May the mumbling commence!
Here we are at year’s end. One year ago today, we started our journey
through the Bible. Now we sprint toward
repentance again in the books of Zechariah and Malachi. Read from them below:
Then the angel of the Lord
spoke very solemnly to Jeshua and said, "This is what the Lord Almighty says: If you follow
my ways and obey my requirements, then
you will be given authority over my
Temple and its courtyards. I will let
you walk in and out of my presence along with these others standing here. Listen to me,
O Jeshua the high priest, and all you other priests. You
are symbols of the good things to come. Soon I am going to bring
my servant, the Branch. Now look at the
jewel I have set before Jeshua, a single stone with seven facets. I will
engrave an inscription on it, says the Lord
Almighty, and I
will remove the sins of this land in a single day. And on that day, says the Lord Almighty, each
of you will invite your neighbor into your home to share your peace and
prosperity." (Zechariah 3:6-10)
Then he said to me, "This scroll contains the curse
that is going out over the entire land. One side says that those
who steal will be banished from the land; the other side says
that those who swear falsely will be banished
from the land.” (Zechariah 5:3)
"This is what the Lord
Almighty says: Judge fairly and honestly,
and show mercy and kindness to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners,
and poor people. And do not make evil plans to harm each other.”
(Zechariah 7:9-10)
“But this is what you must do: Tell
the truth to each other. Render verdicts
in your courts that are just and that lead to peace. Do not make evil plots to harm each other.
And stop this habit of swearing to things that are false.
I hate all these things, says the Lord."
(Zechariah 8:16-17)
“So love truth and peace.” (Zechariah 8:19c)
"The purpose of my covenant with the Levites was to bring life and peace, and this is what
I gave them. This called for reverence from
them, and they greatly revered me and stood in awe of my name. They passed on to the people all the truth
they received from me. They did not lie or cheat; they walked with me,
living good and righteous lives, and they turned many from lives of sin. The priests' lips should guard knowledge,
and people should go to them for instruction, for the priests are the
messengers of the Lord Almighty.”
(Malachi 2:5-7)
“At
that time I will put you on trial. I will be a ready witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars. I
will speak against those who cheat
employees of their wages, who oppress
widows and orphans, or who deprive
the foreigners living among you of justice, for these people do not fear
me," says the Lord
Almighty. (Malachi 3:5)
Indeed, we have our choices before
us. Which way will we choose? Choose the way of life, which is the Way of
Jesus… the Way of obedience. Reject the
way of death. That’s any other way.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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