Month: January 2021

Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi (Jan17)

As the Bible is arranged by genre,
to enhance understanding context
we’re meditating by time sequence.
OT1A: Genesis
OT1B: Poetry Book of Job
OT1C: Life of Moses (Exo to Deut)
OT2A: History to David (Josh-1Chr)
OT2B: Five Books of Psalms
OT2C: 1 Kings & Wisdom Poetry
OT3A: 2 Kings & Prophets
OT3B: 2 Chronicles & Prophets
OT3C: Post Exilic Period & Prophets

In the final part of Phase Three,
we had earlier covered the history
of the post-exilic period under
Esther, Ezra and Nehemiah.
Continuing into the prophets, we
start with Haggai, written 520 BC
with purpose to call the people to
complete the rebuilding the temple.
Zechariah; written around 519 BC
for chap 1-8 & 480BC for chap 9-14,
with purpose to give hope to God’s
people by revealing God’s future
deliverance through the Messiah.
Malachi, written 430BC, to confront
the people with their sins and to
restore their relationship with God.

Haggai: “Consider your ways and
finish what you have begun” are
the resounding calls of the prophet
Haggai as he tries to awaken the
people spiritually. They have just
returned from exile in Babylonia
and are discouraged by the
destruction in the city. But Haggai’s
message brings encouragement,
particularly to the governor,
Zerubbabel who must inspire the
people. “I am with you,” declares
the Lord as the people are called
to rebuild and fight against future
oppression. There is hope and
future blessing for their obedience!

Zechariah: Using colourful visions
and consoling sermons to portray
God’s glorious future plans for
His covenant people, Zechariah
encourages the workers engaged
in rebuilding the temple. Although
earlier enthusiasm has waned,
the task is an important one, for
the temple will be the focal point
of the ministry of Israel’s coming
Messiah. God will keep His promises
to His people, and fasting will turn
to feasting when Messiah arrives.
So put away sin, finish the temple &
await the Messiah with encitement.

Malachi: Years after the restoration
from exile, the spiritual condition
of God’s people has deteriorated.
Again they have lapsed into the
same sins that brought about
captivity. They tithe sporadically,
ignore the Sabbath and intermarry
with unbelievers.Their hearts have
grown hard and their love for God
has grown cold, yet Malachi comes
to remind the people of God’s love
for them. Malachi’s final warning
about the purifying Day of the Lord
marks the close of Old Testament
period which is followed by 400
years of silence in biblical record.

Defending Purity in the Lord(Jan16)

With the walls in place and the
spiritual condition of the nation
revived, Nehemiah now sets about
the task of organising the populace.
One-tenth of the people are chosen
to relocate within the city walls
while the rest remains in suburbs.
The walls are formally dedicated
and temple officers commissioned
to oversee the function of national
worship. Nehemiah then returns
from Babylon to find Tabiah living
in a temple storeroom; and the
people displaying a shocking
disregard for God’s laws concerning
marriage and the Sabbath. Assuming
again the role of reformer, Nehemiah
labours to restore national purity.

Lord, the book of Nehemiah is about
rebuilding the wall of a great city,
but it is also about spiritual renewal,
rebuilding a people’s dependence
on God. And Nehemiah’s life story
also provides many principles of
effective leadership that still valid:
Have a clear purpose and keep
evaluating in light of God’s will;
Live above reproach; and be in
constant prayer, deriving wisdom
and power from contact with God.
Lord, help us don’t lose sight of
doing what’s important to be a
spiritual leader; to focus on being
God’s person & doing what He wants.
Help us Keep Out Compromise;
Help us Be Distinctly Your People;
Help us to Lead by Example. Amen.

Lord, we will Keep Out Compromise:
I was not in Jerusalem at that time,
for I had returned to King Artaxerxes
of Babylon in the 32nd year of
his reign, though I later asked his
permission to return. When I arrived
in Jerusalem, I learnt about Eliashib’s
evil deed in providing Tobiah with
a room in the courtyards of the
Temple of God. I became very upset
and threw all of Tobiah’s belongings
out of the room (Nehemiah 13:6-8).
Lord, You know our heart for our
children to walk in Your ways.
You have heard our prayers and
You have witnessed our work.
But our children are ultimately
Your children. And they need
much more than godly parents.
For they need You to keep them
from compromises. In Jesus’ name.

