In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “Then came the word of the LORD of hosts unto me, saying, Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did you at all fast unto me, even to me?”, and in chapter seven and verse six of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how the LORD asked, “did not you drink and eat for yourselves?” where we read,
And when you did eat, and when you did drink, did not you eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?
The verse reads, “And when you did eat, and when you did drink, ...” Zechariah began with the words, “and when you did eat” or “and at the time and moment that you, the people of Israel, consumed and devoured food”, “and when you did drink” which means “and at the time and moment that you, the people of Israel imbibed and drank”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God referred to the time that the people of Israel ate and drank while they were exiled in Babylon.
The verse continues, “... did not you eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?” Zechariah added the words, “did not you eat for yourselves” or “did you, people of Israel, in no way or manner consume and devour for your own selves”, “and drink for yourselves” which means “and imbibe for your, the people of Israel', own selves”? Zechariah shared how Jehovah God questioned the people of Israel concerning their times of “consuming and imbibing” for their own selves.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Zechariah how Jehovah God concerned Himself with the “eating and drinking” motivations of the people of Israel. Their question concerning “fasting”, and God mentioned their consuming and imbibing. God loves us and knows us. He knows what we do and why we do it. He knows we have sinful and selfish behaviors in our lives and this is why He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross to save us from our sins. When we yield to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us an understanding for the things we do and why we do them so we will align with ways that are pleasing in His eyes.
Next time Zechariah shares how the LORD asks, “should you not hear the words which the LORD has cried”, 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