October 22, 2007 5:40 AM
Sam wrote:
Prov 22:29. Skilled laborers will serve before kings. As will skilled Christians. Skilled in the art of BEING a Christian, not necessarily in the knowledge of the Bible. Certainly knowledge is beneficial, however, acts of the heart are more important. We all know what Christians should be like. If we are skilled at being one, we too can serve before OUR King, the Lord Almighty Jesus!
Zech 6. Okay, more visions. Chariots and horses....reminds me of Revelation. Am not sure what the colors represent, but I notice no mention of where the Red horse is going (we read, however, about this horse earlier in the book if you recall). After these visions, Zechariah heard God speak to him with instructions on getting gold and silver and making a crown for Joshua, son of Zephaniah, and crowning him as the "Branch" with instructions to build the Temple in Jerusalem. How would you react if you actually HEARD God's voice....I don't mean in a dream, but actually heard, with your own ears, some voice from Heaven giving you instructions? I'll bet it would see immediate response...I know I would! I have often wondered when people say they 'hear' God, what it sounds like to them. I know a lot, if not all, of it is simply imaginary, but I am curious if any people today actually still HEAR God speak to them OUT LOUD. I am not sure if I would freak out initially, or not. Just something to think about while we 'hear' God speaking to us through others, as well as His Word, the Bible. We SHOULD respond in the same manner when we read commands from Jesus, as if He were speaking to us OUT LOUD, but most of the time we do not even heed what He says. Scary, ain't it?
Good to be back in town, in my own house. Off to work.....! Reply to this
October 22, 2007 8:07 AM
Tony wrote:
Proverbs 22 How many times have we read this? Yet it is amazing that I still find things I do not remember from before. Vs 17-21 pay attention and listen so we can apply to our hearts the words that we hear so that we are ready to give sound answer to him who sent you,(paraphrased). I don't remember this anytime from before. What a simple explanation for what we are trying to do.We should daily apply Gods word to our heart so that we are ready for the work that He sends us Zechariah 6 This is not a dream that Zechariah is having, this is what he is seeing. Remember back in chapter 4 vs 1 the angel of the Lord awakened him. Imagine seeing and feeling this in real life! Why don't they say that the red horses are going east? Are we to assume that since the three others cover the N,S,W area? Vs 5 we have the angel answering Zechariah and then in vs 8 as he continues to speak he says that those going north have given my Spirit rest in the land of the north. If this is the angel then what is his Spirit and why is Spirit in caps. The Lord does not come to Zechariah until vs 9. Any thoughts?
Can we meet at Ricks on Wednesday for midweek? Reply to this
October 22, 2007 10:09 AM
Rich wrote:
I have a set of books on the Bible called "Manna for the Morning." These were popular back in the 'old days.' I pulled out the one on Zechariah today to get a better idea of what is going on. I know very little about this section of the Bible. Here is what is said about Zechariah in general:
Zechariah (whose name means 'whom Yahweh has remembered') was a contemporary of the prophet Haggai (Hag 1:1). He was born in exile and returned with his grandfather, Iddo (Neh 12:4) to Judah around 538 BC. His prophetic ministry began around 520 BC. The context of the book is the return of the Jews from Babylon and the subsequent rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple (Ez 5:1). The temple was completed and dedicated just four years later in 516 BC.
Zechariah urged the people not to repeat the same mistakes of their forefathers. His plea was for the people to be urgent in obeying the commands of God, given that the longer they postponed their repentance, the more difficult it would become! Zechariah was given eight visions in the first 6 chapters of the book. The visions and their generals explanations are:
1. The Horseman on a Red Horse = God always watches over Judah. 2. The 4 Horns & 4 Craftsmen = the defeat of Judah's enemies. 3. The Measuring Line = the future look of the new Jerusalem. 4. The High Priest Reclothed = the spiritual renewal of the people. 5. The Lampstand & Olive Trees = success of rebuilding comes from God. 6. The Flying Scroll = a curse is promised for those who steal. 7. The Woman in a Basket = deals with iniquity is all the land. 8. The Four Chariots = God will powerfully fulfill His promises.
As for today (Chap 6), it says:
Zechariah 6:1-8 speaks of God as the Lord of all forces, the ruler of all events, the One with all power and control. The two mountains were probably meant to represent Mt Moriah (the mountain on which the temple was built) and nearly Mt Zion. In Zechariah's era, bronze was one of the strongest and most enduring of all metals and represented the enduring presence of God and His eternal concern for all men. The colors of the horses are symbolic: 'red' indicated bloodshed; 'white' represented death; 'black' represented famine and sorrow (Rev 6:5-6) and 'dappled' represented a mixture of prosperity and adversity.
