Daily reading

Today’s reading is: Zech. 6-8; Ezra 5:3-6:14

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Zechariah Chapter Six

  1. Night vision #8: four chariots (Zech. 6:1-8).
    1. The four spirits of heaven are four mighty angels used by the Lord in directing world affairs (Jer. 49:36; Dan. 7:2; Rev. 7:1).
    2. They are not just patrolling and reporting; they are the agents of the Lord’s wrath upon the north country (prophetic Babylon).
  2. Following the night-visions, Zechariah’s next work-assignment is to manufacture a crown for High Priest Joshua (Zech. 6:9-15).
    1. The promised Messiah is revealed as Branch (cf. Zech. 3:8; Jer. 23:5; 33:15).
    2. Messiah will not only be a Davidic King, but also a temple-building Priest.

Zechariah Chapter Seven

  1. On December 7th, 518BC a delegation from Bethel came to Zechariah and asked about their 5th month fasting tradition (Zech. 7:1-3). The 5th month had become a time for fasting and weeping over the destruction of Jerusalem.
  2. The Lord doesn’t precisely answer the Bethel delegation until chapter eight. His first word addressed the 5th month and 7th month fasts as being man-centered (Zech. 7:4-7).
  3. The Lord reminded them how the man-centered ritual of past generations led to the captivity (Zech. 7:8-14).

Zechariah Chapter Eight

  1. The Lord promised a return from world-wide dispersion, and peace in the land (Zech. 8:1-17).
  2. The Lord finally provides an answer to the Bethel delegation’s question on fasting by addressing a full spectrum of monthly fasts and prophesying that those very occasions would become occasions for joy (Zech. 8:18-23).
    1. The 10th month marked the beginning of Nebuchadnezzar’s siege.
    2. The 4th month marked the fall of the city.
    3. The 5th month marked its burning.
    4. The 7th month marked the assassination of Gedaliah.

Ezra Chapter Five

(Outline continues from yesterday)

  1. A group of Persian officials observe the temple work and investigate their building permit (Ezr. 5:3-5).
  2. Tattenai & Shethat-bozenai drafted a letter to Darius I (Hystapes) (the Great) (522-486BC) reporting the matter and requesting guidance (Ezr. 5:6-17).

Ezra Chapter Six

  1. King Darius ordered an internal investigation of Persian records to research Tattenai’s report (Ezr. 6:1) and found the decree of Cyrus which authorized the temple building (Ezr. 6:2-5).
  2. Darius orders Tattenai’s full cooperation with the temple project (Ezr. 6:6-12).

(Chapter Six continues on Day 264)