Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are Zechariah 6:1–7:14; Revelation 15:1-8; Psalm 143:1-12; and Proverbs 30:24-28. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.
Zechariah 6-7:14 (Contemporary English Version)
Zechariah 6
Eighth Vision: Four Chariots
1Finally, I looked up and saw four chariots coming from between two bronze mountains. 2The first chariot was pulled by red horses, and the second by black horses; 3the third chariot was pulled by white horses, and the fourth by spotted gray horses. 4"Sir," I asked the angel. "What do these stand for?"
5Then he explained, "These are the four winds a] of heaven, and now they are going out, after presenting themselves to the Lord of all the earth. 6The chariot with black horses goes toward the north, the chariot with white horses goes toward the west, b] and the one with spotted horses goes toward the south." 7The horses came out eager to patrol the earth, and the angel told them, "Start patrolling the earth."
When they had gone on their way, 8he shouted to me, "Those that have gone to the country in the north will do what the LORD's Spirit c] wants them to do there."
5Then he explained, "These are the four winds a] of heaven, and now they are going out, after presenting themselves to the Lord of all the earth. 6The chariot with black horses goes toward the north, the chariot with white horses goes toward the west, b] and the one with spotted horses goes toward the south." 7The horses came out eager to patrol the earth, and the angel told them, "Start patrolling the earth."
When they had gone on their way, 8he shouted to me, "Those that have gone to the country in the north will do what the LORD's Spirit c] wants them to do there."
The Chosen Leader
9The LORD said to me: 10-11Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah have returned from Babylonia. Collect enough silver and gold from them to make a crown. d] Then go with them to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah and put the crown on the head of the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak. e] 12-13Tell him that I, the LORD All-Powerful, say, "Someone will reach out from here like a branch and build a temple for me. I will name him `Branch,' and he will rule with royal honors. A priest will stand beside his throne, f] and the two of them will be good friends. 14This crown will be kept in my temple as a reminder and will be taken care of by Heldai, g] Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Josiah." h] 15When people from distant lands come and help build the temple of the LORD All-Powerful, you will know that the LORD is the one who sent me. And this will happen, if you truly obey the LORD your God.
Zechariah 7
A Question about Going without Eating
1On the fourth day of Chislev, the ninth month of the fourth year that Darius was king of Persia, i] the LORD again spoke to me. 2-3It happened after the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer with Regem-Melech and his men to ask the priests in the LORD's temple and the prophets to pray for them. So they prayed, "Should we mourn and go without eating during the fifth month, j] as we have done for many years?" 4-5It was then that the LORD All-Powerful told me to say to everyone in the country, including the priests: For seventy years you have gone without eating during the fifth and seventh months of the year. But did you really do it for me? 6And when you eat and drink, isn't it for your own enjoyment? 7My message today is the same one I commanded the earlier prophets k] to speak to Jerusalem and its villages when they were prosperous, and when all of Judah, including the Southern Desert and the hill country, was filled with people. 8-9So once again, I, the LORD All-Powerful, tell you, "See that justice is done and be kind and merciful to one another! 10Don't mistreat widows or orphans or foreigners or anyone who is poor, and stop making plans to hurt each other."
11-12But everyone who heard those prophets, stubbornly refused to obey. Instead, they turned their backs on everything my Spirit l] had commanded the earlier prophets to preach. So I, the LORD, became angry 13and said, "You people paid no attention when I called out to you, and now I'll pay no attention when you call out to me." 14That's why I came with a whirlwind and scattered them among foreign nations, leaving their lovely country empty of people and in ruins.
Footnotes:- Zechariah 6:5 winds: Or "spirits." The Hebrew word may mean either.
- Zechariah 6:6 goes toward the west: Or "follows behind."
- Zechariah 6:8 LORD's Spirit: Or "LORD."
- Zechariah 6:10 a crown: Two ancient translations; Hebrew "some crowns."
- Zechariah 6:10 Heldai. . . Jehozadak: Or "Go to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah, where you will find Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have returned from Babylonia. Collect enough silver and gold from them to make a crown. Then put it on the head of the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak."
- Zechariah 6:12 stand beside his throne: Or "sit on a throne."
- Zechariah 6:14 Heldai: One ancient translation; Hebrew "Helem."
- Zechariah 6:14 Josiah: One ancient translation; Hebrew "Hen."
