Zechariah 2—3: Joy and Cleansing
DO YOU FEEL unclean and unworthy to stand before the Lord? Do your sins seem to be used as evidence against you, proving that you have no right to be called God's child? Zechariah 2—3 offers cleansing to those who feel defiled, hope to those who feel despair and joy to those who are overwhelmed with sorrow.
Warming Up to God
Do you ever feel unacceptable to God because of your sins? Express your feelings to the Lord and ask him to use this passage to see yourself as he sees you.
Read Zechariah 2-3. »
Discovering the Word
- At this point in history, Jerusalem lay in ruins because of the Babylonian conquest seventy years earlier. What hope do the angels offer Zechariah about the future of the city (2:1-5)?
- "The land of the north" (2:6) is Babylon, the place of Israel's former captivity. Why does the Lord command those Israelites who remain there to "flee" and "escape" (2:6-9)?
- In verses 10-13 the Lord himself promises to come and live among his people. How does this promise compare with the one in Revelation 21:1-4?
- Joshua the high priest represents the nation of Israel (3:1-5). How does this courtroom-like scene illustrate what Christ has done for us on the cross?
- Why must those who have been cleansed from their sins respond by walking in God's ways and keeping his requirements (3:6-10)?
Applying the Word
- How does the promise of living with the Lord forever offer you hope, especially during those times when your life seems to be in ruins?
- The name Satan means "accuser." When you feel accused and condemned because of your sins, what do you need to remember about what Christ has done for you?
Responding in Prayer
Thank God for removing the filth of your sins and dressing you in the spotless clothes of Christ's righteousness. Praise him for his presence in your life and for the hope of living with him forever.
For Further Study
Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi by Joyce G. Baldwin
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