In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “the LORD has been sore displeased with your fathers. Therefore say you unto them, Thus says the LORD of hosts; Turn you unto me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, says the LORD of hosts. Be you not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus says the LORD of hosts; Turn you now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, says the LORD”, and in chapter one and verse five of Zechariah, Zechariah asked, “your fathers, where are they?” where we read,
Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?
The verse reads, “Your fathers, where are they?” Zechariah began with the words, “your fathers” or “your, the people of Israel's, male ancestors, progenitors, heads and founders of a household”, “where are they” which means “in what place and location do the male progenitors exist”? Zechariah asked the people of Israel in what place their forefathers were now.
The verse continues, “and the prophets, do they live for ever?” Zechariah added the words, “and the prophets” or “and the foremost, first, chief and previous speakers, spokesmen and inspired men”, “do they live for ever” which means “do they, the prophets, remain alive, sustain life, continue to exist eternally and unto perpetuity”? Zechariah asked about the current existence of the “prophets” who made declarations to the people of Israel's forefathers.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we see how Jehovah God asked through Zechariah where the forefathers and “prophets” were who existed in the past. The idea was, they are gone from the earth. God is an eternal God, and life continues after death for everyone. God knows this, and because our sins destine us to be separated from Him eternally, He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross in our place and to be raised from the dead. When we put our faith and trust in Him we will be forgiven of our sins, receive everlasting life and live with Him forever and ever. God's invitation is to everyone, and regardless of our past, God will save us forever when we submit to Him. One thing is for certain, we exist now on earth, but we all will meet the destiny of death and after that the judgment. (See Hebrews 9:27) Let all who read these words hear Jehovah God and receive His Son Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”.
Next time Zechariah shares how Jehovah God asks, “but my words and my statutes … did they not take hold of your fathers?”, 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".
No comments:
Post a Comment