In HIS infinite mercy and grace our heavenly Father continues to deepen my love for HIS precious Word and for HIM, this love is a gift of HIS grace...I am learning to read in an expectant prayerful posture, crying out for HIM to show me HIS glory. When I enter HIS presence with the right heart attitude, with a desire simply to spend time with my ABBA, longing to know HIM and love on HIM, HE lovingly reveals something wonderful about HIMSELF or some wonderful promise that I have missed. On the other hand, if I show up wanting to increase MY knowledge of God for my own purposes it does not go very well:( I know that you are all shocked and appalled that I would ever do such a thing:)
I often feel like an infant or a little child in HIS presence, awestruck by HIS glory and grace, awestruck by HIS majesty and power, awestruck that HE rejoices over me (Zeph 3:17). One of the things that I watch for in HIS Word is repetition of a phrase. Could it be that we parents learned this from HIM? Learned what Mark? Repetition! Remember parents...don't touch that! don't touch that! don't touch that! don't touch that! don't touch that! don't touch that! don't touch that! I SAID...DON'T TOUCH THAT! It always sounds funny to hear other parents talking that way...when I am doing it, funny is normally not what I am feeling:) Sorry for the digression, we were talking about repetition!
In Zechariah, the power packed words the Lord of Hosts shows up 53 times in 46 verses...I don't know if that is a record, but it is amazing that this majestic name for God would be used so many times. The name the Lord of Hosts is translated JEHOVAH-SABAOTH. You may recall that Goliath had an encounter with JEHOVAH-SABAOTH, it did not go well for Goliath! In 1 Samuel we see that “David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied’ ” (1 Sam. 17:45). The Israelites were terrified, they were paralyzed with fear, day after day the giant Goliath hurled insults at them and their God. Filled with fear none dared to take on Goliath. Amazingly, a small shepherd boy named David, stepped forward. David would gladly fight Goliath in the name of Jehovah-Sabaoth. David was not trusting in his ability or in his power, he was resting in the Lord of Hosts! We will see this clearly in Zech 4:6..."Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts."
Remember Hannah? Eli thought that she was drunk, but Hannah had been taunted and ridiculed for being barren. She cried out to Jehovah-Sabaoth to give her a child, and the prophet Samuel was born (1 Sam. 1).
You and I may rejoice in knowing that Jehovah-Sabaoth still answers the cries of those who are desperate for HIM in their circumstances. He is the great Protector, Deliverer, and Enforcer of justice. It is cool to know that the name Zechariah means Yahweh remembers! Remember, Yahweh is God's personal name, just like a general in the army is called general, but he also has a personal name. God's personal name is Yahweh and in the book of Zechariah Yahweh shows up in power and might as the Lord of Hosts, JEHOVAH-SABAOTH. We find great hope and joy in knowing that the Lord of Hosts, mighty in battle, remembers HIS OWN! Yahweh remembers!
The other phrase that shows up frequently is "the Word of the Lord came to Zechariah." These words show up 6 times in Zechariah and 99 times in the Old Testament, not the Zechariah part, that is only in Zechariah:) "The Word of the Lord came to" is in the OT 99 times! As I was taking note of its use in Zechariah it hit me like a 4x4 upside the head..."the Word of the Lord came to Mark." ..."the Word of the Lord came to Mark." ..."the Word of the Lord came to Mark." ..."the Word of the Lord came to YOU!
Jesus Christ, Immanuel, God with us, the Word incarnate came to me and HE came to you! In Romans 5:5 we see that "the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Jesus Christ, the Word incarnate came to me...what have I done with this treasure? How did I respond? How do I respond daily, moment by moment?
Matt 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
So the Lion of the Tribe of Judah arrives on the scene, the Good Shepherd who lays down HIS life for HIS sheep and we see in Revelation 1:5 that this is "Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood" By HIS blood HE makes the way so that the Word of the Lord may come to you and the Word of the Lord may come to me!
Jehovah-Sabaoth, the Lord of Hosts has used HIS great and mighty power to defeat sin, death and Satan...the price HIS OWN BLOOD and now the way is open for us to be recreated, redeemed and enter HIS presence by faith and walk with HIM daily by that same faith...the righteous man shall live by faith.
The Word incarnate came to you...What will your answer be? Will you hear the call?
pursuing HIS presence together!
love,
m