July 26, 2024
DAILY BIBLE READING – Zechariah Chapter 14
1 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
3 Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.
6 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:
7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.
8 And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.
9 And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.
10 All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin’s gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king’s winepresses.
11 And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.
12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.
13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the Lord shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.
14 And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.
15 And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague.
16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.
18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the Lord will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
20 In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, Holiness Unto The Lord; and the pots in the Lord‘s house shall be like the bowls before the altar.
21 Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts.
Commentary
Commentary
Zechariah 14 describes an impressive and often frightening picture of the “Day of the Lord,” a future day when God intervenes in history to save His people and eliminate injustice in the world. This prophecy speaks of both destruction and renewal, carrying significant theological and eschatological meaning.
Siege and Plundering of Jerusalem (Verses 1-2): The chapter begins with the announcement of an attack on Jerusalem, during which the city will be plundered, and many of its inhabitants will be taken captive. This could be interpreted as a symbolic depiction of the trials and sufferings that God’s people must endure.
The Lord’s Intervention (Verses 3-5): The Lord Himself will intervene in the battle, and His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which will split into two parts. This dramatic change in the landscape symbolizes God’s powerful intervention in human history and His ability to alter creation.
The Unique Day of the Lord (Verses 6-7): It will be a day that is neither day nor night, but in the evening, there will be light. This symbolizes a time when God’s presence and dominion surpass all previous orders and expectations.
Living Water and Universal Reign (Verses 8-9): Living waters will flow from Jerusalem, indicating a source of life and healing. The Lord will be king over the whole earth, emphasizing God’s universal rule and the unity of His name.
Renewal and Security of Jerusalem (Verses 10-11): Jerusalem will be elevated and stabilized, and people will live securely within it. This vision provides a picture of future peace and security for God’s people.
Plagues upon the Nations (Verses 12-15): The nations that fought against Jerusalem will be struck with terrible plagues. This represents God’s just retribution against the enemies of His people.
Worship and Celebration (Verses 16-19): All surviving nations will come annually to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles and worship the Lord. This emphasizes the universal worship of God and the fulfillment of the prophetic vision of a united and sanctified people.
Holiness and Purity (Verses 20-21): Everything in Jerusalem, even everyday items, will be holy and belong to the Lord. This underscores the comprehensive holiness and purity that God’s presence brings.
Conclusion: Zechariah 14 paints a picture of the end-time salvation and restoration of Jerusalem through God’s intervention. It underscores themes of judgment, redemption, God’s universal rule, and holiness. This vision offers both comfort and a solemn warning, emphasizing God’s power and holiness and the necessity of faithfulness and worship.
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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