As for the rest of this chapter:
The eight previous visions from Zechariah 1-6 all had to do with the obstacles that had to be removed before the Messiah's coming, particularly as they prevented the rebuilding of the temple, which foreshadowed the symbolic 'priestly' sacrificial system. In Zech 6:11-15, the coronation of Joshua the Priest symbolizes the coming of the Messiah. The two olive trees pouring out their oil at the same time symbolizes the kingly office being merged with that of High Priest (i.e., the true temple which the Messiah would later build).
Don't know if this helps any of you but it helped this book make some sense to me. Reply to this
October 22, 2007 10:21 AM
Rich wrote:
Have any of you guys read the book: "Jesus The Same" written by Charles Edward Jefferson? The book was written in 1908. Many years ago DPI reprinted an edited and revised version (changes are minor) that includes a forward by Sam Lang. Sam says: "There are many books that have helped me, but only a few have made me who I am. This is one of those. I was first introduced to this beautiful, lucid portrait of Jesus some twenty years ago, and I have been forever changed by the majestic, glorious picture of Jesus that it paints."
I have been reading the book for the past week and I totally agree with Sam. This is the most powerful, thought provoking picture of Jesus that I have ever seen. The book focuses completely on the character of Jesus. Each chapter talks about a particular aspect of Jesus' character - for example, strength, sincerity, poise, originality, narrowness, breadth, trust in God, brotherliness, optimism, firmness, ....
I read and then sit in awe thinking about Jesus. Each day my picture of Jesus seems to change (become more full) and my love and admiration for him grows. If you want to know more about the one that we serve, I strongly suggest that you consider reading this book. I would like us to maybe even consider reading it together and sharing our ideas/thoughts with one another. Reply to this
October 22, 2007 1:44 PM
Sam wrote:
Great idea about reading this book together. I have always wanted to start a monthly book club, but was cautioned by my conscience because I thought all could not afford to purchase a book a month. Reply to this
Prov 22:29. Skilled laborers will serve before kings. As will skilled Christians. Skilled in the art of BEING a Christian, not necessarily in the knowledge of the Bible. Certainly knowledge is beneficial, however, acts of the heart are more important. We all know what Christians should be like. If we are skilled at being one, we too can serve before OUR King, the Lord Almighty Jesus!
Zech 6. Okay, more visions. Chariots and horses....reminds me of Revelation. Am not sure what the colors represent, but I notice no mention of where the Red horse is going (we read, however, about this horse earlier in the book if you recall). After these visions, Zechariah heard God speak to him with instructions on getting gold and silver and making a crown for Joshua, son of Zephaniah, and crowning him as the "Branch" with instructions to build the Temple in Jerusalem. How would you react if you actually HEARD God's voice....I don't mean in a dream, but actually heard, with your own ears, some voice from Heaven giving you instructions? I'll bet it would see immediate response...I know I would! I have often wondered when people say they 'hear' God, what it sounds like to them. I know a lot, if not all, of it is simply imaginary, but I am curious if any people today actually still HEAR God speak to them OUT LOUD. I am not sure if I would freak out initially, or not. Just something to think about while we 'hear' God speaking to us through others, as well as His Word, the Bible. We SHOULD respond in the same manner when we read commands from Jesus, as if He were speaking to us OUT LOUD, but most of the time we do not even heed what He says. Scary, ain't it?
Good to be back in town, in my own house. Off to work.....!
Reply to this
reminded me of bill cosby doing a skit on noah hearing God.
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Proverbs 22
How many times have we read this? Yet it is amazing that I still find things I do not remember from before. Vs 17-21 pay attention and listen so we can apply to our hearts the words that we hear so that we are ready to give sound answer to him who sent you,(paraphrased). I don't remember this anytime from before. What a simple explanation for what we are trying to do.We should daily apply Gods word to our heart so that we are ready for the work that He sends us
Zechariah 6
This is not a dream that Zechariah is having, this is what he is seeing. Remember back in chapter 4 vs 1 the angel of the Lord awakened him. Imagine seeing and feeling this in real life! Why don't they say that the red horses are going east? Are we to assume that since the three others cover the N,S,W area? Vs 5 we have the angel answering Zechariah and then in vs 8 as he continues to speak he says that those going north have given my Spirit rest in the land of the north. If this is the angel then what is his Spirit and why is Spirit in caps. The Lord does not come to Zechariah until vs 9. Any thoughts?
