My Staff, Bands - Zechariah 11:14

In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prized at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD”, and in chapter eleven and verse fourteen of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how Jehovah God said, “I cut asunder my other staff, even Bands” where we read,

Then I cut asunder my other staff, even Bands, 

that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.

The verse reads, “Then I cut asunder my other staff, even Bands, ...” Zechariah began with the words, “then I cut asunder” or “at that time I, Jehovah God, hewn, chopped off and split apart” “my other staff” which means “my, Jehovah God's, other rod, stick or wand”, “even Bands” or “also Bands whose name means union, cords, ropes, territories and companies”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God said He broke in half his other rod which was named “Bands” or union. 

The verse goes on to say, “... that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.” Zechariah continued with the words, “that I might break the brotherhood” or “so I, Jehovah God, may violate, frustrate and make ineffectual the fraternity” “between Judah” which means “in the midst and middle of 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” “and Israel” or “and Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God would make ineffective the fraternity in the midst of “Judah and Israel”.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Zechariah how Jehovah God turned His attention toward His other rod which was named “Bands” or Union. God allowed the people of Israel to become divided after the death of Solomon, and when He brought them back to the land of Israel after being captives in Babylon for seventy years, He put them back together. God's desire is to save all of mankind through His Son Jesus who died 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 bring us into “Union” with Him and other believers in the world. 

Next time Zechariah shares how Jehovah God says to him, “take unto you yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd”, 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".