The Word for Today with Ray

Sunday, August 3, 2025

The Day of the LORD Comes - Zechariah 14:1

In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how Jehovah said of the the remnant of people who remained in the land, “I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God”, and in chapter fourteen and verse one of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “behold, the day of the LORD comes” where we read,

Behold, the day of the LORD comes,

and your spoil shall be divided in the midst of you.

The verse reads, “Behold, the day of the LORD comes, ...” Zechariah began with the words, “Behold, the day of the LORD” or “lo, look and consider, the division or space of time belonging to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “comes” which means “enters, falls upon and is enumerated”. Zechariah called upon his readers and listeners to consider that the time period for Jehovah God was to arrive.

The verse continues, “... and your spoil shall be divided in the midst of you.” Zechariah added the words, “and your spoil” or “and your, the people of Israel's, plunder, booty and prey” “shall be divided” which means “will exist as plundered, allotted, apportioned and assigned” “in the midst of you” or “within the middle, inner part and among you, the people of Israel”. Zechariah shared how the possessions of the people of Israel were to be apportioned and plundered among them.

When we meditate upon Zechariah's words in this verse, we discover how he called upon the people of Israel to recognize that the time for Jehovah God was to arrive, and the possessions of the people were to be plundered and apportioned. We shall learn more about this in our next few verses, but for now let us keep in mind that God has a plan, and He is going to work it out. He desires to have a personal relationship with the people of Israel and with all the people in the world. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we yield to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us so we may recognize “the day of the LORD”and what that means to our possessions and eternal life with Him.

Next time Zechariah shares how Jehovah God says, “I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle”, 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".

A Third Part into the Fire - Zechariah 13:9

In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “it shall come to pass, that in all the land, says the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein”, and in chapter thirteen and verse nine of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how Jehovah God said, “I will bring a third part through the fire” where we read,

And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

The verse reads, “And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried:” Zechariah began with the words, “and I will bring” or “and I, Jehovah God, shall carry and cause” “the third part” which means “the third portion” “through the fire” or “through the fiery flame or fire”, “and will refine them” which means “and shall them, the third portion of the people” “as silver is refined” or “similar and in likeness to silver metal that exists as smelted, tested and purged”, “and will try them” which means “and shall examine, prove and scrutinize them, the third portion” “as gold is tried” or “similar and in likeness to gold metal that is smelted, tested and purged”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God said He would cause the third portion of people who remained to go through a fiery flame which would test and purge them similar to “silver and gold” metals which are smelted and purified.

The verse continues, “they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.” Zechariah added the words, “they shall call on my name” or “they, the third of the people, will utter a loud sound, proclaim and cry out upon my, Jehovah God's, fame, reputation and glory”, “and I will hear them” which means “and I, Jehovah God, shall answer, respond and pay attention to them, the third portion of the people”: “I will say”or “I, Jehovah God, will utter, declare and proclaim”, “it is my people” which means “the third portion of the people exist as my, Jehovah God's, human beings both male and female”: “and they shall say” or “and they, the third portion of the people, will utter, declare and proclaim”, “the LORD is my God” which means “Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God exists as my, the third of the people's, Supreme Deity”. Zechariah shared how the remaining third of the people will cry out to Jehovah God's fame, reputation and glory, and He would pay attention to them while declaring them to be His “people”. They shall declare that He, Jehovah God, exists as their Supreme Deity.

When we consider Zechariah's words in this verse, we see how Jehovah God was going to care for the third of the people who remained within the “land”. They would endure a testing time which would be similar to the smelting of “silver and gold” that would purge them from impurities, and afterward they would cry out to His fame, reputation and glory, and He would pay attention to them. They would declare Jehovah God to be their Supreme Deity after He claim them as His people. God loves the people of Israel, and for those who remained in the region, He would test and try them so they would make Him the Lord of their lives. God loves us as well, and He proved His love to us by sending His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us the value of God's testing and purging to bring us closer to Him. (See James 1:12; 1 Peter 1:6-7)

Next time we begin a new chapter and see Zechariah says, “behold, the day of the LORD comes”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Saturday, August 2, 2025

Two Parts Shall Be Cut Off and Die - Zechariah 13:8

In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how Jehovah God said, “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, says the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn my hand upon the little ones”, and in chapter thirteen and verse eight of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how Jehovah God said, “two parts therein shall be cut off and die” where we read,

And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, says the LORD,

two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.

