Return from Exile: Zechariah 4-6 (2)

Pray Psalm 19.12-14.
Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults.
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

Sing Psalm 19.12-14.
(St. Christopher: Beneath the Cross of Jesus)
Who, Lord, can know his errors? O keep sin far from me!
Let evil rule not in my soul that I may blameless be.
Oh, let my thoughts, let all my words before Your glorious sight
be pleasing to You, gracious Lord, acceptable and right.

Read and meditate on Zechariah 5.1-4.

Preparation
1. What did Zechariah see?

2. What was written there?

Meditation
Zechariah is shown a vision of a flying scroll (v. 1). While the temple which was being built seemed of small dimensions, this scroll must have been seen as extremely large—some 30 feet long and 15 feet wide (v. 2). It was flying, which symbolizes that it is of heavenly origin and purpose. The scroll would have cast an ominous shadow wherever it went.

And that was precisely the purpose. The scroll represents the Law of God, which goes out against the people according to the promised curses of God (v. 3). On one side of the scroll, thieves are condemned. On the other side, “perjurers”—everyone who “swears falsely by My name”—are condemned. These may have been the most prominent forms of wickedness among God’s people; yet they stand for all the Law of God, since to break one commandment is to break them all (Jms. 2.10). The Law of God looms like a shadow of doom over unrepentant sinners, for it exposes sins (Rom. 7.7).

Here is yet more evidence to suggest that those who returned from captivity in Babylon remained captive to sinful thoughts and ways. The Law of God will be read among the people in due course, and they will see themselves as sinners, weeping and wailing because of their wickedness. But their repentance will be half-hearted at best, and their captivity will not be fully lifted until the Branch comes to fulfill the Law and bear its judgment, setting free all who believe in Him.

Churches today have little fear of the looming judgment of God. He wants us to be happy. He doesn’t judge us. And we don’t need His Law anymore anyway. All who think this way and teach others to think this way will be least in the Kingdom of God (Matt. 5.17-19). We will remain captive to sinful ways until we allow the Law of God to expose our sins, point us to Jesus, and lead us in the path He walked (1 Jn. 2.1-6).

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Frankly, I think a 30x15 foot flying scroll of the Law would be beneficial to float down upon the whole earth today. Pronto! Something needs to wake us out of the stupor created by thinking that all people are born good, and those that are not good are merely experiencing a tiny glitch in the program.

Most Christians are not overcome with our own filthy rag condition, because most Christians do not cling to the lifeboat of salvation and Christ’s work on the cross. And when we are not aware of our own neediness, we are most certainly not overly grateful for the merciful forgiveness that we are offered (Lk. 7.47), nor are we zealous to keep God’s Law to prove how thankful we are. We also don’t seem to understand that Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (Jn. 14.15).

“What do you see?” (Zech. 5.2).

When we see the problem, then we must also hear God’s response to what He sees: “‘I will send out the curse’, says the LORD of hosts; ‘It shall enter the house of the thief (Ex. 20.15) and the house of the one who swears falsely by My name (Ex. 20.7, 16). It shall remain in the midst of his house and consume it, with its timber and stones’” (Zech. 5.4).

Call me crazy, but He doesn’t sound pleased.
 
If you had suffered greatly for someone else’s benefit, would you expect appreciation?
Would you expect some enthusiasm in your direction?
Would you want your love reciprocated?
Would you wonder why only a few of the beneficiaries of your suffering did what you requested?

Just wondering.

Let that flying scroll land on you. Feel its suffocating heat.

Then feel Jesus Christ, that Great Shepherd of His sheep, lift that burden from you. Breathe in His refreshing and cleansing air. Know that His blood has lifted the scroll of judgment from you. Appreciate the forgiveness. Bask in His love. Be thankful. Love Him by your obedient life.

“With my whole heart I have sought You; oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!” (Ps. 119.10)
“I AM the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

You shall have no other gods before Me” (Ex. 20.2, 3).

Ever. Never.

For reflection
1. Why do you think so many believers today have an aversion to the Law of God?

2. Jesus fulfilled the Law in two aspects, all its righteousness and all its wrath. What does that mean to you?

3. John said that those who know Jesus walk the path He walked (1 Jn. 2.1-6). What does that require of you today, as you go out into your Personal Mission Field?

Who knows the power of God’s anger? God’s curse cannot be kept out by bars or locks. While one part of the curse of God ruins the substance of the sinner, another part will rest on the soul, and sink it to everlasting punishment. All are transgressors of the law, so we cannot escape this wrath of God, except we flee for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us in the gospel. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Zechariah 5.1-4

Pray Psalm 19.7-11.
Thank God for His Law. Thank Him that the Law shows us our sins and leads us to confess and repent of them, and then points us to Jesus, showing us how we may follow Him in Kingdom greatness. Commit yourself afresh to God’s Law and all His Word.

Sing Psalm 19.7-11.
(St. Christopher: Beneath the Cross of Jesus)
The Law of God is perfect, His testimony sure;
the simple man God’s wisdom learns, the soul receives its cure.
God’s Word is right, and His command is pure, and truth imparts.
He makes our eyes to understand; with joy He fills our hearts.

The fear of God is cleansing, forever shall it last.
His judgments all are true and just, by righteousness held fast.
O seek them more than gold most fine, than honey find them sweet.
Be warned by every word and line; be blessed with joy complete.

T. M. and Susie Moore

Two books can help us understand our own captivity and lead us to seek revival and renewal in the Lord. The Church Captive asks us to consider the ways the Church today has become captive to the world. And Revived! can help us find the way to renewal. Learn more and order your free copies by clicking here and here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available free by clicking here.