June 15 – Zechariah 14:1-21

1A day of the Lord is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will be plundered and divided up within your very walls.

2I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. 3Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. 4On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. 5You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.

6On that day there will be neither sunlight nor cold, frosty darkness. 7It will be a unique day—a day known only to the Lord—with no distinction between day and night. When evening comes, there will be light.

8On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it east to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterranean Sea, in summer and in winter.

9The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.

10The whole land, from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem, will become like the Arabah. But Jerusalem will be raised up high from the Benjamin Gate to the site of the First Gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses, and will remain in its place. 11It will be inhabited; never again will it be destroyed. Jerusalem will be secure.

12This is the plague with which the Lord will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths. 13On that day people will be stricken by the Lord with great panic. They will seize each other by the hand and attack one another. 14Judah too will fight at Jerusalem. The wealth of all the surrounding nations will be collected—great quantities of gold and silver and clothing. 15A similar plague will strike the horses and mules, the camels and donkeys, and all the animals in those camps.

16Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. 17If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain. 18If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The Lord will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. 19This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.

20On that day Holy to the Lord will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the Lord’s house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar. 21Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the Lord Almighty, and all who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord Almighty.

What does it say?

The Lord will defeat the nations and secure Jerusalem when He comes. The world will worship Him as the One and only Lord and King.

What does it mean?

The last chapter of Zechariah details the events of Christ’s return to Earth and the establishment of His earthly kingdom. At the end of the Tribulation period, Jesus will appear on the same mountain where He was betrayed and from which He ascended, creating a valley for God’s people to escape the nations gathered against them. Christ’s supernatural victory and power over the laws of nature will make it a day like no other. World religions will be abolished in recognition that Jesus Christ is the Lord of lords and the King of kings (Rev. 17:14; 19:16). The Messianic kingdom will be the perfection of what the Lord has always required of His people – to recognize His name above every name, worship Him alone, and live holy lives.

How should I respond?

Christians long for the world to worship Jesus as Lord and King. That day will complete what God began in the Garden of Eden – perfect communion with His creation. Growing in spiritual maturity means striving daily to live as His people will live then. In an age of religious tolerance, do you acknowledge the name of Jesus as the only way of salvation (John 14:6)? Since He alone is worthy of our worship, determine today to remove any thought that leads to unholy living.

We would like to thank Thomas Road Baptist Church for providing this plan.

June 14 – Zechariah 13:1-9

1“On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.

2“On that day, I will banish the names of the idols from the land, and they will be remembered no more,” declares the Lord Almighty. “I will remove both the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land. 3And if anyone still prophesies, their father and mother, to whom they were born, will say to them, ‘You must die, because you have told lies in the Lord’s name.’ Then their own parents will stab the one who prophesies.

4“On that day every prophet will be ashamed of their prophetic vision. They will not put on a prophet’s garment of hair in order to deceive. 5Each will say, ‘I am not a prophet. I am a farmer; the land has been my livelihood since my youth.’ 6If someone asks, ‘What are these wounds on your body?’ they will answer, ‘The wounds I was given at the house of my friends.’

The Shepherd Struck, the Sheep Scattered

7“Awake, sword, against my shepherd,

against the man who is close to me!”

declares the Lord Almighty.

“Strike the shepherd,

and the sheep will be scattered,

and I will turn my hand against the little ones.

8In the whole land,” declares the Lord,

“two-thirds will be struck down and perish;

yet one-third will be left in it.

9This third I will put into the fire;

I will refine them like silver

and test them like gold.

They will call on my name

and I will answer them;

I will say, ‘They are my people,’

and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’ ”

What does it say?

Jerusalem will be cleansed of idols and false prophets. The Lord will refine His people like silver, and they will call on His name.

What does it mean?

Zechariah poetically refers to the blood of Christ as a fountain having the power to spiritually cleanse (Heb. 9:14; 1 John 1:7). Sadly, the Jewish people will largely ignore its existence until His second coming. The sins of idolatry and false prophecies that ensnared Israel for centuries will be met with immediate justice when God’s people finally look to Jesus as their atoning sacrifice. The third of the Jewish nation surviving the horrors of the Tribulation will turn to the Lord and experience a renewal of His covenant – the New Covenant made possible by His blood (Luke 22:20).

How should I respond?