Lord, we’ll be Distinctly Your People:
I gave orders to purify the rooms,
and then I put back into them the
equipment of the house of God,
with the grain offerings and the
incense. I also learned that the
portions assigned to the Levites
had not been given to them, and
that all the Levites… had gone back
to their fields. So I asked… Why is
the house of God neglected? Then
I called them… and stationed them
at their posts (Nehemiah 13:9-11).
Lord, we note Nehemiah to do what
is right and holy. All along he was
personally seeking to please God
and wants to ensure God’s people
remain distinctive fr their neighbours.
Help us Lord the desire to be holy
and to stand up for what us true
in Your eyes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lord, we will Lead by Example:
In those days I saw men of Judah
treading out their wine press on the
Sabbath. They were also bringing
in grain loading it on donkeys and
bringing… all sorts of produce to
Jerusalem to sell on the Sabbath…
So I confronted the nobles of Judah.
Why are you profaning the Sabbath
in this evil way? I asked. Wasn’t it
just this sort of thing that your
ancestors did that caused our God
to bring all this trouble upon us?
Now you are bringing even more
wrath upon Israel by permitting
the Sabbath to be desecrated
in this way (Nehemiah 13:15-18).
Lord, we learn that Nehemiah is
a leader by example. He leads the
Israelites in rebuilding the city walls
& establishes policies for residents.
He also helps renew the covenant
& keeps Israelites on track with God.
Help us Lord learn from Nehemiah
what good leaders should do. And
grant us the wisdom and strength
to lead by example. In Jesus’ name.

The Almighty Shadday (Jan 15)

Gen 48-50 conclude the book of
beginnings by recording the final
acts of Jacob and Joseph, along
with their deaths and burials.
Jacob’s blessing upon Joseph’s
two sons, announcing that the
younger would be more honoured
than the older, is in keeping with
the pattern established in Genesis
(Isaac instead of Ismael, Jacob
instead of Esau, Joseph instead
of Reuben). As his final earthly act,
Jacob blesses each of his 12 sons,
giving a divinely guided pronounce
-ment of their future history.
Jacob’s body is embalmed and
taken back to Canaan for burial,
while Joseph’s body remains
in Egypt until the release of
the newly born nation of Israel.

All Praise to the Almighty:
Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful
vine near a spring..His bow remained
in strength, and the arms of his
hands were made strong by the
hands of the Mighty God of Jacob…
By the God of your father who will
help you, and the Almighty who
will bless you, with blessings of
heaven above (Gen 49:22-25).

Dear The Amighty, throughout
history, You have chosen Israel
and its people as Your very own.
Through Israel, You’ve also delivered
to all humanity the gift of salvation
thru one of their own Jesus Christ.
In gratitude, we give You praise
and thanksgiving for Your plan of
salvation and for delivering Israel
throughout the years so that
Jesus Christ could enter the world.
And we look forward to His return
for gathering of His sheep including
those from the nation of Israel. Amen

The Almighty God, forgive me for
failing to pray for Your people as
You have instructed in Your Word.
Forgive me for the times I have
turned an uncaring heart to the
destruction of Israel as a nation.
And pardon the nations who have
not used their capabilities to help
protect Your chosen ones. Amen.

The Almighty God, we ask You to
grant peace to the land of Israel.
We lift up to You the government
and the military to protect & defend
innocent people from militants.
Pray that Your kingdom agenda
will steadily manifest in Israel; and
let more Israeli come to know Christ.
We bless Israel in Your name and
ask You to bless them as well. And
help us to share Your heart for Israel.
In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

God of House of God El Bethel

In Gen 32-36, Jacob the schemer
becomes Jacob the servant of God.
After leaving his uncle Laban, Jacob
fears the inevitable reunion with
his entranged brother Esau. But
before he can be reconciled to Esau,
he must first be reconciled to God.
At the Jabbok River he wrestles
with the Angel of Jehovah, insisting
on a blessing before he will release
him. The angel assures him of God’s
continued presence and leaves him
with a new name (Israel, God strives)
and a permanent limb. After an
emotional reunion with Esau, Jacob
returns to Canaan, where God
confirms His promises to Abraham
and Isaac – promises of a larger
posterity and a new homeland.