The verse reads, “And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, says the LORD, ...” Zechariah began with the words, “and it shall come to pass” or “and the following shall happen and occur”, “that in all the land” which means “that within every part of the country, territory, district, region and world”, “says the LORD” or “utters, declares and proclaims Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” as follows. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God said the following will occur within the total region.

The verse goes on to say, “two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.” Zechariah continued with the words, “two parts therein” or “two-thirds of the people within the country and region” “shall be cut off and die” which means “will exist as eliminated, killed, destroyed and expire, perish and give up the ghost”: “but the third shall be left therein” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover one-third of the people will remain, be left over and preserved within the region”. Zechariah shared how two-thirds of the people within the region will be eliminated and killed, and one-third of them will remain in that area.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Zechariah how two-thirds of the people will be eliminated and perish while the remaining third will be left within the region. God has a plan for mankind which includes the salvation of the souls for every person who yields their life to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind. He desires to forgive our sins and to extend to us eternal life with Him. All we need to do is believe and trust in Jesus as our personal “Savior and Lord” even as the apostle Paul wrote, “if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (See Romans 10:9-10) God's invitation is to everyone, and rather than be like these “two-thirds” who were eliminated and perished, let us humbly come before Jehovah God, repent of our sins and confess His Son Jesus as Lord and Christ.

Next time Zechariah shares how Jehovah God says, “I will bring the third part through the fire”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Awake, O Sword, Against My Shepherd - Zechariah 13:7

In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in your hands?Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends”, and in chapter thirteen and verse seven of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd” where we read,

Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, says the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn my hand upon the little ones.

The verse reads, “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, says the LORD of hosts:”Zechariah began with the words, “Awake, O sword” or “be aroused, stir up and incite, O knife or sharpened tool for cutting stone”, “against my shepherd” which means “in opposition to my, Jehovah God's, pastoral one who cares for a flock”, “and against the man” or “and in opposition to the male human being” “that is my fellow” which means “who exist as my, Jehovah God's, relation, neighbor and associate”, “says the LORD of hosts” or “utters, declares and proclaims Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God who is over the spiritual army of angels and warriors”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God called upon the “cutting instrument” to rouse up in opposition to His “watcher over the flock” and in opposition to the male human being whom He calls His neighbor or relation.

The verse continues, “smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn my hand upon the little ones.”Zechariah added the words, “smite the shepherd” or “strike, hit, beat, slay and kill the pastoral one who cares for a flock”, “and the sheep” which means “and the flock of small cattle usually sheep and goats” “shall be scattered” or “will exist as dispersed, spread abroad and dissipated”: “and I will turn my hand” which means “and I, Jehovah God, shall bend and curve my, Jehovah God's, hand of power and authority” “upon the little ones” or “in opposition to the small cattle or lambs”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God said when the “sword” strikes His “pastoral one who cares for the flock”, the flock will be dispersed, and He would move His hand of authority in opposition to the small cattle.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we discover through Zechariah another of the prophesies concerning Jehovah God's Son and Messiah Jesus. The apostles Matthew and Mark wrote how this was fulfilled in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was taken captive and the disciples fled away. (See Matthew 26:31; Mark 14:27) God the Heaven Father knew exactly what would happen to His Son Jesus when He was made a prisoner, beaten, slapped, mocked, spit upon and crucified for the sins of the entire world. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (See John 3:16), and even though Jesus was abandoned by His disciples, His Father God allowed it for our benefit. When we surrender to Jesus, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us an understanding through His Holy Spirit how we are so blessed that He gives us specific prophesies such as Zechariah's to know Jesus Christ is the Messiah, Lord of Lords and King of Kings of the world.