Can we meet at Ricks on Wednesday for midweek?
Reply to this
I have a set of books on the Bible called "Manna for the Morning." These were popular back in the 'old days.' I pulled out the one on Zechariah today to get a better idea of what is going on. I know very little about this section of the Bible. Here is what is said about Zechariah in general:
Zechariah (whose name means 'whom Yahweh has remembered') was a contemporary of the prophet Haggai (Hag 1:1). He was born in exile and returned with his grandfather, Iddo (Neh 12:4) to Judah around 538 BC. His prophetic ministry began around 520 BC. The context of the book is the return of the Jews from Babylon and the subsequent rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple (Ez 5:1). The temple was completed and dedicated just four years later in 516 BC.
Zechariah urged the people not to repeat the same mistakes of their forefathers. His plea was for the people to be urgent in obeying the commands of God, given that the longer they postponed their repentance, the more difficult it would become! Zechariah was given eight visions in the first 6 chapters of the book. The visions and their generals explanations are:
1. The Horseman on a Red Horse = God always watches over Judah.
2. The 4 Horns & 4 Craftsmen = the defeat of Judah's enemies.
3. The Measuring Line = the future look of the new Jerusalem.
4. The High Priest Reclothed = the spiritual renewal of the people.
5. The Lampstand & Olive Trees = success of rebuilding comes from God.
6. The Flying Scroll = a curse is promised for those who steal.
7. The Woman in a Basket = deals with iniquity is all the land.
8. The Four Chariots = God will powerfully fulfill His promises.
As for today (Chap 6), it says:
Zechariah 6:1-8 speaks of God as the Lord of all forces, the ruler of all events, the One with all power and control. The two mountains were probably meant to represent Mt Moriah (the mountain on which the temple was built) and nearly Mt Zion. In Zechariah's era, bronze was one of the strongest and most enduring of all metals and represented the enduring presence of God and His eternal concern for all men. The colors of the horses are symbolic: 'red' indicated bloodshed; 'white' represented death; 'black' represented famine and sorrow (Rev 6:5-6) and 'dappled' represented a mixture of prosperity and adversity.
As for the rest of this chapter:
The eight previous visions from Zechariah 1-6 all had to do with the obstacles that had to be removed before the Messiah's coming, particularly as they prevented the rebuilding of the temple, which foreshadowed the symbolic 'priestly' sacrificial system. In Zech 6:11-15, the coronation of Joshua the Priest symbolizes the coming of the Messiah. The two olive trees pouring out their oil at the same time symbolizes the kingly office being merged with that of High Priest (i.e., the true temple which the Messiah would later build).
Don't know if this helps any of you but it helped this book make some sense to me.
Reply to this
Have any of you guys read the book: "Jesus The Same" written by Charles Edward Jefferson? The book was written in 1908. Many years ago DPI reprinted an edited and revised version (changes are minor) that includes a forward by Sam Lang. Sam says: "There are many books that have helped me, but only a few have made me who I am. This is one of those. I was first introduced to this beautiful, lucid portrait of Jesus some twenty years ago, and I have been forever changed by the majestic, glorious picture of Jesus that it paints."
I have been reading the book for the past week and I totally agree with Sam. This is the most powerful, thought provoking picture of Jesus that I have ever seen. The book focuses completely on the character of Jesus. Each chapter talks about a particular aspect of Jesus' character - for example, strength, sincerity, poise, originality, narrowness, breadth, trust in God, brotherliness, optimism, firmness, ....
I read and then sit in awe thinking about Jesus. Each day my picture of Jesus seems to change (become more full) and my love and admiration for him grows. If you want to know more about the one that we serve, I strongly suggest that you consider reading this book. I would like us to maybe even consider reading it together and sharing our ideas/thoughts with one another.
Reply to this
Great idea about reading this book together. I have always wanted to start a monthly book club, but was cautioned by my conscience because I thought all could not afford to purchase a book a month.
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my post did not post!
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26 Do not be among those who give pledges, Among those who become guarantors for debts.
I recall the church asking for pledges for this that and the other hhmmmmm maybe they shuld have read proverbs.
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dappled horse = spotted for some reason this horse is refd in rev ch 6 as ashen with death as its rider. ???
Jesus is mentioned and so are we "Those who are far" vs 15 God was setting it all up for us.
feeling like a King acting like a servent!!!
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