Where are we to build? What has God called us to rebuild?
Zechariah the prophet and priest was called, as Haggai was, to encourage and motivate the people to rebuild the temple. As he begins, the Lord gives him a series of eight night visions.
“During the night I had a vision and there before me was a man riding a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in the ravine. Behind him were red, brown and white horses.” (Zechariah 1: 8)
Who is this man? He is the Angel of the Lord, an Old Testament appearance of Jesus. The myrtle tree is a laurel, green and plush, which was probably symbolizing the nation of Israel, after restoration. These trees have a sweet blossom that releases a pleasant fragrance. Yes, God’s grace to Israel is as a sweet fragrance, even in her affliction. Isn’t that what God’s grace does?
The angel that was speaking to Zechariah said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the Lord Almighty says. I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, but I am very angry with the nations that feel secure.” (Zechariah 1: 14-15)
God then lets Zechariah know that He will return to Jerusalem with mercy and there God’s house will be rebuilt; and a measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem. That line is indicating restoration. Four years after he gives this prophecy, the rebuilding of the temple is completed.
He then looks up and there before Zechariah were four horns. With the horns, he sees four craftsmen. “These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem. The craftsman have come to terrify them and have thrown down these horns of the nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter its people.” (Zechariah 1: 19, 21)
What is he saying? All of Jerusalem’s enemies will be defeated.
- Whatever has been thrown down, our God can rebuild.
- Whatever may seem like it’s lost, can be restored.
- Whatever has made us weak, can now bring strength.
Complete the rebuilding! Complete what God has called you to build. The horns that were scattered are now the horns bringing strength to the nation, even though the other nations have come against them. (Shared from Zechariah 1, Modified)
Jesus is desiring to rebuild His temple. How? He’s cleaning house in the temple. He basically goes ballistic (dispersing righteous anger) on the folks who are selling their goods in the temple court.
Mind you, he had just changed water into wine and supplied the wedding guests with the new wine; calling the servants to draw some out.
- It was their drawing out, that helped to release the miracle.
Now he wants to drive the people, and their smelly animals, out of the temple.
Yes, at the wedding, it was the very first miracle, which the servants were involved with, in the divine. It was clearly a God-ordained miracle, but I love how Jesus chose to have the servants participate in what He was doing.
- It’s the heart of the Father to have His children involved with what Jesus is changing and producing.
- We have been promised greater things that we shall do.
“In the temple courts He found men selling cattle, sheep and doves and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area.” (John 2: 14-15)
John shares this event with his readers at the beginning of Jesus’s ministry. Matthew shares it at the end of His ministry. Why the difference? Two explanations are possible:
- There were two cleansings, one at the beginning, and one at the end of His public ministry.
- John just placed the account in his writings at the beginning.
Either way, we become cleansed when we come to Jesus in the beginning; and we should remain clean throughout our walk, until the end.
- Don’t neglect the fact that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We house the very presence of God.
Jesus said, “My house is to be a house of prayer for all nations.” (Matthew 21: 12) Jesus didn’t want His house to turn into a marketplace. He turned over the tables, so He could turn them around! (Shared from John 2, Modified)
God was doing some turning Himself. After the death of Saul, God turned the kingdom over to David, son of Jesse.
- When God makes a promise, He turns things around as He declared.
The Lord had promised, through the prophet Samuel, that David would be king. David’s first assignment was to build up the city around Jerusalem, “From the supporting terraces to the surrounding wall, while Joab restored the rest of the city.” (1 Chronicles 11: 8)
- When it’s time to rebuild, God will provide surrounding support and restoration, even if there’s opposition.
Jerusalem was called “The City of David. A sign today is still erected in his honor. Strong support was all around the whole land, as the Lord had promised. He raised up a circle of support for David and all around him, just as a wall was built around Jerusalem. Within the wall were gates for them to enter.
- Spiritual gatekeepers are being positioned by the Lord to support and uphold the walls around you and your territory.
- What the king is building, will be supported.
- What the king is rebuilding, will be restored.
- What has fallen, the king shall elect to erect.
(Shared from 1 Chronicles 10-11, Modified)
UNBROKEN LOVE SERIES
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