- Zechariah 7:1 Chislev. . . fourth year. . . king of Persia: Chislev, the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-November to mid-December; the fourth year of the rule of Darius was 518 B.C.
- Zechariah 7:2 fifth month: Ab, the fifth month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-July to mid-August. The temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in the year 587 or 586 B.C.
- Zechariah 7:7 the earlier prophets: See the note at 1.4.
- Zechariah 7:11 my Spirit: Or "I."
11-12But everyone who heard those prophets, stubbornly refused to obey. Instead, they turned their backs on everything my Spirit l] had commanded the earlier prophets to preach. So I, the LORD, became angry 13and said, "You people paid no attention when I called out to you, and now I'll pay no attention when you call out to me." 14That's why I came with a whirlwind and scattered them among foreign nations, leaving their lovely country empty of people and in ruins.
Footnotes:
- Zechariah 6:5 winds: Or "spirits." The Hebrew word may mean either.
- Zechariah 6:6 goes toward the west: Or "follows behind."
- Zechariah 6:8 LORD's Spirit: Or "LORD."
- Zechariah 6:10 a crown: Two ancient translations; Hebrew "some crowns."
- Zechariah 6:10 Heldai. . . Jehozadak: Or "Go to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah, where you will find Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have returned from Babylonia. Collect enough silver and gold from them to make a crown. Then put it on the head of the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak."
- Zechariah 6:12 stand beside his throne: Or "sit on a throne."
- Zechariah 6:14 Heldai: One ancient translation; Hebrew "Helem."
- Zechariah 6:14 Josiah: One ancient translation; Hebrew "Hen."
- Zechariah 7:1 Chislev. . . fourth year. . . king of Persia: Chislev, the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-November to mid-December; the fourth year of the rule of Darius was 518 B.C.
- Zechariah 7:2 fifth month: Ab, the fifth month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-July to mid-August. The temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in the year 587 or 586 B.C.
- Zechariah 7:7 the earlier prophets: See the note at 1.4.
- Zechariah 7:11 my Spirit: Or "I."
Revelation 15:1-8 (Contemporary English Version)
Revelation 15
The Last of the Terrible Troubles
1After this, I looked at the sky and saw something else that was strange and important. Seven angels were bringing the last seven terrible troubles. When these are ended, God will no longer be angry. 2Then I saw something that looked like a glass sea mixed with fire, and people were standing on it. They were the ones who had defeated the beast and the idol and the number that tells the name of the beast. God had given them harps, 3and they were singing the song that his servant Moses and the Lamb had sung. They were singing,
"Lord God All-Powerful,
you have done great
and marvelous things.
You are the ruler
of all nations,
and you do what is
right and fair.
4Lord, who doesn't honor
and praise your name?
You alone are holy,
and all nations will come
and worship you,
because you have shown
that you judge
with fairness."
5After this, I noticed something else in heaven. The sacred tent used for a temple was open. 6And the seven angels who were bringing the terrible troubles were coming out of it. They were dressed in robes of pure white linen and wore belts made of pure gold. 7One of the four living creatures gave each of the seven angels a bowl made of gold. These bowls were filled with the anger of God who lives forever and ever. 8The temple quickly filled with smoke from the glory and power of God. No one could enter it until the seven angels had finished pouring out the seven last troubles.
"Lord God All-Powerful,
you have done great
and marvelous things.
You are the ruler
of all nations,
and you do what is
right and fair.
4Lord, who doesn't honor
and praise your name?
You alone are holy,
and all nations will come
and worship you,
because you have shown
that you judge
with fairness."
5After this, I noticed something else in heaven. The sacred tent used for a temple was open. 6And the seven angels who were bringing the terrible troubles were coming out of it. They were dressed in robes of pure white linen and wore belts made of pure gold. 7One of the four living creatures gave each of the seven angels a bowl made of gold. These bowls were filled with the anger of God who lives forever and ever. 8The temple quickly filled with smoke from the glory and power of God. No one could enter it until the seven angels had finished pouring out the seven last troubles.
Psalm 143:1-12 (Contemporary English Version)
Psalm 143
(A psalm by David.)
A Prayer in Time of Danger
1Listen, LORD, as I pray! You are faithful and honest
and will answer my prayer.
2I am your servant.
Don't try me in your court,
because no one is innocent
by your standards.
3My enemies are chasing me,
crushing me in the ground.