Next time Zechariah shares how Jehovah God says, “two parts therein shall be cut off and die”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

What Are These Wounds? - Zechariah 13:6

In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he has prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive. But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth”, and in chapter thirteen and verse six of Zechariah, Zechariah said one asked, “what are these wounds in your hands?” where we read,

And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in your hands?

Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

The verse reads, “And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in your hands?” Zechariah began with the words, “and one shall say unto him” or “and a person will utter, declare, proclaim, question and inquire of him, God's Messiah Jesus”, “what are these wounds” which means “whatsoever are these blows, scourging or injury” “in your hands” or “within your, God's Messiah Jesus', physical hands”? Zechariah shared how someone will ask God's Messiah and Son Jesus whatsoever the injuries are within his physical hands.

The verse goes on to say, “Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.” Zechariah continued with the words, “then he shall answer” or “at that time he, God's Messiah Jesus, will respond”, “those with which I was wounded” which means “the wounds that were a result of I, God's Messiah Jesus, being injured” “in the house” or “within the abode, dwelling place and habitation” “of my friends” which means “belonging to my, God's Messiah Jesus', family, affectionate ones and beloved ones”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God's Son Jesus would respond that he received the “wounds” in His “hands” within the dwelling place of His well-loved ones.

When we consider Zechariah's words in this verse, we discover another prophesy concerning God's Messiah and Son Jesus. Nails were driven into Jesus' hands so He could hang on the cross and die for the sins of the world. (See Luke 24:39-40; Colossians 2:14) God loves all people, and every person has sinned. (See Romans 3:10,23;6:23) When we believe and trust in His Son Jesus who died on the cross for our sins, we will be forgiven of our sins and granted everlasting life. Jesus was nailed to the cross so everyone who puts their faith and trust in Him may be saved, and because His desire is for us to be His “friends” we in effect “wounded” Him so we may live with Him forever. (See John15:15; 2 Corinthians 5:21)

Next time Zechariah shares how Jehovah God says, “Awake, O sword against my shepherd”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

I am No Prophet - Zechariah 13:5

In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he has prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive”, and in chapter thirteen and verse five of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how Jehovah God said the prophet, “shall say, I am no prophet” where we read,

But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman;

for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.

The verse reads, “But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman;” Zechariah began with the words, “but he shall say” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover he, the prophet, will utter, declare and proclaim”, “I am no prophet” which means “I, the prophet, do not exist in any way as an inspired spokesman or speaker”, “I am an husbandman” or “I, the prophet, exist as a farmer, herdsman or tiller of the land”. Zechariah shared how the “prophet”will not in any way claim to be a “prophet”, but will identify himself as a farmer.

The verse continues, “for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.” Zechariah added the words, “for a man taught me” or “because, since and on account that a male human being instructed, guided and caused me, the prophet, to know how” “to keep cattle” which means “to watch over, guard and protect animals and livestock” “from my youth” or “separate and apart from my, the prophet's, youthful years and days”. Zechariah shared how the “prophet” would share how he was instructed in caring for animals and livestock for the time he was young.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Zechariah how the “prophet” would no longer desire to be known as a “prophet” and would declare how they were trained to be herdsman from the time they were young. With the threat of death over their heads when they spoke lies, we can imagine their intense desire to not be known. God is true, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, and no man comes to the Father but by me” (See John 14:6) When we humble ourselves, take heed to the words of Jesus, repent of our sins and put our faith and trust in Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and make us aware of “false prophets” who would rather disguise themselves as herdsmen than to be known for the falsehoods they proclaim.

Next time Zechariah shares how one asks, “what are these wounds in your hands?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…