As church-going, Bible-believing followers of Christ, we readily accept Christ’s death as payment for our sins. Jesus’ blood has been applied to our hearts just as the lamb’s blood was during the Passover (Exodus 12:12). Where the blood of Jesus is present, sin should be absent. That doesn’t mean it removes your ability to do wrong; you still have free will. It does mean that within you is the power to choose not to sin. What temptation seems to trip you up frequently? There is power in the blood of Jesus to cleanse you from that sin and, by faith, keep you in a covenant relationship with Him.

We would like to thank Thomas Road Baptist Church for providing this plan.

June 13 – Zechariah 12:1-14

1A prophecy: The word of the Lord concerning Israel.

The Lord, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the human spirit within a person, declares: 2“I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. 3On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves. 4On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness,” declares the Lord. “I will keep a watchful eye over Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations. 5Then the clans of Judah will say in their hearts, ‘The people of Jerusalem are strong, because the Lord Almighty is their God.’

6“On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among sheaves. They will consume all the surrounding peoples right and left, but Jerusalem will remain intact in her place.

7“The Lord will save the dwellings of Judah first, so that the honor of the house of David and of Jerusalem’s inhabitants may not be greater than that of Judah. 8On that day the Lord will shield those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the Lord going before them. 9On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem.

Mourning for the One They Pierced

10“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. 11On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be as great as the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. 12The land will mourn, each clan by itself, with their wives by themselves: the clan of the house of David and their wives, the clan of the house of Nathan and their wives, 13the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, 14and all the rest of the clans and their wives.

What does it say?

The Lord Almighty will shield Jerusalem, strengthening her when nations gather against her. The city will mourn after God pours a spirit of grace and supplication.

What does it mean?

For 70 years, these returned exiles had mourned and fasted for all they had lost when Jerusalem fell. Zechariah gave an oracle of yet another battle followed by mourning in the distant future. During the Battle of Armageddon, the Lord will defend Israel against the world’s armies, supernaturally enabling even the weakest among them to defeat their enemies. Why would they mourn after such a great victory? A spiritual awakening will accompany their physical deliverance. God’s Spirit will graciously allow Israel to see Jesus for who He is – the Messiah they rejected and the Savior who led them in battle.

How should I respond?

We naturally grieve over the loss of someone close to us. You might also mourn the changes accompanying the loss of a home or a job. But do you grieve over your sin? Each lie and deception helped nail Jesus to the cross. Each immoral thought or hidden act was a stroke of the hammer. The Lord’s Supper is a remembrance of the price Jesus paid for our sins (Luke 22:19). Those moments of reflection should grieve our hearts, but grief turns to joy, knowing that He is the One who makes us victorious – daily and eternally. Will you allow godly grief over your sin to bring a spiritual renewal today?

We would like to thank Thomas Road Baptist Church for providing this plan.

June 12 – Zechariah 11:1-17

1Open your doors, Lebanon,

so that fire may devour your cedars!

2Wail, you juniper, for the cedar has fallen;

the stately trees are ruined!

Wail, oaks of Bashan;

the dense forest has been cut down!

3Listen to the wail of the shepherds;

their rich pastures are destroyed!

Listen to the roar of the lions;

the lush thicket of the Jordan is ruined!

Two Shepherds

4This is what the Lord my God says: “Shepherd the flock marked for slaughter. 5Their buyers slaughter them and go unpunished. Those who sell them say, ‘Praise the Lord, I am rich!’ Their own shepherds do not spare them. 6For I will no longer have pity on the people of the land,” declares the Lord. “I will give everyone into the hands of their neighbors and their king. They will devastate the land, and I will not rescue anyone from their hands.”

7So I shepherded the flock marked for slaughter, particularly the oppressed of the flock. Then I took two staffs and called one Favor and the other Union, and I shepherded the flock. 8In one month I got rid of the three shepherds.

The flock detested me, and I grew weary of them 9and said, “I will not be your shepherd. Let the dying die, and the perishing perish. Let those who are left eat one another’s flesh.”

10Then I took my staff called Favor and broke it, revoking the covenant I had made with all the nations. 11It was revoked on that day, and so the oppressed of the flock who were watching me knew it was the word of the Lord.

12I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.

13And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the house of the Lord.

14Then I broke my second staff called Union, breaking the family bond between Judah and Israel.

