Archives by: Gary Hoag

And from the sacrifice of the peace offering, as a food offering to the Lord, he shall offer the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys. Then Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering, which is on the wood on the fire; it is a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Leviticus 3:3-5

“The sharing of a meal by worshippers was important because it symbolized God sharing a meal with them. Human beings live in communities with each other, and God has graciously entered into community with them. If course, there is no suggestion of any merging of the divine and human in the ritual. God will always be God and human beings will always be human and finite. However the privilege of sharing a meal with God evokes emotions of joy and celebration. The ritual allowed people to express their deep-seated emotions…

The Lord’s Supper resembles the peace offering in many ways. Jesus referred to the cup of wine as ‘the new covenant in my blood’ (1 Corinthians 11:25) alluding to the blood of the old covenant. At the conclusion of the Sinaitic covenant, Moses took the blood of the burnt offering and of the peace offering and threw it over the people, saying, ‘This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you’ (Exodus 24:8) Both at the making of the Sinaitic covenant and the Lord’s Supper, there is a sharing of a meal (Exodus 24:11; Luke 22:15).”

Felix Chingota in “Leviticus” in Africa Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006) 136-137.

I am going to Africa next month so I plan to study my word for the year, share, through the Scriptures from an African perspective. May we all learn a lot from our African brothers and sisters on the way.

Today we explore the peace offering and find that it includes sharing a meal with God. It’s symbolic and foreshadows the Lord’s Supper. Is there anything better than envisioning a meal with God?

It’s an amazing picture of intimacy and community, of sharing with union and communion. And Jesus, who is our peace, makes it possible. What’s the lesson today for those who want to grow in generosity?

Let us pause to give thanks that God wants to share a meal with us so much, that He sent His son to be the peace offering to make the meal possible. That’s a costly tab, which makes it the greatest meal ever.

Then He promised to enjoy another meal with us, a awesome banquet, in the eternal kingdom. Today or this week, invite someone to a meal. Give thanks for Jesus and tell Him about the meal and how to enjoy it.

We serve a God who did not want to be remembered in a miracle or a sermon, but in a meal. And He wants everyone to be there. Tell your friend that cost is free at the invitation of Jesus. He or she need only to accept it.

On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves. On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness,” declares the Lord. “I will keep a watchful eye over Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations. Zechariah 12:3-4

“Jerusalem will prove an immovable rock for those who attempt to conquer and control her, because the city was founded by YHWH, and He loves it more than any other city… The open eyes of God are ‘an indication of His provision for those who stand in desperate need.”

Andrew E. Hill in Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi: An Introduction and Commentary (TOTC; Downers Grove: IVP, 2012) 241.

After spending hours this past weekend reading through and listening to the visions and prophecies of Zechariah, I conclude this exploration of this minor prophet with two expressions that stuck with me: immovable rock and watchful eye.

Zechariah proclaims that the city of God will stand firm like an immovable rock. This implies that anyone who tries to move it will only bring harm to themselves. This gives us confidence that those who abide in God will be secure.

And related to this, the fact that the watchful eye of God looks after His people reveals that He is the source of their protection. This fills us with peace knowing that as we sacrifice and serve generously, He will look after us.

I’ve endured some hard times lately. Maybe you can relate? Sit in the idea with me that God will make us an immovable rock and that His watchful eye will provide for us in times of need. The prophet brought me hope for the next season of service.

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Just as I had determined to bring disaster on you and showed no pity when your ancestors angered me,” says the Lord Almighty, “so now I have determined to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah. Do not be afraid. Zechariah 8:14-15

“In chapter 8 the prophet proceeds to reveal the glorious fact that in the future Israel’s fasts shall change into feasts, and the people shall enjoy the good things promised to them by the Lord, but they must give earnest heed to the Word of God spoken to the prophets. The nation’s restoration to full kingdom blessing is assured by God’s redemptive purposes, but there must be the spiritual renovation of the nation to enter into and enjoy the divinely predetermined favors.”

Merrill F. Unger in Zechariah: Prophet of Messiah’s Glory (UBC; Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2014) 133.

When we think of giving, we often think about sharing something with someone else.