All Praise be to El Bethel:
Then God said to Jacob: Go up
to Bethel and dwell there; and
make an altar there to God, who
appeared to you when you fled
from the face of Esau your brother…
And they journeyed and the terror
of God was upon the cities that
we’re all around them; and they
did not pursue the sins of Jacob…
And he built an altar there and
called the place El Bethel, because
there God appeared to him when he
fled from… his brother (Gen 35:1-7)

El Bethel, You’ve revealed Yourself
to all of us in countless ways and
we give You praise for who You are.
For since the creation of the world,
Your eternal power & divine nature
have been clearly seen, being under
-stood thru what has been made.
Thank You for taking up residence
in me & making my spirit Your house.
My body is the temple of the living God & my life is bethel where U live.
May my life bring glory to You. Amen

El Bethel, I don’t always see You
when You reveal Yourself to me.
And I confess that I fail to marvel
at the depth of Your wisdom.
Forgive me when U have revealed
Yourself to me and yet I chose
to view You with earthly eyes
rather than spiritual discernment.
Let my love abound more & more in
knowledge and depth of insight so
that I may discern what’s best. Amen

El Bethel, abide in me; and set up
Your home in the depths of my soul.
Let Your words dwell in me that
I may know and live by them for You.
Show me how to honour You through
this temple U have set up within me.
Guide me in my eating habits and
my entertainment choices so that
as Your house (bethel) I may glorify
You in all I do. And grant me the
discernment to reflect U well. Amen

Lord Will Provide Jehovah Jireh

The climax of more than 20 faith-
stretching years for Abraham and
Sarah comes in the birth of Isaac,
their miracle son and heir. But soon
Abraham’s faith is tested again
as God calls upon him to sacrifice
that treasured son upon an altar.
Abraham obeys, showing that
the experiences of the past two
decades have not been in vain.
For his faithfulness to the point
of death, God rewards Abraham
with further assurance of blessing.
In the closing years of Abraham’s
life, a time saddened by Sarah’s
death, there remains one important
detail:finding suitable bride for Isaac.

All Praise be to Jehovah Jireh:
Abraham took the knife to slay
his son. But the Angel of the Lord
called: Do not lay your hand on
the lad for now I know that you
fear God since you have not
withhold your son, your only son
from Me. Then Abraham lifted his
eyes and there was a ram caught
in a thicket by its horns. So,
Abraham took the ram & offered
it up for a burnt offering instead
of his son. And Abraham called
the name of the place: The Lord
Will Provide (Gen 22:10-14).

Jehovah Jireh, my provider, thank
You for health, finances, shelter,
food, love… for all ultimately come
from You. Even at times when I’ve
experienced lack, You have come
through to meet my needs and
bless me to let me know You care.
And even for difficult trials, they
strengthen my spiritual muscles
and draw me closer to You. Amen

Jehovah Jireh, forgive me for
many times I have looked to
something else as my source
when You alone are my provider.
Everyone and everything else is
merely a resource, yet I still go
elsewhere for what only You can
provide. You indeed are my source.
You are my Jehovah Jireh,
my provider and my Lord! Amen.

Jehovah Jireh, my provider,
I appeal to this name more than
any other. Let me know You in
the truest form of this name.
Let me see You on the mountain-
top of my own struggles. Come
through for me as You Lord did
in providing Abraham’s sacrifice.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Eternal God El Olam (Jan 12)

Even a man of faith like Abraham
can stumble when he takes his eyes
off God. On a trip to Gerar, Abraham
lies about his beautiful wife Sarah
calling her his sister in order to
save his skin from King Abimelech.
The climax of more than 20 faith-
stretching years for Abraham and
Sarah comes in the birth of Isaac,
their miracle son and heir. But soon
Abraham’s faith is tested again as
God calls upon him to sacrifice
that treasured son upon an altar.
Abraham obeys, showing that
the experiences of the past two
decades have not been in vain.