15Then the Lord said to me, “Take again the equipment of a foolish shepherd. 16For I am going to raise up a shepherd over the land who will not care for the lost, or seek the young, or heal the injured, or feed the healthy, but will eat the meat of the choice sheep, tearing off their hooves.

17“Woe to the worthless shepherd,

who deserts the flock!

May the sword strike his arm and his right eye!

May his arm be completely withered,

his right eye totally blinded!”

What does it say?

Israel detested their Shepherd, and He grew weary of them. A worthless shepherd was coming who wouldn’t care for his flock.

What does it mean?

Under the Lord’s instruction, Zechariah acted out the coming of two men as shepherds over a flock – the house of Israel. He prophetically portrayed the coming and rejection of Israel’s Messiah. Aspects of Christ’s earthly ministry, such as His care for Israel’s poor and Judas’ betrayal for 30 pieces of silver, point to the reliability of biblical prophecy. The cruelty of the second shepherd, the Antichrist (John 5:43; 1 John 2:22), demonstrated the consequences of rejecting the Good Shepherd. The glorious promises in the previous chapter are delayed until the Messiah’s second coming because Israel rejected Him as their Shepherd.

How should I respond?

Most people who read a daily devotion wouldn’t argue with the validity of Jesus as the Messiah, the Good Shepherd, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. However, true acceptance of the claims of Christ isn’t simply an intellectual agreement with Christian writing and teaching but an inward conviction that affects how we live each day. We may nod in agreement with the pastor but still fail to live out the things he taught. You will likely face a choice today that will demonstrate either your acceptance or rejection of the Lordship of Christ. Be on guard, listening closely to the voice of the Good Shepherd.

We would like to thank Thomas Road Baptist Church for providing this plan.

June 11 – Zechariah 10:1-12

1Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime;

it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms.

He gives showers of rain to all people,

and plants of the field to everyone.

2The idols speak deceitfully,

diviners see visions that lie;

they tell dreams that are false,

they give comfort in vain.

Therefore the people wander like sheep

oppressed for lack of a shepherd.

3“My anger burns against the shepherds,

and I will punish the leaders;

for the Lord Almighty will care

for his flock, the people of Judah,

and make them like a proud horse in battle.

4From Judah will come the cornerstone,

from him the tent peg,

from him the battle bow,

from him every ruler.

5Together they will be like warriors in battle

trampling their enemy into the mud of the streets.

They will fight because the Lord is with them,

and they will put the enemy horsemen to shame.

6“I will strengthen Judah

and save the tribes of Joseph.

I will restore them

because I have compassion on them.

They will be as though

I had not rejected them,

for I am the Lord their God

and I will answer them.

7The Ephraimites will become like warriors,

and their hearts will be glad as with wine.

Their children will see it and be joyful;

their hearts will rejoice in the Lord.

8I will signal for them

and gather them in.

Surely I will redeem them;

they will be as numerous as before.

9Though I scatter them among the peoples,

yet in distant lands they will remember me.

They and their children will survive,

and they will return.

10I will bring them back from Egypt

and gather them from Assyria.

I will bring them to Gilead and Lebanon,

and there will not be room enough for them.

11They will pass through the sea of trouble;

the surging sea will be subdued

and all the depths of the Nile will dry up.

Assyria’s pride will be brought down

and Egypt’s scepter will pass away.

12I will strengthen them in the Lord

and in his name they will live securely,”

declares the Lord.

What does it say?

The Lord gives rain and a harvest, while idols and diviners give false comfort. God will compassionately save, gather, and strengthen His people, who will walk in His name.

What does it mean?

The work of rebuilding the temple was made even more difficult by the years of drought brought on by God’s judgment. Zechariah used their concern for their physical well-being to point out why their circumstances were such – they had believed lies instead of God’s prophets. Just as they wouldn’t hesitate to pray for the spring rain necessary for a fall harvest, they should look to the Lord and His promised Messiah if they would be a fruitful nation. This Shepherd would also be a mighty warrior, one day leading His people to victory and unity.

How should I respond?

It’s second nature to turn to the Lord when things like a job loss or serious illness threaten our physical well-being. Recognizing threats to your spiritual well-being requires a higher degree of intentionality. How can you navigate a world full of false comfort, deceptive messages, and unfulfilled promises? By following closely behind your Shepherd, Jesus Christ. He not only sees lurking predators, but He has also already defeated them! Are you in danger of being deceived? What sinful activity is threatening your fruitfulness? Only by looking to the Lord through prayer can its grip be broken.