Today the giving Unger urges us to give comes into view as giving earnest heed to the Word of God spoken to the prophets.

Repeatedly, the text proclaims, “This is what the Lord Almighty says.” Sometimes what comes next is a prophecy and other times, a command.

We need to do what God proclaims so that our fasting turns to feasting and so that we experience kingdom blessing.

God promised to do his part and do good again to His people, Israel, and He promises similar blessing to us when we do what He says.

“Give earnest heed to the Word of God spoken to the prophets.”

“This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’ Zechariah 7:9-10

“Another point of transformation lies in the exercise of compassion. This comes out in that same ninth verse of the seventh chapter: “Show mercy and compassions every man to his brother.” A great mark of a changed heart is when we become tender, pitiful, and kind. Some men have very little of the milk of human kindness about them. You may lay a case before them, and they will wonder why you should come to them; and when you see how little they do, you yourself wonder why you ever came to them.

Many there are whose hearts are locked up in an iron safe, and we cannot find the key! They have hidden the key themselves; there is no getting at their hearts. One such said to a minister who preached a sermon, after which there was to be a collection, “You should preach to our hearts, and then you would get some money.” The minister replied, “Yes, I think that is very likely, for that is where you keep your money.”

The answer was a very good one. That is just where a great many persons carry their treasure; but when the grace of God comes, and renews the miser’s heart, he begins to be generous, he has pity upon the poor, and compassion for the fallen: he loves to bless those who are round about him, and make them happy. It is a mark of wonderful transformation in the character of some men, when their heart begins to go a little outside their own ribs, and they can feel for the sorrows of other men.”

Charles Haddon Spurgeon in “Sad Fasts Changed to Glad Feasts” Sermon 2248 on 20 March 1892.

Yesterday, I got up early to go hiking and fly fishing in the mountains with my son, Sammy, which was a lot of exercise. We landed 18 greenback cutthroat trout. It was special time together.

That change in routine meant I did my daily office last night. I decided to revisit this call to justice and compassion from Zechariah, so I read this sermon by Spurgeon and had to post this excerpt because I like the expression, “the exercise of compassion” to summarize this call. It illustrates pointedly that tenderness, compassion, kindness, and generosity only surface in our lives as the grace of God works in us.

And today is my sister’s birthday. Happy Birthday Heather. I pray her holiday in Florida is special and that God lavishes His grace on her this next year. I pray that for all of us.

Father, to respond to your exhortation through Zechariah, pour out your grace by the Holy Spirit on us and make us just, merciful, loving, kind, generous, and compassionate. Do this, I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

The people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-Melek, together with their men, to entreat the Lord by asking the priests of the house of the Lord Almighty and the prophets, “Should I mourn and fast in the fifth month, as I have done for so many years?”

Then the word of the Lord Almighty came to me: “Ask all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted? And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves? Are these not the words the Lord proclaimed through the earlier prophets when Jerusalem and its surrounding towns were at rest and prosperous, and the Negev and the western foothills were settled?’”

And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’ Zechariah 7:2-10

“The Jews seemed to question whether they ought to continue their fasts, seeing that the city and temple were likely to be finished. The first answer to their inquiry is a sharp reproof of hypocrisy.

These fasts were not acceptable to God, unless observed in a better manner, and to better purpose. There was the form of duty, but no life, or soul, or power in it. Holy exercises are to be done to God, looking to His word as our rule, and His glory as our end, seeking to please Him and obtain His favour; but self was the centre of all their actions.

And it was not enough to weep on fast days; they should have searched the Scriptures of the prophets, that they might have seen what was the ground of God’s controversy with their fathers. Whether people are in prosperity or adversity, they must be called upon to leave their sins, and to do their duty.”

Matthew Henry’s Concise Bible Commentary on Zechariah 7.

Fasting is a powerful tool. It tames our desires to pursue our duty. It sets us on a course of generosity which is the better purpose for our presence on this earth.

This better purpose takes shape as administering justice and showing mercy and compassion.

But our proclivity like the people of Bethel in the text is to abandon these practices. They had prayed for years for the temple to be rebuilt. Now that it was done, they could stop fasting, right?

No way! With the temple rebuilt God fasting would propel them to live out their purpose.

