The problem with idols

Israel had a persistent problem with idols and idolatry. The yearning for idols first appeared in Abraham’s granddaughter (by marriage) who stole her father’s idols when she left his home to marry Jacob (Gen. 31). And idols were a problem for Micah (not the prophet; cf. Judges 17-18), Michal (1 Sam. 19), Solomon (1 Kings […]

The Messiah’s Redeeming Work

The Messiah’s Redeeming WorkZechariah 13:1-6August 27, 2023 A few years ago, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Invention Index conducted a poll, asking what five inventions Americans believed they could not live without. The answers (in reverse order) were: 5. The microwave4. The cell phone3. The personal computer2. The automobile1. The toothbrush Another survey found that the […]

What the Spirit of God does

When a believer in Christ is saved, the Spirit of God unites him to Christ (Rom. 6:2-3), and Christ gives the Spirit to the believer (Eph. 1:13-14). This gift is of such great benefit that Christ told the disciples it was better that He leave their presence physically so that they might be given this […]

God’s Salvation of Israel

God’s Salvation of IsraelZechariah 12:10-14July 30, 2023 John Piper writes about the unlikely conversion of a sinner — A great testimony to the power of the Word to beget and sustain faith is found in the story of the conversion and execution of Tokichi Ishii—a man who was hanged for murder in Tokyo in […]

Zechariah and The Day of the Lord

While Zechariah does not use the term, “the day of the Lord,” he speaks frequently (21 times) of “that day,” which is his abbreviated way of referring to the day of the Lord. So what is “that day” and “the day of the Lord?” In the Old Testament, the term generally is used to refer […]

God’s “I Will”

God’s “I Will”Zechariah 12:2-9July 23, 2023 In “If I Were in Charge of the World,” Judith Viorst’s popular child character Alexander opines, If I were in charge of the worldThere’d be brighter night lights,Healthier hamsters, andBasketball baskets forty-eight inches lower. If I were in charge of the worldYou wouldn’t have lonely.You wouldn’t have clean.You wouldn’t have […]

The end of this age

At dinner on Monday, I looked at my wife and said, “One down, three to go.” “What are you talking about?” she asked. “One 108-degree day is behind us, only three more (this week).” (I was trying to be optimistic, so I’m not going to think about August.) I often look forward to the ends […]

God’s Right to Speak

God’s Right to SpeakZechariah 12:1July 16, 2023 I loved my mom and learned so very much from her. She was a gift of great grace from the Lord to me. But she had one habit that I could never adopt, even though I understood it. One day I saw her reading a book that I […]

Don’t be that kind of mentor

Everyone is a counselor. Everyone is a mentor. Everyone attempts to influence others with their beliefs and belief systems. It might be as simple as trying to convince others of the beauty of a medium-rare steak, or the joys of being a fan of the Texas Rangers (at least this year), or the importance of […]

God’s Worthless Shepherd

God’s Worthless Shepherd Zechariah 11:5-17July 9, 2023 I don’t know about you, but it’s hard to know from year to year what I should and shouldn’t eat — what’s good for me and what’s bad for me? High fat? Low fat? Eggs or no eggs? Carbs or no carbs? Meat? Vegetarian? Or vegan? A […]

Set Free

All day Tuesday American flags were flown, songs were sung (how many times did you hear “God Bless the USA” or “America the Beautiful?”), hot dogs and hamburgers were consumed, parades were held, and as an exclamation on the day of rejoicing in liberty, fireworks were set off. Tuesday was a day of freedom. Yet […]

The Holy Spirit and the Old Testament

Every year, we receive information about new products — new cell phones, computers, and tablets. New cars, new houses, new software, new books, new detergent, new laws, new lawmakers, new exercises, new diets, new clothes. And often the sales pitch for these items goes something like this: “It’s the same brand you’ve always loved, but […]

When the Shepherd is Rejected

When the Shepherd is RejectedZechariah 11:7-14June 25, 2023 Everything seemed to go poorly for Israel. Way back in her history after Solomon died there was political maneuvering for the kingship of Israel and it led to strife, conflict, and a divided nation. It stayed that way for centuries. There were even battles between the northern […]

Life is mundane

There is an ordinariness to life. Most days are not filled with remarkable and extraordinary events, but a succession of events that are very, dare I say it?, mundane. To say “life is mundane” sounds pessimistic. Or fatalistic. It sounds like one has resigned himself to inescapable ordinariness — he has given up his dreams […]

God’s Compassion and the Danger of Rejecting the Shepherd

God’s Compassion and the Danger of Rejecting the ShepherdZechariah 11:1-6June 18, 2023 A few years ago, a photographer accumulated several photos of some of the most famous places in the world that he had visited. Some of you might have been to some of these places as well — do you remember them the way […]