We would like to thank Thomas Road Baptist Church for providing this plan.

June 10 – Zechariah 9:1-17

1A prophecy:

The word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrak

and will come to rest on Damascus—

for the eyes of all people and all the tribes of Israel

are on the Lord—

2and on Hamath too, which borders on it,

and on Tyre and Sidon, though they are very skillful.

3Tyre has built herself a stronghold;

she has heaped up silver like dust,

and gold like the dirt of the streets.

4But the Lord will take away her possessions

and destroy her power on the sea,

and she will be consumed by fire.

5Ashkelon will see it and fear;

Gaza will writhe in agony,

and Ekron too, for her hope will wither.

Gaza will lose her king

and Ashkelon will be deserted.

6A mongrel people will occupy Ashdod,

and I will put an end to the pride of the Philistines.

7I will take the blood from their mouths,

the forbidden food from between their teeth.

Those who are left will belong to our God

and become a clan in Judah,

and Ekron will be like the Jebusites.

8But I will encamp at my temple

to guard it against marauding forces.

Never again will an oppressor overrun my people,

for now I am keeping watch.

The Coming of Zion’s King

9Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!

Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!

See, your king comes to you,

righteous and victorious,

lowly and riding on a donkey,

on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

10I will take away the chariots from Ephraim

and the warhorses from Jerusalem,

and the battle bow will be broken.

He will proclaim peace to the nations.

His rule will extend from sea to sea

and from the River to the ends of the earth.

11As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you,

I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.

12Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope;

even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.

13I will bend Judah as I bend my bow

and fill it with Ephraim.

I will rouse your sons, Zion,

against your sons, Greece,

and make you like a warrior’s sword.

The Lord Will Appear

14Then the Lord will appear over them;

his arrow will flash like lightning.

The Sovereign Lord will sound the trumpet;

he will march in the storms of the south,

15and the Lord Almighty will shield them.

They will destroy

and overcome with slingstones.

They will drink and roar as with wine;

they will be full like a bowl

used for sprinkling the corners of the altar.

16The Lord their God will save his people on that day

as a shepherd saves his flock.

They will sparkle in his land

like jewels in a crown.

17How attractive and beautiful they will be!

Grain will make the young men thrive,

and new wine the young women.

What does it say?

The Sovereign Lord keeps watch and defends Israel against enemy forces. Her king brings righteousness, salvation, and peace, saving His people as His flock.

What does it mean?

Some of the prophecies in Chapter nine were fulfilled before Christ’s first Advent, while some foretell events in His earthly ministry, and others are still future. Each one points to God’s ability to save, both physically and spiritually. The descriptions of the Lord also run the gamut. He is pictured as Israel’s defender, watchman, king, warrior, and shepherd. The reactions to His second coming, however, are narrowed to two emotions: fear or hope. Only those who have made peace with God by accepting His salvation and righteousness will rejoice when the trumpet announces His arrival.

How should I respond?

What is your first reaction to Jesus’ return to Earth? Your response to His first coming likely determines it. If you’ve received Christ as your King, you can look forward to His return with joyful anticipation. Followers of Christ have the sure hope of salvation, righteousness, and peace with God. Look back over the words describing the Lord in today’s passage. Which one brings you the most comfort in your present circumstances? Until He returns, take hope in His role as the Shepherd who will defend and watch over you.

We would like to thank Thomas Road Baptist Church for providing this plan.

June 9 – Zechariah 7:1-14; Zechariah 8:1-23

Zechariah 7:1-14

1In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, the month of Kislev. 2The people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-Melek, together with their men, to entreat the Lord 3by asking the priests of the house of the Lord Almighty and the prophets, “Should I mourn and fast in the fifth month, as I have done for so many years?”

4Then the word of the Lord Almighty came to me: 5“Ask all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted? 6And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves? 7Are these not the words the Lord proclaimed through the earlier prophets when Jerusalem and its surrounding towns were at rest and prosperous, and the Negev and the western foothills were settled?’ ”

8And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: 9“This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. 10Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’

11“But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and covered their ears. 12They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the Lord Almighty was very angry.

13“ ‘When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,’ says the Lord Almighty. 14‘I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations, where they were strangers. The land they left behind them was so desolate that no one traveled through it. This is how they made the pleasant land desolate.’ ”

Zechariah 8:1-23

1The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.