The parallel for us today comes into view. We must fast to set aside our selfishness and pursue God’s purposes: justice, mercy, and compassion for the poor and oppressed. Let’s do this generously!

In fasting we forsake that which does not satisfy for the only thing that does.

To grow in fasting, join the next GTP September-October cohort of Journey of Empowerment (JOE). It’s free and available on demand. Go through it with stewards around the world. Register here.

The word of the Lord came to me: “Take silver and gold from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon. Go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jozadak. Tell him this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord. It is he who will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.’ The crown will be given to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple of the Lord. Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the Lord, and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the Lord your God.” Zechariah 6:9-15

“[Zechariah] is told to take silver and gold from three men who have recently arrived from Babylon. The fourth man, Josiah son of Zephaniah, may have been a smelter or craftsman, since Zechariah is told to go to his house (presumably with the silver and gold) after meeting the other three. It is unlikely that the silver and gold is simply the personal property of the new arrivals. More likely it is a gift from the Jewish community who are still living in exile in Babylon. these men have come as their representatives.

Zechariah is told to take the sIlver and gold, make a crown with it, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua. This is quite unexpected, since it was normally kings, not priests, who wore crowns… The act is clearly symbolic, because after the oracle has been spoken, the crown is removed again. It is not that Joshua has been installed in a new office, as would be the case at a real coronation, but with the royal crown on his head he represents something, or rather, someone. The essence of the oracle is that he is the man whose name is the Branch.”

Barry G. Webb in The Message of Zechariah: Your Kingdom Come (TBST; Downers Grove: IVP, 2003) 107-108.

We need the help of commentators who have studied the prophetic books to gain insight from the texts with wealth and generosity in view.

And yet, notice how clear this prophecy is if we slow down and read it bit by bit. And see the link to generosity which acknowledges that Jesus is Lord.

We see three exiles bring gifts from Babylon to be used to make a crown to put on the head of a guy named Joshua, which is the Hebrew name for Jesus.

This seems to foreshadow the three magi who come from the East (remember that Babylon is modern day Iraq which is East of Israel). Consider the focus of their gift.

It’s symbolic: they prophet proclaim that Jesus is priest and king. So, what is our lesson about generosity from Zechariah today? Give to show that Jesus is priest and king.

By priest, Jesus is the way to God. As King, He is our Lord to obey. And remember that we are exiles (strangers in a foreign land called earth). Heaven is our eternal home.

Use the silver and gold that you have to acknowledge and advance the kingdom of Jesus, who is our priest and our king.

So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’” Then the word of the Lord came to me: “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. “Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?” Zechariah 4:6-10

“Consider the tendency in men to indulge contempt for good things, in the littleness and weakness of their beginnings and early operations.

I. There is much of a disposition to undervalue, “despise,” the small beginnings and slow, early stages of a good work. (1) It comes from not duly apprehending the preciousness of what is good, in any, even the smallest portion of it. (2) In the indulgence of this disposition it is left out of sight how much in many cases was requisite to be previously done to bring the small beginning into existence at all; it did not start into existence of itself. (3) Another thing is, that we are apt to set far too high a price on our own efforts and services. Our self-importance cannot endure that so much of our agency, ours, should be consumed for so small a result. (4) We over-measure our brief span of mortal existence. We want to contract the Almighty’s plan to our own limits of time, and to precipitate the movement, that we may see clearly to the end of it.

II. In the religious and moral department things that as yet are small are to be estimated, not according to their present dimensions, but according to their principle, and according to what they are to become. We are to recognise in them a Divine principle; that God has put in them His will, His power, His Spirit. This includes (1) the progress of education; (2) the progress of Christianity.

III. Pride, sluggishness, and covetousness have all something to do with the temper which leads men to despise small things. But the good cause of God, of Christ, of human improvement, is certain, is destined to advance and triumph. The awful mystery why this triumphant ascendency is so slowly achieved, so long delayed in this world, will, it is reasonable to believe, be one of the subjects for illumination in a higher state of existence, where enlarging faculties will have endless duration for their exercise. It may then be seen that the whole course of the world, from the beginning to the end, was “a day of small things,” as compared with the sequel, only as a brief introduction to an immense and endless economy.”

