket be taken away to another place far from us?  Is it possible that there are areas of sin in our life where we actually worship the sin somehow?  Will we turn away from this false idol worship and return to loving God whole-heartedly?

Worship Video: As it is almost Christmas, here is Casting Crown's "I Heard Bells on Christmas Day" live:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7670CXvPX0

Do you know the peace of God's Silent Night?  Click here for heavenly peace!

Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

December 22nd Old Testament Readings

Zechariah 2:1-3:10
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Today in Zechariah we read about the future prosperity of Jerusalem, the Exiles being called home, and cleansing for the high priest.   Chapter 2, verses 4 & 5 stood out to me in today's readings: ""Hurry, and say to that young man, `Jerusalem will someday be so full of people that it won't have room enough for everyone! Many will live outside the city walls, with all their livestock--and yet they will be safe. For I, myself, will be a wall of fire around Jerusalem, says the LORD. And I will be the glory inside the city!'"  My mind took me to the thought of the holy heavenly Jerusalem being chocked full of people who love God!  And a wall of fire - holy protection - surrounding everyone in a heavenly Jerusalem and providing safety.  And God's glory reigning eternally...  I don't think this is quite proper exegesis on this passage...  :) but I like the thought!

Chapter 1 verse 13 also jumped out at me during this Christmas season: "Be silent before the LORD, all humanity, for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling.""  I think sometimes we get so busy during the Christmas season that we forget to be silent and to be still.  We can just go, go, go - rush, rush rush - and maybe miss the true meaning of Christmas?  Don't forget the song, "Silent Night, Holy Night...."   Can you find time and space to be silent before the Lord this Christmas?  And time and space to reflect upon what the advent of Jesus as a baby in the manger means to you?

Chapter 3 verses 8 & 9 were also beautiful for me today in this Christmas season as we think about the birth of Jesus: "Listen to me, O Jeshua the high priest, and all you other priests. You are symbols of the good things to come. Soon I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. Now look at the jewel I have set before Jeshua, a single stone with seven facets.  I will engrave an inscription on it, says the LORD Almighty, and I will remove the sins of this land in a single day."  Are you looking forward to the coming of the Branch?  What does the Branch symbolize to you?  Verse 9 above also looks beyond Christmas and toward Good Friday - How were our sins removed in a single day?  Do you believe that your sins were removed by Jesus on the cross on that single day?

And chapter 3 verse 10 also works well in this Christmas season! :)  "And on that day, says the LORD Almighty, each of you will invite your neighbor into your home to share your peace and prosperity." Will you have an opportunity over this next couple of weeks to invite someone into your home to share in your peace and prosperity?  Or, if not, can you find an opportunity to go out and share your peace and prosperity with others?  Maybe volunteer at a place that has neighbors that really need your peace and prosperity this Christmas season?

Worship Video: Today's readings remind me of "Silent Night" sung here by Matt Maher:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAxgOvJh-Tg

Do you know the peace of God's Silent Night?  Click here for heavenly peace!

Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!