2This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.”

3This is what the Lord says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.”

4This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each of them with cane in hand because of their age. 5The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.”

6This is what the Lord Almighty says: “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to me?” declares the Lord Almighty.

7This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west. 8I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.”

9This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Now hear these words, ‘Let your hands be strong so that the temple may be built.’ This is also what the prophets said who were present when the foundation was laid for the house of the Lord Almighty. 10Before that time there were no wages for people or hire for animals. No one could go about their business safely because of their enemies, since I had turned everyone against their neighbor. 11But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as I did in the past,” declares the Lord Almighty.

12“The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce its crops, and the heavens will drop their dew. I will give all these things as an inheritance to the remnant of this people. 13Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse among the nations, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong.”

14This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Just as I had determined to bring disaster on you and showed no pity when your ancestors angered me,” says the Lord Almighty, 15“so now I have determined to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah. Do not be afraid. 16These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; 17do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the Lord.

18The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.

19This is what the Lord Almighty says: “The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.”

20This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, 21and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the Lord and seek the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.’ 22And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him.”

23This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’ ”

What does it say?

The people asked God if they should mourn and fast as before. The Lord Almighty instructed them to be just and compassionate, avoiding plots, lies, and oppression.

What does it mean?

Two years after Zechariah’s eight visions, the people asked if they should still observe the ritual days of fasting that they established while in exile to mourn Jerusalem’s fall. For seventy years, the days of fasting reminded them of their guilt and God’s judgment on past sins. Like their fathers, they failed to grasp God’s desire for heart change rather than the observance of religious rituals. The Lord’s answer directed them toward obedient attitudes and behaviors that would bring His blessing, causing joyful feasting instead of sorrowful fasting. Enjoying renewed intimacy with the Lord Almighty in their homeland was just a glimpse of what life would be like in Jerusalem during the millennial age when the presence and blessing of Christ would draw people from every nation to Israel.

How should I respond?

Guilt over past sin should be short-lived. Dwelling on it will likely stall your spiritual growth. What sin do you need to move past? Start by asking God for forgiveness, and then look honestly at how and why the sin occurred. Learn from it, so you don’t end up there again. You might never completely forget what happened, but you can direct your thoughts when it comes to mind. Rather than wallow in failure, focus on the mercy and grace of God that makes a renewed life with Christ possible. As you actively pursue attitudes and behaviors that please the Lord, your sorrow will become a joyful celebration of your hope in Christ.

We would like to thank Thomas Road Baptist Church for providing this plan.

June 8 – Zechariah 6:1-15

1I looked up again, and there before me were four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze. 2The first chariot had red horses, the second black, 3the third white, and the fourth dappled—all of them powerful. 4I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these, my lord?”

5The angel answered me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world. 6The one with the black horses is going toward the north country, the one with the white horses toward the west, and the one with the dappled horses toward the south.”

7When the powerful horses went out, they were straining to go throughout the earth. And he said, “Go throughout the earth!” So they went throughout the earth.

8Then he called to me, “Look, those going toward the north country have given my Spirit rest in the land of the north.”

A Crown for Joshua

9The word of the Lord came to me: 10“Take silver and gold from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon. Go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. 11Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jozadak. 12Tell him this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord. 13It is he who will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.’ 14The crown will be given to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple of the Lord. 15Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the Lord, and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the Lord your God.”

What does it say?

Zechariah saw a vision of four chariots leaving the presence of the Lord to go throughout the earth. Then a crown of silver and gold was made for Joshua, the high priest.

What does it mean?

Zechariah’s eighth vision symbolized God’s final judgment on Israel’s enemies and the beginning of Messiah’s millennial reign. Although they felt safe in Zechariah’s first vision, God’s judgment on Egypt (to the south) and Babylon (to the north) will come suddenly and completely (Rev. 18). The fact that judgment awaits the descendants of these nations indicates continued animosity against the Lord Almighty and His people. Joshua’s coronation as king-priest is symbolic of the crowning of Christ when Israel’s enemies are no more. Civil and spiritual matters will exist harmoniously under His rule.

How should I respond?