John Foster in “Lectures” 2nd series, p. 365. as recounted in The Sermon Bible (New York: Funk and Wagnalls, 1900) 424-425.

I had to post a picture of a brook trout that I caught while fly fishing on Saturday because after reading this I pondered how awesome “a day of small trout” is! Don’t ever despise that!

God chose Zerubbabel to lead the work of rebuilding the house of God. It would be accomplished not by His greatness but by the power of the Spirit at work in Him.

He should not think of himself more or less important than any other person, but merely play his part in God’s bigger story. And as Foster notes, we should do likewise.

And his task (like the ones we undertake) could have been viewed as small or insignificant or as big and overly important. With this view, we can become sluggish on the one hand or prideful on the other.

So, the lessons for those who desire to grow in generosity are clear: the Spirit is the one who empowers us to do any good large tasks, and yet, no task is too small.

In God’s bigger economy, the small things are of equal importance to the big things.

In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo: “The Lord was very angry with your ancestors. Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty. Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the Lord. Where are your ancestors now? And the prophets, do they live forever? But did not my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your ancestors? “Then they repented and said, ‘The Lord Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to do.’” Zechariah 1:1-6

“That the prophets despite their faithful zeal used tact and grace is also indicated by the employment of the polite particle na’ (“if you please” or “please”) with the imperative. Return (repent), please.

There was authority of divine command, but there was also the urging constraining love of the Spirit in their stern utterances to the people to forsake sin manifested in their evil ways and evil deeds.

Their evil ways constituted the common everyday “course” of their lives, their general “manner of living.” The Hebrew word derek means a “road,” a “way,” or a “path.” Here it is used figuratively of the “road of life” or “path walked in everyday activity.”

Merrill F. Unger in Zechariah: Prophet of Messiah’s Glory (UBC; Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2014) 14.

Zechariah served as contemporary to Haggai and prophesied a similar message. We won’t go through the entire book like we did with Haggai as it is 14 chapters, but we will hit some highlights from it.

We must not miss two key nuances associated with his call to return to the Lord. Unger notes them for us. It has a gracious “please” tone and it refers not to outrageous activities but to everyday “practices.”

The Lord saw the behavior and choices of the past generation and beckoned His people through Zechariah with a gracious tone to “turn” from the path they were on which ignored God.

Unger helps us drill down and see that their practices were not so much ugly and horrible, but rather simply like the “manner of living” of the world around them.

On both levels, this oracle also relates to us.

The Lord sees our stewardship and generosity or lack thereof and wants us to handle money like His Word teaches not because we have to but as a gracious invitation to take hold of life and to experience related blessings.

So, to abandon evil practices comes into view not so much as ceasing unspeakable sins, but simply as choosing the path of obedience which amounts to living differently from the world.

The Lord wants us to live, give, serve, and love for Him.

The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: “Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother. “‘On that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” Haggai 2:20-23

“Haggai’s final sermon, the second of the day, sounded a note of triumph. His first sermon of the day announced the beginning of blessing; his final message declared its consummation, the ultimate reality. The prospect of blessing was good, and the best was yet to be. Up to this point, Haggai’s focus has been on the completion of the temple, a crucial component in God’s redemptive plan leading to the fulness of time when Christ would come in what we know to be His first advent.

In this last address, he details events that we know accompany Christ’s second advent. We have a time advantage over Haggai’s congregation enabling us to make that distinction. But awareness of the time gap was not essential to grasping the significance of the message: The success of Christ’s kingdom was certain. Like his other sermons, this last one was short and to the point. Unlike the others, this was addressed directly to Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was the civil leader and the chief supervisor of the temple reconstruction. He was the civil authority and even of the tribe of Judah and descendant of David, but he was not the king.

David’s throne was still vacant, and there was no immediate prospect of a sitting king as the nation was still under foreign domination even though the exile was past. Babylon gave way to Persia, and then there would be Greece and Rome. It appeared there was no hope for a Messianic kingdom, and that situation potentially could jeopardize the temple construction yet again. So, God gave them a look at the future to encourage them for the present. Haggai declared that the kingdoms of this world would fail, and that the kingdom of Christ would prevail.”

