Return from Exile: Zechariah 7-10 (6)

Pray Psalm 93.1, 2.
The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
The LORD is clothed,
He has girded Himself with strength.
Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting.

Sing Psalm 93.1, 2.
(Trinity: Come, Thou Almighty King)
The Lord in majesty reigns, girded and clothed in strength!
Earth stands secure: Nor shall it e’er be moved;
God on His throne above set it in place with love—
His reign is sure!

Read Zechariah 10.1-12; meditate on verses 9-12.

Prepare
1. What does God promise to do with His people?

2. What will happen to His people’s enemies?

Meditation
Is it possible Jesus had this prophecy in mind as He taught the parable of the wheat and the tares? “The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom…” (Matt. 13.38). Previously God had scattered His people in captivity among the Assyrians and Babylonians. Now He would scatter them like seed “among the peoples” of the world (v. 9). This scattering would not be for judgment; rather, it would be for fruitfulness, that the Name of the LORD might be known and remembered “in far countries”, and all may be delivered from their captivity and live together, rejoicing in the Lord (v. 9; cf. v. 7).

No enemy can oppose them and no obstacle will stand in their way, that the Lord’s house may be full of all those He sends His people to gather (vv. 9-11). And God will strengthen His people, so that in all they do—in all the “as you are goings” of their lives—they may go in His Name and be known as His people (v. 12).

Again, Zechariah pointed the people of his day beyond their small beginnings to a later day to come, of Kingdom increase and abounding peace and joy among all nations, when the sons of the Kingdom are planted in their part of the world field and begin to bear fruit for the Name of the Lord.

Zechariah pointed toward our day. He and Jesus remind us that, if we are true sons and daughters of the Kingdom, no obstacle, no enemy, and no captivity must keep us from bearing Kingdom fruit—righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Let us embrace this calling, seek the strength of the Lord to walk and work in His Name, and go daily into our Personal Mission Field to advance the rule of the Branch, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.
The World Field is right where you are. Working it involves faithfully doing what you do, every day, to God’s glory and for His Kingdom’s progress on earth as it is in heaven.

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver” (Prov. 25.11).
“Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls” (Prov. 25.28).

Those two similes are a good starting point for how we must approach each day’s work:

1. Be gracious, merciful, and wise.
Grow in grace (2 Pet. 3.18).
Do justly and love mercy (Mic. 6.8).
Winning souls is wise (Prov. 11.30)
Don’t be unwise. Understand what God’s will is for you (Eph. 5. 17).

2. Keep the Law, rule over your own spirit, and don’t be a hypocrite.
Love God with all your heart. Don’t allow anything to be more important to you than God. Don’t say you are
a Christian if you do not intend to be one: body, soul, mind, and strength. Keep the Sabbath day holy. Honor those in authority over you. Don’t kill with words or deeds. Don’t commit adultery physically or mentally. Don’t steal. Don’t lie. Don’t covet (Ex. 20.1-17).
Be slow to anger. It is better than being mighty. Ruling your own spirit is better than capturing a city. (Prov. 16.32)
Bear the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and having self-control. There is absolutely no law against doing or being any of those things (Gal. 5.22-26).
Redeem the time that you have, because the days are evil (Eph. 5.16).
Be doers of God’s words: not just hearers because that is hypocritical (Jms. 1.22, 25).

“No obstacle, no enemy, and no captivity must keep us from bearing Kingdom fruit.”
And nothing will prevent us, ever—from being seeds scattered into His Kingdom and war horses for His Church—when we are totally captivated by Jesus Christ and serving Him “as we are going”.

Your World Field is eagerly waiting for you, today. They loved your presence yesterday.

For reflection
1. Have you mapped out your Personal Mission Field? Watch this brief video then download the worksheet and get started in your part of the world field.

2. Working your Personal Mission Field involves faithfulness to God in all the daily details of life. What will that include for you today?

3. Whom will you encourage in working their Personal Mission Field today?

The meaning then is, that the people had been dispersed through God being angry with them, but that the issue of this dispersion would be joyful; for the Jews would dwell everywhere, and be God's seed, and thus be made to produce abundant fruit. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Zechariah 10.9

Pray Psalm 93.3-5.
What good seed will you sow unto the Lord today? Offer Him your day as a sacrifice of praise. Then go out into your Personal Mission Field sowing for the harvest.

Sing Psalm 93.3-5.
(Trinity: Come, Thou Almighty King)
What, though the floods arise, raising their voice to the skies,
strong though they be, God on His mighty throne
drowns out their fearsome drone, hasting to save His own,
eternally.

Almighty God on high, Your Word can never lie!
Your truth is sure—holy and just are they
who tread Your holy way; Yours shall they ever stay,
Lord, evermore.

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.