-
Zechariah 4:6-10
Therefore he told me,“ These signify the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel:‘ Not by strength and not by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD who rules over all.”“ What are you, you great mountain? Because of Zerubbabel you will become a level plain! And he will bring forth the temple capstone with shoutings of‘ Grace! Grace!’ because of this.”Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me as follows:“ The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundations of this temple, and his hands will complete it.” Then you will know that the LORD who rules over all has sent me to you.For who dares make light of small beginnings? These seven eyes will joyfully look on the tin tablet in Zerubbabel’s hand.( These are the eyes of the LORD, which constantly range across the whole earth.)
-
Haggai 1:1-2:1
On the first day of the sixth month of King Darius’ second year, the LORD spoke this message through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak:The LORD who rules over all says this:“ These people have said,‘ The time for rebuilding the LORD’s temple has not yet come.’”So the LORD spoke through the prophet Haggai as follows:“ Is it right for you to live in richly paneled houses while my temple is in ruins?Here then is what the LORD who rules over all says:‘ Think carefully about what you are doing.You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but are never filled. You drink, but are still thirsty. You put on clothes, but are not warm. Those who earn wages end up with holes in their money bags.’”“ Moreover, the LORD who rules over all says:‘ Pay close attention to these things also.Go up to the hill country and bring back timber to build the temple. Then I will be pleased and honored,’ says the LORD.‘ You expected a large harvest, but instead there was little, and when you brought it home it disappeared right away. Why?’ asks the LORD who rules over all.‘ Because my temple remains in ruins, thanks to each of you favoring his own house!This is why the sky has held back its dew and the earth its produce.Moreover, I have called for a drought that will affect the fields, the hill country, the grain, new wine, fresh olive oil, and everything that grows from the ground; it also will harm people, animals, and everything they produce.’”Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, along with the whole remnant of the people, obeyed the LORD their God. They responded favorably to the message of the prophet Haggai, who spoke just as the LORD their God had instructed him, and the people began to respect the LORD.Then Haggai, the LORD’s messenger, spoke the LORD’s word to the people:“ I am with you!” says the LORD.So the LORD energized and encouraged Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and the whole remnant of the people. They came and worked on the temple of their God, the LORD who rules over all.This took place on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month of King Darius’ second year.On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the LORD spoke again through the prophet Haggai:
-
Zechariah 1:1-21
In the eighth month of Darius’ second year, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah, son of Berechiah son of Iddo, as follows:The LORD was very angry with your ancestors.Therefore say to the people: The LORD who rules over all says,“ Turn to me,” says the LORD who rules over all,“ and I will turn to you,” says the LORD who rules over all.“ Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the former prophets called out, saying,‘ The LORD who rules over all says,“ Turn now from your evil wickedness,”’ but they would by no means obey me,” says the LORD.“ As for your ancestors, where are they? And did the prophets live forever?But have my words and statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, not outlived your fathers? Then they paid attention and confessed,‘ The LORD who rules over all has indeed done what he said he would do to us, because of our sinful ways.’”On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month Shebat, in Darius’ second year, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah son of Iddo, as follows:I was attentive that night and saw a man seated on a red horse that stood among some myrtle trees in the ravine. Behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.Then I asked one nearby,“ What are these, sir?” The angelic messenger who replied to me said,“ I will show you what these are.”Then the man standing among the myrtle trees spoke up and said,“ These are the ones whom the LORD has sent to walk about on the earth.”The riders then agreed with the angel of the LORD, who was standing among the myrtle trees,“ We have been walking about on the earth, and now everything is at rest and quiet.”The angel of the LORD then asked,“ LORD who rules over all, how long before you have compassion on Jerusalem and the other cities of Judah which you have been so angry with for these seventy years?”The LORD then addressed good, comforting words to the angelic messenger who was speaking to me.Turning to me, the messenger then said,“ Cry out that the LORD who rules over all says,‘ I am very much moved for Jerusalem and for Zion.But I am greatly displeased with the nations that take my grace for granted. I was a little displeased with them, but they have only made things worse for themselves.“‘ Therefore,’ says the LORD,‘ I have become compassionate toward Jerusalem and will rebuild my temple in it,’ says the LORD who rules over all.‘ Once more a surveyor’s measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.’Speak up again with the message of the LORD who rules over all:‘ My cities will once more overflow with prosperity, and once more the LORD will comfort Zion and validate his choice of Jerusalem.’”( 2: 1) Once again I looked and this time I saw four horns.So I asked the angelic messenger who spoke with me,“ What are these?” He replied,“ These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.”Next the LORD showed me four blacksmiths.I asked,“ What are these going to do?” He answered,“ These horns are the ones that have scattered Judah so that there is no one to be seen. But the blacksmiths have come to terrify Judah’s enemies and cut off the horns of the nations that have thrust themselves against the land of Judah in order to scatter its people.”
-
Micah 5:4
He will assume his post and shepherd the people by the LORD’s strength, by the sovereign authority of the LORD his God. They will live securely, for at that time he will be honored even in the distant regions of the earth.