I am in total darkness,
like someone long dead.
4I have given up all hope,
and I feel numb all over.
5I remember to think about
the many things
you did
in years gone by.
6Then I lift my hands in prayer,
because my soul is a desert,
thirsty for water from you.
7Please hurry, LORD,
and answer my prayer.
I feel hopeless.
Don't turn away
and leave me here to die.
8Each morning let me learn
more about your love
because I trust you.
I come to you in prayer,
asking for your guidance.
9Please rescue me
from my enemies, LORD!
I come to you for safety. a] 10You are my God. Show me
what you want me to do,
and let your gentle Spirit
lead me in the right path.
11Be true to your name, LORD,
and keep my life safe.
Use your saving power
to protect me from trouble.
12I am your servant.
Show how much you love me
by destroying my enemies.
and will answer my prayer.
2I am your servant.
Don't try me in your court,
because no one is innocent
by your standards.
3My enemies are chasing me,
crushing me in the ground.
I am in total darkness,
like someone long dead.
4I have given up all hope,
and I feel numb all over.
5I remember to think about
the many things
you did
in years gone by.
6Then I lift my hands in prayer,
because my soul is a desert,
thirsty for water from you.
7Please hurry, LORD,
and answer my prayer.
I feel hopeless.
Don't turn away
and leave me here to die.
8Each morning let me learn
more about your love
because I trust you.
I come to you in prayer,
asking for your guidance.
9Please rescue me
from my enemies, LORD!
I come to you for safety. a] 10You are my God. Show me
what you want me to do,
and let your gentle Spirit
lead me in the right path.
11Be true to your name, LORD,
and keep my life safe.
Use your saving power
to protect me from trouble.
12I am your servant.
Show how much you love me
by destroying my enemies.
Proverbs 30:24-28 (Contemporary English Version)
24On this earth four things
are small but very wise:
25Ants, who seem to be feeble,
but store up food
all summer long;
26badgers, who seem to be weak,
but live among the rocks;
27locusts, who have no king,
but march like an army;
28lizards, a] which can be caught in your hand,
but sneak into palaces.
are small but very wise:
25Ants, who seem to be feeble,
but store up food
all summer long;
26badgers, who seem to be weak,
but live among the rocks;
27locusts, who have no king,
but march like an army;
28lizards, a] which can be caught in your hand,
but sneak into palaces.
Thought for the Day
“They hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and they saw the baby lying on a bed of hay. When the shepherds saw Jesus, they told his parents what the angel had said about him. Everyone listened and was surprised. But Mary kept thinking about all this and wondering what it meant. As the shepherds returned to their sheep, they were praising God and saying wonderful things about him. Everything they had seen and heard was just as the angel had said.” (Luke 2:16-20 - Contemporary English Version) When the shepherds left the manger, they were praising God. And as we leave Christmas and enter a new year, despite whatever problems we may have endured, we can do the exact same thing.
Quote for the Day
American lawyer and politician who served as the 30th president of the United States from 1923 to 1929, Calvin Coolidge wrote, “Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.”
“They hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and they saw the baby lying on a bed of hay. When the shepherds saw Jesus, they told his parents what the angel had said about him. Everyone listened and was surprised. But Mary kept thinking about all this and wondering what it meant. As the shepherds returned to their sheep, they were praising God and saying wonderful things about him. Everything they had seen and heard was just as the angel had said.” (Luke 2:16-20 - Contemporary English Version) When the shepherds left the manger, they were praising God. And as we leave Christmas and enter a new year, despite whatever problems we may have endured, we can do the exact same thing.
Quote for the Day
American lawyer and politician who served as the 30th president of the United States from 1923 to 1929, Calvin Coolidge wrote, “Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.”
Joke for Today
A young seminary student went home for Christmas break. A horrible snowstorm stranded the regular minister in another town. The leaders of the congregation asked the young man to substitute for the regular minister.
The young preacher started his sermon by explaining the meaning of a substitute. "If you break a window," he said, "and then place a piece of plywood over the hole -- that's a substitute."
After the sermon, a well-intentioned woman wished to compliment the young man. As she enthusiastically shook his hand, she said: "You were no substitute. You were a real pane!"
A Prayer Request
As Christians, we can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Below is the need that we're laying before God today.
That our leaders have the courage and wisdom to confront the racial divisions within our country.
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