King James Bible Study – [Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.]
Date: Thursday, September 21, 2022
Chapters: ZECHARIAH 10-14
Study: One Sacrifice
Hello My Friend,
Well, you would have to be completely blind and quite hard in the heart to not realize that the chapters for today are talking about Christ Himself. It does not matter what Testament we read, the entire Bible is based on Christ. In fact, He is actually found through more Scripture in the Old than in the New. Nothing written about Jesus in the New Testament is actually new, it all written in the Old first. Why did God do this? To prove that the same message applies to everyone, not just the Jews and not just the Gentiles, we are all under the same judgment or justification should we open our eyes and hearts to the truth and accept it.
[Romans 2:9-15 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)]
When Christ returns, we who are saved will all be united as one, and all the false prophets, and church leaders, which God calls shepherds, will have the shock of their lives when they find themselves in hell for leading so many people to hell. When the Jews were in Babylon, many died before seeing an end to their captivity, but they had a promise awaiting them, God would restore Israel. Now, as we come to the end of the reading of Zechariah, God foretells of the day that He will restore Israel and place judgment upon the shepherds.
[Zechariah 10:3-6,12 Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle. 4 Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together. 5 And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded. 6 And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them. 12 And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD.]
[and they shall be as though I had not cast them off:] Sin separates us from God, it does not matter if it is a little white lie or a murder, it is all the same to God, sin, and therefore we cast off as sheep to the slaughter. Here are the precious promises to the people of God, eternal life through the one who came from the corner, who took the nails in His hands and feet, and became sin for all so that we escape the slaughter. Those whom Christ redeemed by His blood will be gathered together by His grace. Christ Himself is their strength, and since He is their redemption, everything we do, we must do all in the name of Jesus, [Acts 4:11-12 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.]
God often sees people as sheep. Why? Sheep, are lovable, meek, and kind, but are also absent minded creatures who need a shepherd to guide them or they tend to wander off and become prey to predators. It often takes affliction for us to see Jesus for who He truly is. Once we do, our Good Shepherd, will guide us in the way that we should go. Sadly, there are many false shepherds out there, and that is why so many sheep have gone astray into false religion, but God keeps count of all those shepherds who lead His sheep astray. As we continue, God, foretells of when He will place judgment upon the false shepherds, but why He even holds those who believe them accountable as well.
[Zechariah 11:3-7 There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled. 4 Thus saith the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter; 5 Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not. 6 For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour’s hand, and into the hand of his king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them. 7 And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock.]
[Feed the flock of the slaughter;] This is referring to Jews captivity first, during the four hundred and fifty years that they were enslaved by the Egyptians, then seventy years in Babylon, then the Romans, who had control over Israel during the days of Christ. We are all appointed a sheep to the slaughter, but God, sent Jesus to deliver us by becoming the one and only sacrificial lamb needed to save us once and for all, [Hebrews 9:27-28 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.]
Beauty, represents the privileges of the Jewish nation in their national covenant with God. They chose to cleave to false teachers, which followed the breaking of the covenant between God and them. In fact, God goes on to reveal a very interesting prophecy.
[Zechariah 11:9-13 Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another.10 And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people. 11 And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD. 12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. 13 And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.]
[I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die;] It is clear, you can choose to believe in Christ and receive Him as your Saviour, and God will save you, but if you do not, then it will be to your own death to your soul, [Acts 17:30-31 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.]
[that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people.] This is when God will end the need for animal sacrifices, and replace it with one, Christ. This is why God decided to have one Shepherd who will lead not only believing Jews, but Gentiles to Christ as well, [Romans 10:11-13 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.]
Bands, represents the harmony that united Israel as the flock of God, it too was divided when they broke their covenant with God. Sadly, many false shepherds have led the people astray, even allowing them to bring sin into the church, thinking that it is actually something that God approves of. Idolatry? Adultery? Fornication? Homosexuality? Abortion? Women leading the church? These are all things that God does not approve of, but God foretells of when He will place judgment upon the false shepherds, particularly one.
