The Angel that Talked with Zechariah - Zechariah 2:3

In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “I lifted up my eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. Then said I, Where are you going? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof”, and in chapter two and verse three of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “the angel that talked with me went forth” where we read,

And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,

The verse reads, “And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, ...” Zechariah began with the words, “and, behold” or “and lo, look and consider” “the angel that talked with me” which means “the spiritual envoy and messenger who spoke, uttered words and made proclamations and declarations” “went forth” or “exited, departed and proceeded”. Zechariah called upon his listeners to consider how the spiritual messenger who spoke with him departed. 

The verse continues, “... and another angel went out to meet him, ...” Zechariah added the words, “and another angel” or “one other spiritual envoy or messenger” “went out to meet him” which means “exited, departed and proceeded to befall and encounter him, the angel”. Zechariah shared shared how one other angel departed to encounter the “angel” who spoke with him.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Zechariah how there was another spiritual envoy who departed toward the messenger who spoke with him. God is able to use all the spiritual entities He desires to perform His purposes and will, and when it came to restoring Israel, God would use “angels” alongside Zechariah. God loves the people of Israel, and He loves us. He wanted Israel to make Him first in their lives, and He desires the same for us. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for sins of all mankind, and when we surrender our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us an understanding that He has all things in His control to rebuild and restore whatsoever and whomever He wills. 

Next time Zechariah said, “Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".

Where are You Going? - Zechariah 2:2

In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “I lifted up my eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand”, and in chapter two and verse two of Zechariah, Zechariah asked the man with the measuring line, “where are you going?” where we read,

Then said I, Where are you going? 

And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.

The verse reads, “Then said I, Where are you going?” Zechariah began with the words, “then said I” or “at that time uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked I, Zechariah”, “where are you going” which means “to what location or place are you departing, proceeding and moving toward”? Zechariah questioned the man with the “measuring line” as to what place he was departing. 

The verse goes on to say, “And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.” Zechariah continued with the words, “and he said unto me” or “and he, the man with the measuring rule, uttered, declared and proclaimed to me, Zechariah”, “to measure Jerusalem” which means “to extend and stretch out Jerusalem whose name means teaching of peace and is the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split”, “to see what is the breath thereof” or “to discover and distinguish the width and expanse of the city of Jerusalem”, “and what is the length thereof” which means “and to discover and distinguish how long the city of Jerusalem is”. Zechariah shared how the “man with the measuring line” was to use it to discover the “width and length” of the city of Jerusalem.

When we think through Zechariah's words in this verse, we learn how the “man with the measuring line” was sent to discover the breadth and the “length” of the city of Jerusalem. The idea was to plan for the rebuilding and restoration of the city. God was to rebuild the nation of Israel after their return from seventy years of captivity in Babylon, and Zechariah was being shown God's plan. God loves Israel, and even when they forsook him and paid a great price for doing so, He brought them back to their own city and country. God loves people, and even when they have strayed far away from Him, He desires to have a personal relationship with them through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we yield our lives to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us when He “measures” territories for His purposes, not only will His Kingdom be expanded, but also our borders will broaden as well. 

Next time Zechariah says, “the angel that talked with me went forth”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".

Zechariah Lifts Up His Eyes Again - Zechariah 2:1

In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “the LORD showed me four carpenters. Then said I, What come these to do? And he spoke, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it”, and in chapter two and verse one of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “I lifted up my eyes again” where we read,

I lifted up my eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.

The verse reads, “I lifted up my eyes again, and looked, ...” Zechariah began with the words, “I lifted up my eyes again” or “I, Zechariah, bore up, supported, sustained and raised my, Zechariah's, physical eyes another time”, “and looked” which means “and beheld, saw and observed”. Zechariah shared how he raised his physical eyes another time and beheld the following. 

The verse continues, “... and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.” Zechariah added the words, “and behold a man” or “and lo, look and consider a male being” “with a measuring line” which means “accompanied by a rule or cord to measure” “in his hand” or “within his, the man's, physical hand”. Zechariah shared how he saw another male being accompanied by a rule to measure within his physical hand. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Zechariah about another section to his vision from God. This time he observe another “man” who held a rule or cord used for “measuring” within his physical hand. We shall see what he does with this cord for measurement in our next verses, but for now, let us be aware that God knew the spiritual and physical needs of Israel. God loves Israel, and His purposes and plans for them were carried out. God was to send His Son Jesus through the people of Israel, and Jesus would die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and be raised from the dead three days later so that all who believe and trust in Him will be forgiven of their sins, granted everlasting life and taught the value of God's employment of spiritual beings to carry out His purposes and plans. 

Next time Zechariah asks the man, “where are you going?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".

What Come These to Do? - Zechariah 1:21

In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “then lifted I up my eyes, and saw, and behold four horns. And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. And the LORD showed me four carpenters.”, and in chapter one and verse twenty-one of Zechariah, Zechariah asked, “what come these to do?” where we read,

Then said I, What come these to do? And he spoke, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.

The verse reads, “Then said I, What come these to do? And he spoke, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, ...” Zechariah began with the words, “then said I” or “at that time I, Zechariah, uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked”, “what come these to do” which means “whatsoever are the four horns and four carpenters in this place to perform and produce”? “And he spoke, saying” or “and he, Jehovah God, uttered, declared and proclaim, uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “these are the horns” which means “the four horns or powers which were shown to Zechariah exist as the ones before him” “which have scattered Judah” or “who winnowed, spread out and dispersed Judah whose name means praised and was the kingdom comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin which occupied the southern part of Canaan after the nation split upon the death of Solomon”. Zechariah shared how he asked what the “four horns and carpenters” entered to perform, and Jehovah God first referred to the “four horns or powers” who dispersed the people of “Judah”.

