Return from Exile: Zechariah 7-10 (5)

Pray Psalm 80.1-3.
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
You who lead Joseph like a flock;
You who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth!
Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh,
Stir up Your strength,
And come and save us!
Restore us, O God;
Cause Your face to shine,
And we shall be saved!

Sing Psalm 80 (various).
(St. Theodulph: All Glory, Laud, and Honor)
vv. 3, 7, 19
O God of grace, restore us, and shine on us Your face!
O save us, Lord, work for us; renew us by Your grace!
vv. 1, 2
Give ear, O gracious Savior, Who leads us as Your flock:
Stir up Your pow’r and favor, our King and Lord and Rock!

Read and meditate on Zechariah 10.1-8.

Preparation
1. How did the Lord describe the state of His people?

2. What was He going to do for them?

Meditation
God showed the apostle John a vision of Jesus, riding on a white horse, going forth throughout the earth, conquering and to conquer (Rev. 6.1, 2). That white horse is the “royal horse” of the Church, envisioned here by Zechariah (v. 3). The people of God—here referred to as “the house of Judah”—will be fitted, not just for warfare but for conquest (vv. 4-7), bringing the world into line with “the cornerstone” of the temple God Himself will build (v. 4; cf. Eph. 2.19-22).

Faithless, self-interested, visionless shepherds of God’s flock will be brushed aside (v. 3). A new band of shepherds—apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor/teachers (Eph. 4.11, 12)—will be raised up to equip the Church for her ministry of treading down their enemies (v. 5) and expanding the rule of King Joshua—Jesus. God’s people will follow wherever He leads, and whenever He “whistles” for them, they will come (v.8).

Jesus will explain that the Church’s warfare is neither temporal nor martial. It is eternal, spiritual, and powerful to overthrow all resistance to the Good News of redemption and Kingdom increase (v. 8), turning the world rightside-up for the glory of God.

But where is the war horse of the Church in our day? Are we champing at the bit to get into the fray? Are we becoming equipped for Kingdom warfare? Have we mapped out our own Personal Mission Field, and do we pray and prepare daily to seek and advance the rule of King Jesus there? Are we being built as temples of the Lord, and are we contributing to building the temple of His Church?

Or are we still captive to comforts, conveniences, and a “good enough” faith in Jesus?

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Since Peter wrote that all believers are now “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that [we] may proclaim the praises of Him who called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2.9), we cannot blame only pastors/shepherds for dropping the ball of Kingdom work. We are all guilty and in danger of God’s anger being kindled against us (Zech. 10.3).

God says, if His people who are called by His name—Christians—will be humble enough to admit our wrongdoing, and pray and seek His face for forgiveness, and turn from our wicked ways, then He will hear us from heaven, and will forgive our sins and heal our land (2 Chron. 7.14). But not until then. God is not talking about the heathen, He is talking about us.

Zechariah said, “Ask the LORD for rain in the time of the latter rain” (Zech. 10.1), which is in the spring, when it usually rains. In other words, don’t assume anything. Don’t presume upon God. Ask for things according to His will, and that His will be done. “In the light of the king’s face is life, and his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain” (Prov. 16.15).

So, when God tells us that the way to victory is through humility, prayer, seeking His face, and turning from our sinful wicked ways, that is exactly what He means. And for us to do otherwise is ineffectual and wrong.

Where are the war horses of the Church today?
Where are those who are building His Church?
Where are those who believe every word of His Word and do it?

Hopefully, we are here, ready to do His work, by His Word, and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him,
that if we ask anything according to His will,
He hears us. And if we know that He hears us,
whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions
that we have asked of Him” (1 Jn. 5.14, 15).

“For I AM the LORD their God, and I will hear them” (Zech. 10.6).

LORD, redeem, train, strengthen, and increase Your war horses today, to obedient action, when whistled for (Zech. 10.8). And we long to hear Your whistle.

For reflection
1. God calls us (“whistles”) daily. To what is He calling you today?

2. What should the church, as a “war horse”, look like in your community?

3. What believers will you see today? How will you encourage them in their calling?

Preaching the gospel is God’s call for souls to come to Jesus Christ. Those whom Christ redeemed by his blood, God will gather by his grace. Difficulties shall be got over easily, and effectually, as those in the way of the deliverance out of Egypt. God himself will be their strength, and their song. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Zechariah 10.1-8

Pray Psalm 80.14-19.
Pray that God will send revival to His Church, and that His Church will renew its witness to the world for a great awakening of faith in Jesus Christ.

Sing Psalm 80 (various).
(St. Theodulph: All Glory, Laud, and Honor)
vv. 8, 9
You set us free from sin, Lord, and planted us in grace.
We rooted in Your strong Word have spread from place to place.
vv. 10, 11
Our shadow covered mountains, our branches reached the sea;
Your grace flowed like a fountain of life, abundantly.

vv. 12-13
Now You in wrath have spoken and bruised Your chosen vine.
We languish, Lord, are broken by wrath, deserved, divine.
vv. 14, 15
Once more, Lord, hear our pleading: return and heal this vine!
Look down on us, so needy, and show Your love divine!

vv. 16, 17
Though we be burned and perish because of Your command,
Revive us, Lord, and cherish this son of Your right hand.
vv. 18, 19
Then let us not return to our sinful, selfish ways,
But call on You and learn to surround You with our praise.

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.