[Zechariah 11:14-17 Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. 15 And the LORD said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd. 16 For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces. 17 Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.]
[Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock!] Jesus said it this way, [Matthew 12:35-37 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.]
We who are saved are appointed, in fact, commanded to tell the lost sheep how they can find Jesus, and we will give an account to anyone that we had the opportunity to reach with the Gospel and failed. Again, you would have to be blind and quite hardhearted not to know that these chapters are all about Jesus. God, gives some amazing insight to His first and second coming, including His crucifixion.
[Zechariah 12:1-2,7-8,10 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. 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. 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.]
[I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people] It is promised that God will make foolish the wise, and weaken the strength of the enemies of His Church. God, often begins by calling the poor and despised to His Son, even the feeblest will resemble David, and be wise as serpents, harmless as doves, and as strong as Christ can carry them, [Matthew 10:16,19-20 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.]
[and they shall mourn for him,] This would be the day when Jesus died on the cross and for three days, both believing Jews and Gentiles mourned for Him for three days, [Mark 16:9-15 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. 10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. 12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. 14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.]
All who look to the One they pierced will be saved. Let me tell you, the burdens of life make us weak, they literally drain every bit of strength that is in not only our physical body, but mental and spiritual as well, but when we are weak, that is when Christ is strong in us. I can complain to God all I want about my situation, but until I stop fighting my battle myself I will never be strong enough to win it. All the people and things that made us weak will be the ammunition God uses to not only fight them for us, but strengthen us. God speaks of the glorious day when Israel will finally recognize Christ as the Messiah, but also gives details of why we suffer as Christians.
[Zechariah 13:14,6-9 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.4 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive: 6 And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. 7 Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. 8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. 9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.]
[ In that day there shall be a fountain opened] The fountain that opened is the side of Jesus that was pierced when He was on the cross, [John 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.]
[What are these wounds in thine hands?] This is actually not Jesus, this is referring to the false prophet, referencing verse 3. God is telling these Jews to wake up, and see that they have wounded and, in fact, killed His shepherd. Jesus, truly was wounded by those who were called His friends, the Jews, who rejected Him, and even thought of Him as being the false prophet, [Matthew 12:24-28 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. 25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: 26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? 27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.]
[and will refine them as silver is refined,] Sometimes is seems like no matter what we do we who are faithful are the ones being chastened or punished by God. Well, God uses affliction to refine us, to make us not only depend on Him for everything, but that we might endure it through the strength that only Christ can bring us. One day all the suffering will be over and we will all unite as one nation with our King, and He will get vengeance on all those whom afflicted us. God goes on to reveal the glorious day when Christ will return for us.
[Zechariah 14:3-5,8-9 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. 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.]
[and all the saints with thee.] God’s saints, are the saved, born again Christians who receive Him as their Saviour. And what about those who were here before Christ gave His life? Well, their faith saved them as well. You see, they too died, not having received this promise, but having faith in it, [Hebrews 11:13-16 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.]
[in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.] Jesus, was wounded for our transgressions, He suffered and died on the cross because He loves us too much to let us end up in hell. Praise God! There is one reminder, one sign to show what Jesus did for us that we will see when we meet Him face to face, and that is the scars in His hands and feet where the nails were driven into them, [John 20:27-29 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.].
Today’s Prayer: God, Saved or not, we all have burdens in life, thankfully, we who know Your Son as our Saviour can overcome them through Him. He is not only the living water that sustains our soul, He is what gives us the strength to deal with every burden. Lord, Help us not to resent the trials and afflictions of life or be fearful of their effects, for they are meant to purify our hearts and minds and make them as gold. Fill us with Your power, mercy, and grace, let it overflow us as a fountain, and cover us with Your protective wings so that we can endure all things through His strength. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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