When Jesus establishes His earthly kingdom, there will be no separation of church and state by anyone’s definition. This future reality should be a current practice for Christians for whom every matter is spiritual. Since our God is also the Creator, each issue in His world must be viewed from His perspective. How might you divide your life into “spiritual” and “secular” categories? Has animosity toward the Bible in our culture swayed your thinking in some area? God’s Word will stand, but His enemies will not. Until that day, strive to see every life issue through the lens of His Word.

We would like to thank Thomas Road Baptist Church for providing this plan.

June 7 – Zechariah 5:1-11

1I looked again, and there before me was a flying scroll.

2He asked me, “What do you see?”

I answered, “I see a flying scroll, twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide.”

3And he said to me, “This is the curse that is going out over the whole land; for according to what it says on one side, every thief will be banished, and according to what it says on the other, everyone who swears falsely will be banished. 4The Lord Almighty declares, ‘I will send it out, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of anyone who swears falsely by my name. It will remain in that house and destroy it completely, both its timbers and its stones.’ ”

The Woman in a Basket

5Then the angel who was speaking to me came forward and said to me, “Look up and see what is appearing.”

6I asked, “What is it?”

He replied, “It is a basket.” And he added, “This is the iniquity of the people throughout the land.”

7Then the cover of lead was raised, and there in the basket sat a woman! 8He said, “This is wickedness,” and he pushed her back into the basket and pushed its lead cover down on it.

9Then I looked up—and there before me were two women, with the wind in their wings! They had wings like those of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between heaven and earth.

10“Where are they taking the basket?” I asked the angel who was speaking to me.

11He replied, “To the country of Babylonia to build a house for it. When the house is ready, the basket will be set there in its place.”

What does it say?

Zechariah saw a flying scroll, representing a curse on thieves and liars. He then saw a basket containing a woman, representing wickedness, which was carried off to Babylon.

What does it mean?

The visions in this passage take a sharp turn from the comforting and encouraging visions Zechariah had seen up to this point. The scroll was a reminder that God’s Law, given to Moses on the two tablets, was the moral foundation of Jewish society. Wickedness had no place among God’s people (Deut. 27:9-26). Those attitudes and behaviors were characteristic of ungodly cultures like Babylon. The fulfillment of these visions is yet to be seen in the Millennium. Israel will be completely purged of anyone who breaks God’s Law, marking the time for God’s long-awaited judgment on Babylon and the return of Christ to reign (Rev. 17-20).

How should I respond?

The lives of Christians should be distinguishable from those who do not follow Christ. As our culture moves further away from biblical thought, there should be a widening gap between believers and nonbelievers, yet the distance seems to be closing between the two. Scripture doesn’t adjust to the prevailing beliefs of our society. You must guard against ungodly attitudes that eventually lead to dishonest and immoral behavior. Today, filter every thought through God’s Word and submit each reaction to His Spirit.

We would like to thank Thomas Road Baptist Church for providing this plan.

June 6 – Zechariah 4:1-14

1Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep. 2He asked me, “What do you see?”

I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. 3Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”

4I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”

5He answered, “Do you not know what these are?”

“No, my lord,” I replied.

6So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.

7“What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’ ”

8Then the word of the Lord came to me: 9“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.

10“Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?”

11Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?”

12Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?”

13He replied, “Do you not know what these are?”

“No, my lord,” I said.

14So he said, “These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.”

What does it say?

Zechariah saw a vision of a golden lampstand and two olive trees. The Lord’s message to Zerubbabel from the vision was, “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit.”

What does it mean?

As Jerusalem’s governor during the temple rebuilding, Zerubbabel faced enormous challenges. Zechariah’s fifth vision encouraged the governor to finish what he started, not through military strength or human power but by enabling God’s Spirit. As the olive trees in the vision, Joshua and Zerubbabel represent the offices of priest and king, both of which will be filled by Christ upon His return. This vision also speaks of Christ’s future reign on Earth. Through the continual enabling power of the Holy Spirit (symbolized by oil throughout Scripture), Israel will be a light, pointing the nations to Christ, the Messiah.

How should I respond?

Successful ministry in the 21st century has the same purpose and power source as in Zechariah’s day. Collectively and individually, Christians are to be light in a dark world, pointing other people to the source of light – Jesus. When you surrender completely to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, He enables you in your service to Christ. What is your purpose for volunteering at church or in your community? If it is anything other than pointing others to the Light of the World, stop and examine your motivation.

We would like to thank Thomas Road Baptist Church for providing this plan.