Zerubbabel was born in the royal line of David and would have been king of Judah, but he was born too late. Judah was conquered and under the control of Babylon and Zerubbabel was only another poor member of the returning remnant. Yet, God called him to lead in the rebuilding of the Temple. He could not lead with earthly strength…
This psalm of David shows his familiarity with the worship of the Tabernacle. The temple incense was made from a recipe of ingredients that were not to be used elsewhere. The priests burned the incense in censers that filled the temple with their fragrance. The daily evening sacrifice was a burnt offering whose smoke would waft upward from the temple altar. David asks God to accept his prayer as incense and his lifted hands as sacrifice. Perhaps David was hiding in a cave or laying down under the stars, far from the house of the Lord. He asked God to let his voice and body be like the tabernacle’s worship.
John saw a “great sign” appear in heaven. There is much here to consider and a daily devotional thought offers not enough space. Yet consider this as we approach Christmas: Just as Satan through the paranoid earthly king Herod sought to murder the infant Jesus, so he continues to try and devour those born again into the body of Christ. As his time grows short, he becomes more furious in his pursuit because he knows his days are numbered. Therefore rejoice! For just as the Christ overcame, so we who are in Him will overcome.
The prophet Haggai wrote during the time when Israel’s remnant returned from Babylonian captivity. The temple lay in ruins. Yet, the people were not inclined to rebuild it. They were focused on their own houses and excused their behavior by saying to themselves, “The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.” This prompted the Lord to ask them a question about the timing for their own homes being built. These were not mere shelters to help them survive. These were fine “paneled” houses, meaning they had been in the land long enough to start prospering and yet, they ignored the Lord’s house. The Lord’s question exposed their true priorities. They were not putting God first. The wonderful difference between their response and the response of their pre-exile forefathers is that they repented. They obeyed. And the Lord “stirred” their spirits and they went to work!
The prophet Zephaniah was a resident of Jerusalem prior to its overthrow by Babylon. He was probably a member of the royal family of David (see his reference to Hezekiah). His prophecy was a call to repentance and of coming judgment. Yet, in the midst of these words, he reported God’s plan for a coming “time” when all peoples would call upon the name of God with a “pure” and changed speech. A future day when the peoples of the world would serve God in “one accord.”
The prophet Habakkuk lived in a day when God’s judgment on Judah was about to be carried out via Babylon. In this day when there was no “fruit” or outward reason to be happy, Habakkuk determined to rejoice in God and in His salvation. Happiness is based on a desirable happening, but joy is an unshakeable state found by faith in God alone. The prophet chose joy over happiness. He said, “I will rejoice,” and “I will take joy.” These are the actions of faith.
John saw Christ open the 7th and final seal and as the scroll unfolded, silence fell over heaven. Was this the silence of expectation, awaiting the reading of the scroll’s content? Or was the silence part of the message? Perhaps it was a kind of intermission between scenes? Or a time of prayerful meditation awaiting the final unfolding of God’s revelation? Regardless, there was silence… made more profound by its suddenness and length. Even John held his tongue and did not interrupt with questions. All was silent. Perhaps this is the silence that will precede the creation of the new heaven and the new earth. Just like the silence that preceded the original creation. And the silent night that fell before our Savior’s birth.
This prophecy from Micah is the one that Herod’s chief priests and scribes reported when the Magi visited inquiring about the one born king of the Jews (Matthew 2:1). Micah wrote this prophecy 700 years before Christ’s birth. Bethlehem (“house of bread”) Ephrathah (“fruitful”) was the town of David’s birth and therefore an appropriate place for one born to the line of David to be born. Yet, it would be presumptuous for the prophet to assume that a future heir would be born in the same town. David’s many other sons certainly weren’t born there. No, this was not speculation on Micah’s part. It was the very Word of God that Micah spoke when he prophesied little Bethlehem’s future “starring” role.
After three chapters of judgment, God spoke of a future day when the nations would “study war no more.” But this peace cannot precede judgment. Otherwise, the seeds of the next war would be contained therein. Many asked Micah to stop preaching such stuff. Too negative. But Micah replied with the word of the Lord, “Do not my words do good to him who walks uprightly?” In other words, the one who “walks uprightly” understands that real peace is more than the cessation of hostilities. It is the changing of the human heart that comes only through the Lord, that fills everyone with love and forgiveness.
John wept because no one was found that could open the scroll with the seven seals. Then, one of the elders (possibly Peter or Matthew, since both were already martyred), pointed out One that was standing between the Throne and four living creatures. This One was both the “Root” and the “Branch” (Isaiah 11:1) of David, pointing to both His preexistence and incarnation. He was the “Lion of Judah” reflecting His royal birthright. Yet even more significant was His identity as the One who had “conquered,” defeating sin, death and the grave by His sacrificial death and resurrection. When John saw Him take the scroll, he witnessed the most wonderful worship erupt in heaven as they all sang, “Worthy is the Lamb!” And his tears turned to joy!