July 24, 2024
DAILY BIBLE READING – Zechariah Chapter 12
1 The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.
4 In that day, saith the Lord, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.
5 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the Lord of hosts their God.
6 In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.
7 The Lord also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah.
8 In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them.
9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.
12 And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;
13 The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart;
14 All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.
King James Version. Public Domain
Commentary
God’s Protection for Jerusalem:
Verses 1-3: The chapter begins with a powerful declaration from the Lord, who created the heavens and the earth and gave the breath of life to humanity. This introduction emphasizes God’s sovereignty and omnipotence. He announces that Jerusalem will become a cup of reeling for all the surrounding nations—a symbol of drunkenness and confusion. Jerusalem will be a burdensome stone that no one can lift without harming themselves, and all nations will gather against the city. These images highlight Jerusalem’s central role in end-time conflicts and the inevitability of divine intervention.
Verses 4-8: In this passage, the Lord describes how He will keep His protective hand over Judah and Jerusalem. He will make the horses of the enemy nations panic and their riders frenzied, while showering the house of Judah with vigilance and protection. The leaders of Judah will be like a “firepot in the woodpile” and a “torch among sheaves,” symbolizing their ability to destroy the surrounding nations. These images illustrate the power and protection God grants His people in times of distress.
God will first save the tents of Judah to ensure that neither the house of David nor the citizens of Jerusalem exalt themselves over their brethren. This act of salvation demonstrates justice and balance in God’s actions. The weak in Jerusalem will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, highlighting the transformation and strengthening of the people in the end times.
Mourning for the Pierced One:
Verses 9-14: In this prophetic vision, God promises to destroy all the nations that fight against Jerusalem. He will pour out the spirit of grace and supplication on the house of David and the citizens of Jerusalem, and they will look upon the one they have pierced. This passage is often interpreted messianically and refers to the pain and remorse the people will feel when they recognize their sins.
The mourning for the pierced one will be deep and widespread, comparable to the grief for an only child. The description of mourning recalls the great lamentation for Josiah in the Valley of Megiddo. Each family, each clan will mourn by itself, emphasizing the depth of individual and collective repentance and sorrow.
Summary: Zechariah chapter 12 presents a vivid picture of divine protection and the end-time events surrounding Jerusalem. It portrays the city as the center of global conflicts and the crucial role God will play in its protection and salvation. The mourning for the pierced one underscores the repentance and conversion necessary to receive God’s grace and healing. This chapter highlights themes of divine justice, protection, and the transformative power of repentance and contrition.
WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING – Ellen White | The Desire of Ages Chapter 49: At the Feast of Tabernacles
This chapter is based on John 7:1-15, 37-39.
Read online here
Commentary
The Feast of Tabernacles, as described in John 7, was a significant celebration in the Jewish calendar. Three times a year, the Jews were to gather in Jerusalem to worship the Lord, who had led them through the wilderness. After the Babylonian captivity, they were able to resume this practice, and it became very important to celebrate these memorial days. However, over time, the religious leaders had forgotten the original purpose of the festivals. Christ, who had instituted these festivals, recognized this and showed that they had lost their meaning.
The Feast of Tabernacles was the last of the annual festivals and was meant to remind Israel of God’s goodness and grace. During this time, the land was flooded with God’s blessings. The harvest had been gathered, olives had been harvested, and grapes had been pressed. For seven days, people from all parts of the land and from other countries came to Jerusalem to celebrate and thank God for His goodness. They lived in booths made of green branches to remember the tent life in the wilderness.
The festival was celebrated with spiritual songs and prayers of thanksgiving. The great Day of Atonement, which had been observed shortly before, had brought peace to the hearts and prepared the way for the joyful Feast of Tabernacles. The temple was the center of the celebrations, and the sacrificial ceremonies reached their peak. At night, artificial light illuminated the temple, and the splendor of the celebration deeply impressed those present.
A significant ritual during the festival was drawing water from the Pool of Siloam, which symbolized quenching the thirst of Israel in the wilderness. This symbolized the spiritual thirst that Christ intended to satisfy. When Jesus told his brothers that His time had not yet come, He showed that He was guided not by human expectations but by divine timing.
Jesus eventually came to Jerusalem in the middle of the feast and taught in the temple. His wisdom and knowledge of the law amazed everyone. Despite the hostility of the religious leaders, He spoke boldly and persuasively. On the last day of the feast, He cried out loudly: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink!” This was an invitation to satisfy spiritual thirst through faith in Him.
Jesus was aware of the needs of the people and offered to quench their inner thirst. His invitation still stands today: anyone who is thirsty can come to Him and take the water of life freely. His words offer comfort, hope, and refreshment to all who recognize Him as the true Messiah.
WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING – Ellen White | The Desire of Ages Chapter 50: Among Snares
This chapter is based on John 7:16-36, 40-53; John 8:1-11.
Read online here
Commentary
Based on John 7:16-36, 40-53, and John 8:1-11, this chapter describes the increasing hostility of the Jewish leaders towards Jesus. During the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, Jesus was constantly surrounded by priests and Pharisees who tried to trap him. They questioned his authority and attempted to discredit his teaching.
Jesus responded to them with the words: “My teaching is not mine, but His who sent me” (John 7:16). He made it clear that the ability to recognize the truth depends less on the mind and more on the heart. A person must be willing to submit their will to God to truly grasp the truth. The Pharisees lacked this willingness, which is why they could not understand his teaching.
Jesus revealed their evil intentions by exposing their thoughts and reminding them that they were breaking the law by plotting his death. Although they wanted to kill him, they were hindered by an invisible power. Many people began to believe in Jesus, but the religious leaders remained stubborn in their unbelief.
Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin, asked the question: “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” (John 7:51). This question silenced the accusers, and Jesus escaped immediate danger.
The next morning, Jesus was interrupted in the temple by scribes and Pharisees who brought a woman accused of adultery before him. They tried to trap Jesus: if he freed the woman, they could accuse him of disregarding the law; if he condemned her, they could report him to the Romans. But Jesus wisely responded by saying, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7). The accusers shamefully withdrew, and Jesus freed the woman and encouraged her to sin no more.
This episode shows the deep grace and mercy of Jesus. He did not condemn the woman but gave her a new chance. This stands in stark contrast to the religious leaders, who were only focused on condemnation and punishment. Jesus demonstrated that true justice is linked with mercy and forgiveness. His words and actions reveal that he came to save, not to condemn.
The story urges us not to judge but to show mercy and give others a second chance. It highlights the difference between a superficial, self-righteous religion and a genuine faith characterized by love. Jesus invites us to be his followers by reflecting his mercy and love in our lives.
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