In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “the LORD has been sore displeased with your fathers”, and Jehovah God asked through Zechariah, “your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?”, and in chapter one and verse six of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how God asked, “but my words and my statutes … did they not take hold of your fathers?” where we read,
But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so has he dealt with us.
The verse reads, “But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers?” Zechariah began with the words, “but my words” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover my, Jehovah God's, speeches, utterances and declarations” “and my statutes” which means “and my, Jehovah God's, ordinances, limits and prescribed tasks”, “which I commanded my servants the prophets” or “that I, Jehovah God, charged, gave orders and appointed to my, Jehovah God's, subjects, bondmen and menservants the speakers, spokesmen and inspired men”, “did they not take of your fathers” which means “did not the words and statutes of Jehovah God overtake and come to fruition with your, the people of Israel's, forefathers, ancestors and progenitors”? Zechariah shared how Jehovah God asked the people of Israel whether they understood that the “words and statutes” that He gave through His “servant prophets” came true for their forefathers.
The verse goes on to say, “and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, ...” Zechariah continued with the words, “and they returned” or “and they, the forefathers and ancestors of Israel, came back, experienced regret and repented”, “and said” which means “and uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “like as the LORD of hosts” or “similar and in likeness to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the one true God who rules over armies and warriors of angels” “thought to do unto us” which means “devised, planned, considered and purposed to fashion and work toward us, the forefathers of Israel”. Zechariah shared how the forefathers and ancestors of the people of Israel repented and declared that Jehovah God did exactly as He declared He would do to them.
Finally the verse says, “... and according to our doings, so has he dealt with us.” Zechariah concluded this verse by saying, “and according to our doings” or “and in keeping with our, the people of Israel's forefathers and ancestors', journeys, manner, direction, habits and course of life”, “so has he dealt with us” which means “even and indeed has he, Jehovah God, formed, fashioned, worked and accomplished toward us, the forefathers and the people of Israel”? Zechariah ended this verse by declaring how the ancestors of Israel knew that Jehovah God rewarded them in keeping with their habits and courses of life.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Zechariah how Jehovah God referred to the history of the people of Israel. God gave their ancestors “prophets” who spoke His “words and statutes”, and they repented of their wicked and evil deeds. They knew Jehovah God rewarded them in keeping with their manner and course of life, and they returned to Him. (See Galatians 6:7) God knows our “course of life” as well, and because we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, (See Romans 3:23), we are in need of a “Savior” who can remove our sin which separates us from a relationship with God. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (See Romans 6:23), and Jesus came to be crucified on the cross to pay for the sins of the whole world. (See 2 Corinthians 5:21) When we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a desire and ability to live according to His “words and statutes” in this life and in the eternal life to come.
Next time Zechariah begins to share what happened, “the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month”, 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".
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