In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how Jehovah God said to Israel, “Turn you to the strong hold, you prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto you”, and in chapter nine and verse thirteen of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how Jehovah God shared about, “Judah, Ephraim, Zion and Greece” where we read,
When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up your sons,
O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and made you as the sword of a mighty man.
The verse reads, “When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up your sons, O Zion ...”Zechariah began with the words, “when I have bent Judah for me” or “at the time and moment I, Jehovah God, have lead forth 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, on behalf of me, Jehovah God”,“filled the bow” which means “made full the archer's bow” “with Ephraim” or “by the use of Ephraim whose name means double ash-heap or I shall be doubly fruitful and was sometimes used for the northern kingdom”, “and raised up your sons, O Zion” which means “and roused, awakened and incited your, Ephraim's, male offsprings and progenies O Zion whose name means parched place and is another name for Jerusalem especially in the prophetic books”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God said at the time and moment He lead forth “Judah” on His behalf, made full the archer's bow buy the use of “Ephraim” and awakened the male offsprings of Israel the following would also occur.
The verse goes on to say, “... against your sons, O Greece, and made you as the sword of a mighty man.” Zechariah continued with the words, “against your sons” which means “in opposition to your, Greece's, male offsprings and progenies”, “O Greece” or “O Greece or Javan or Ionia whose was a son of Japheth and grandson of Noah”, “and made you” which means “and set, placed, appointed and made you, Greece” “as the sword of a mighty man” or “similar and in likeness to the knife, cutting instrument, axe, dagger or mattock belonging to a strong and brave male human being or warrior”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God said “Zion” would rise up in opposition to the male offsprings of “Greece”.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Zechariah how “Judah” was similar to Jehovah God's archer bow used in battle, and “Israel” was like His arrow. “Jerusalem” would be employed like a sharp cutting knife that He would brandish against “Greece”. God is able to employ the people of Israel to carry out His judgment in the world, and because He loves people, He offers them the opportunity to be forgiven of their sins through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we put our faith and trust in Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us while He goes to war to conquer all our spiritual foes who rise up against us. (See Ephesians 6:12)
Next time Zechariah said “the LORD shall be seen over them”, 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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