Michael P. V. Barrett in Haggai (The Gospel Coalition Commentary) notes on Haggai 2:20-23.

I love how Haggai ends.

In the first sermon of the day, Haggai proclaimed blessing on the people. As they focused on rebuilding God’s house, they could anticipate blessing. And, in the second sermon of the day, Haggai announced a message to Zerubbabel. His work in his day, had a purpose in God’s bigger story that was unfolding that would ultimately result in the establishment of the eternal kingdom of Christ.

That’s what we need to remember and notice how it relates to us.

We serve like Zerubbabel. We play a part in God’s unfolding story. We do this by using all we are and all we have to make Christ known to the nations before the second advent. In that sense, we are right in the middle of the story. What part will we play? Like Zerubbabel, He will make us His signet ring when we give careful thought to our ways and give everything we’ve got to building His Church.

When look to the future we do find encouragement to grow in generosity in the present.

On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Haggai: “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Ask the priests what the law says: If someone carries consecrated meat in the fold of their garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, olive oil or other food, does it become consecrated?’” The priests answered, “No.” Then Haggai said, “If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?” “Yes,” the priests replied, “it becomes defiled.” Then Haggai said, “‘So it is with this people and this nation in my sight,’ declares the Lord. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled.

“‘Now give careful thought to this from this day on—consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in the Lord’s temple. When anyone came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty. I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not return to me,’ declares the Lord. ‘From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid. Give careful thought: Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit. “‘From this day on I will bless you.’” Haggai 2:10-19

“To understand truly the times in which they were living, more than a hasty look is needed. Give careful thought, says Haggai, and consider how things were. He is now moving from an unfolding of the situation to a necessary response to it.

Once again the everyday circumstances and amenities of living are a window to the larger purposes of God and the big picture; for what the prophet says here is that these are a direct consequence of the fact that God is Creator and has revealed Himself in His Word. The truth of the unity of life both ‘sacred’ and ‘secular’ had been underlined in verse 14, and now here it is spelled out. The building of the temple was related ultimately to the way the Creator had make the universe, and the failure of their material prosperity and the weather conditions were the external signs of the failure of the devotion of their hearts to the Lord.

Any possibility of this being coincidental is ruled out by verse 17: I struck all the world of your hands with blight, mildew, and hail. These events were already a message to those who had read the Torah where such calamities were predicted for failure to obey the covenant (see especially Deuteronomy 28:22). But it needed a prophet to show to that generation, just as Amos had done to an earlier one (Amos 4:9), that God’s words were living and always brought about what they said whether in judgment or in blessing.

We should not ignore the phrase from this day on in verse 18 and repeated in verse 19. God’s Word is no vague and disembodied entity; it comes at precise moments, which can often be specifically dated, and this is common in the prophets, especially in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. A definite and considered response is needed to this word of God or its effect will be lost. Again the failure of the harvest is linked with the failure to continue with the rebuilding of the temple. None of this is obvious on the surface of events; careful thought and determination to act on the prophetic word are vital.

Truly to believe in the biblical doctrine of God as Creator is far more than simply acknowledging the existence of the first cause. That is deism and has no effect on our thinking and living. But the biblical doctrine of a Creator who is intimately involved in His creation and to whom we owe everything we are and have, and who is not far from each one of us (Acts 17:27). This has a radical effect on thinking and living and sees the whole of life as of concern and interest to the Lord.”

Robert Fyall in The Message of Ezra & Haggai (Downers Grove: IVP, 2010) 165-166.

This was a long post, so I will be brief.

Three times the Lord calls His people to give careful thought. From this day forward He wanted them to live differently in all aspects of their lives, which often become separated into ‘sacred’ and ‘secular’ areas. In return, He promised to bless them.

How does this relate to us in our situations?

Do we acknowledge God for who He is, and yet live a life focused on ourselves, hoping to gain a rich harvest to fulfill our dreams? Or will we give careful thought and use all we are and all we have to advance His purposes?

Give careful thought. The choice is ours.

Let’s chart a new course with actions that show our devotion. Guided by the Spirit, let us “consider how things” have been and how we can take a step today to change howe we use all we are and all we have to build the global church.

And if you are looking for a place to give to do that, support GTP here.