The verse goes on to say, “... so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, ...” Zechariah added the words, “so that no man” or “which caused that not any person whether male or female” “did lift up his head” which means “exalted and raised his, the person's, summit, upper part, top or head of the body” “but these are come to fray them” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the four carpenters come in, enter, arise and appear to make them, the four horns or powers previously seen, tremble, quake, be afraid, startled and terrified”, “to cast out the horns” which means “to throw down or away the appendages or powers” “of the Gentiles” or “belonging to the heathen, non-Hebrew nations and people groups”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God referred to the overwhelming destruction performed by the “four horns or powers” against “Israel, Judah and Jerusalem” which was so devastating that not one person exalted his own “head”, and how the “four carpenters” were dispatched to cause the first “four powers” to tremble and be thrown away because they were the powers of the heathen nations and people. 

Finally the verse says, “which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.” Zechariah concluded this verse with the words, “which lifted up their horn” which means “who exalted and raised their appendage or power” “over the land of Judah” or “toward and in the direction of the country, territory, district and region the belonging to Judah whose name means praise and was the kingdom comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin which occupied the southern part of Canaan after the nation split upon the death of Solomon” “to scatter it” which means “to winnow, spread out and disperse the land of Judah”. Zechariah ended this verse with the reference to the way the “four horns or powers” exalted their might and position toward “Judah” so they could make the people within “Judah” to disperse. 

When we think through Zechariah's words in this verse, we learn how Zechariah questioned what the “four horns and four carpenters” were dispatched to perform, and he was answered by Jehovah God who referred to the first “four horns or powers” which caused Israel, Judah and Jerusalem to be dispersed. These “four artisans” were employed to restore what the first four took away, and God would be with Israel again. God loves Israel because they are His chosen people through whom all the other nations of the world are to be blessed (See Genesis 18:18; Galatians 3:8), and because God decided that His Son Jesus would be born, live, die on the cross and be raised from the dead within the nation of Israel, everyone has the opportunity to receive Him as their “Savior and Lord”. When we believe and trust in Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us an appreciation and love for Israel and God's preservation and blessing of them. 

Next time we begin a new chapter and see Zechariah say, “I lifted up my eyes again”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance". 

Four Carpenters - Zechariah 1:20

In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “then lifted I up my eyes, and saw, and behold four horns. And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem”, and in chapter one and verse twenty of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “the LORD showed me four carpenters” where we read,

And the LORD showed me four carpenters.

The verse reads, “And the LORD showed me ...” Zechariah began with the words, “and the LORD” or “and Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “showed me” which means “caused me, Zechariah, to regard, look at, give attention to and observe” the following. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God caused him to observe the following. 

The verse continues, “... four carpenters.” Zechariah added the words, “four carpenters” or “four craftsmen, artisans, engravers and artificers”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God caused him to observe four craftsmen and artificers. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Zechariah about another portion of the vision Jehovah God showed to him. This time God presented to Zechariah four artisans or craftsmen. We shall see the purpose for these“four carpenters” in our next verses, but for now let us consider that Jehovah God had a plan and employed the entities to carry out that plan. God knew we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (See Romans 3:23), and “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (See Romans 6:23). God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us an understanding of how He is in control and regardless of what is happening, He will work it out. 

Next time Zechariah asks, “what come these to do?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".

 

What Be These? - Zechariah 1:19

In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how he saw another part of his vision where he said, “then lifted I up my eyes, and saw, and behold four horns”, and in chapter one and verse nineteen of Zechariah, Zechariah asked, “what be these?”where we read,

And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? 

And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.

The verse reads, “And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these?” Zechariah began with the words, “and I said unto the angel” or “and I, Zechariah, uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked the spiritual messenger and envoy” “that talked with me” which means “who spoke, conversed, and made declarations with me, Zechariah”, “what be these”or “whatsoever are the four horns which Zechariah observed”? Zechariah shared how he asked to the spiritual envoy who spoke to him what the “four horns” he observed were. 

The verse goes on to say, “And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.”. Zechariah continued with the words, “and he answered me” or “and he, the spiritual envoy and messenger, began to speak and responded”, “these are the horns” which means “the four horns which Zechariah saw existed as the appendages and powers” “which have scattered Judah” or “who cast away, winnowed, spread and dispersed Judah whose name means praised and was the kingdom comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin which occupied the southern part of Canaan after the nation split upon the death of Solomon”, “Israel” whose name means “God prevails” and is “the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”, “and Jerusalem” whose name means “teaching of peace” and is “the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split”. Zechariah shared how the “angel” responded to his question by declaring the “four horns” to be the “horns or powers” who dispersed the nations of “Judah and Israel” and the city of “Jerusalem”.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn that Zechariah questioned what the “four horns” were that he beheld, and the “angel” responded that they were the “powers” or “entities” who dispersed the nations of “Israel” and “Judah”as well as the city of “Jerusalem”. God gave these entities their power and ability to rule over “Israel, Judah and Jerusalem” for a time, but He would rescue them soon. God loves people, and He knows they are ruled by their sins and the promoters of them. He sent His Son Jesus to conquer “sin, death, hell and the grave” by dying on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and show us how He is in control even when it appears that others are ruling over us. (See Revelation1:18)

Next time Zechariah said the LORD, “showed me four carpenters”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".