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Tuesday 8/17/21
Empty Objects of Our Affection
πŸ“½οΈ Zechariah 10 πŸ”Š

 1Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.
 2For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.
 3Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle.
 4Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.
 5And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded.
 6And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them.
 7And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD.
 8I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased.
 9And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again.
 10I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them.
 11And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away.
 12And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD.
Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Zechariah
Date Penned: (1-8 520-518BC)(9-14 480BC)
Overview: Messages After Completing the Temple (c 9-14)
Theme: Zechariah's Words of Encouragement (c 7-14)
Message: Israel and Judah are Lost Sheep (v 1-12)

Zechariah: Chapter 10 Commentary
  
(10:1,2) How often we create idols of money, power, fame, or success, and then expect them to give us happiness and security. But these idols can't supply what we need any more than a stone can make it rain. How foolish it is to trust in idols. Instead, trust God's promises for your future.

(10,3-5) Zechariah's prophecy, 500 years before Christ's coming, calls him a cornerstone (Isaiah 28) a nail (Isaiah 22) a bow that wins the battle, and a ruler who was a man of action (Genesis 49) This Messiah would be strong, stable, victorious and trustworthy - in all, the answer to Israel's problems. Only in the Messiah will all the promises to God's people be fulfilled.

(10:6) One day God will unite all his people. This verse tells all about reuniting the Jews (Jeremiah 31) This was a starting idea. The people of the Northern Kingdom of Israel were so completely absorbed into other cultures after their captivity in 722 BC that a regathering could not be done by human means, but only by God.

(10:7-9) God promises to strengthen his people. When we stay closely connected to God, his Spirit enables us to do his will, despite the obstacles. When we stray away from God, we are cut off from our power source.

(10:10) This pictured return from Egypt and Assyria was a symbolic way of saying that the people would be returned from all the countries where they had been dispersed. Egypt and Assyria evoked memories of slavery and separation "Place shall not be found for them" could also be translated, "there will scarcely be room for all of them"

(10:11) The "sea with affliction" or refers to the Red Sea through which the Israelites were miraculously delivered from Egypt. As the Israelites returned once again from Egypt and other lands, they would be protected by the Lord's miraculous power.
Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the book of Zechariah with Chapter 10. In our text today we see Israel and Judah are as lost sheep as they created idols thinking they would bring happiness to find them empty objects of affection. In making application many today do the same of making idols of money, power, fame, or success to see their worship of these idols empty as well. How about you? Do you make idols in your life? Let us learn from our text today and the example of Israel and Judah to see that if we choose to make idols of the things of this World we will find the objects to be empty of our affection. 
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ο»ΏSincerely,
Dr. Dave Burnette
Director, The United States Bible Society, Inc.