All Praise be to El Olam Eternal God:
And it came to pass…Abimelech
and Phichol commander of his army
spoke to Abraham saying: God is
with you in all that you do. Now
therefore, swear to me by God that
you will not deal falsely with me…
Therefore he called that place
Beersheba because the two of them
swore an oath there… Then Abraham
planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba
and there called on the name
of the Lord, the Everlasting God
(El Olam) (Gen 21:22-23, 31-33).

Lord El Olam, we note the treaty
with Abimelech, the sacrifices and
gifts at the Well are all signs of God’s
continuing presence and blessing.
And the eternal nature of His
covenant with Abraham can be seen
by the willing of the land of Canaan,
for an everlasting possession. And
we can trust in God’s everlasting
covenant of salvation with us for
He is the Eternal God, El Olam. Amen

Father God, what a privilege to
be a child of Yours. And when
facing challenge, we can always call upon the name of the Lord. For You are Elohim Strong Creator God;
Jehovah The Relational God and
El Roi God Who Sees Me (and
knows my needs). And You’re also
El Elyon Lord God Most High;
El Shaddai Almighty God and
El Olam Everlasting God who
is surely on our side. Amen.

Strength will rise as we wait upon
the Lord; we will wait upon the Lord…
Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our strong Deliverer…
You are the Everlasting God,
the Everlasting God
You do not faint,
You won’t grow weary.
You’re the defender of the weak,
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles…

Almighty God El Shaddai (Jan 11)

Genesis 15-17 describes the
Abrahamic covenant as it was
given, confirmed and symbolized.
God’s promises to Abraham are
given in great detail, confirmed
with a unilateral treaty, repeated
and established by the sign of
circumcision. But as the years pass
with no evidence of fulfilment,
Abraham acts in foolish impatience.
The result is a son, Ishmael, who
will forever cause the heartbreak
of his father, constantly reminding
Abraham of the price of his unbelief.

All Praise be to El Shaddai:
When Abram was 99 years old,
the LORD appeared to him & said
I am God Almighty (El Shaddai);
walk before me faithfully and
be blameless. Then I will make
my covenant between me and
you and will greatly increase
your numbers. Abram fell facedown
and God said… this is my covenant
with you. You will be the father
of many nations (Gen 17:1-4).

Lord El Shaddai, You are great
and You are mighty in power.
Your wisdom knows no limits;
and Your might knows no bounds.
As the heavens are higher than the
earth,so Your ways higher than mine.
Surround me with grace & blessings
even as who sit enthroned in might.
And Thank You for establishing the
Abrahamic covenant, thru which You
have truly blessed all nations. Amen

El Shaddai, look upon me with
a caring heart and witness the
struggles I face. Have compassion
for You see me seeking to follow You
and yet often failing to do it well.
Forgive me when I am unfaithful
for You Lord have asked me to
walk faithfully and be blameless.
Let Christ’s blood cover me even
as I seek Your blessing. Amen.

Lord El Shaddai, show us how to
honour You with our faith, just as
Abraham did throughout his life.
Help us to not cause delays in
our destiny but rather to walk
upright in faith. Help us to stay
committed to You, our King and
to Your kingdom agenda. And
we look forward to Your blessing.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Jehovah Relational God

Overview: The first two chapters
of the Bible begin at “the beginning”.
Chapter I gives a concise overview
of the progress of creation event,
climaxing in the creation of man.
Chapter 2 takes a zoom-lens look
at day six. There the details emerge
of how God’s image-bearers were
created – man from the dust of
the ground and woman from his rib.
The stage is set, the characters
are in place, the drama can begin.

All Praise be to Jehovah:
This is the account of the
heavens and the earth when
they were created, in the day
that the LORD (Jehovah) God
made earth and heaven…
And the Lord God formed man
of the dust of the ground, and
breathed into his nostrils the
breath of life; and man became
a living being (Genesis 2:4-7).

Lord Jehovah, You are worthy
of all praise and adoration.
You are the God who made
the heavens and the earth.
You rule over all, and yet You also
seek relationship with Your creation.
Thank You for sustaining our
lives and delighting in our souls.
Thank You for not only being high
and lifted up but also dwelling
among the lowly. Thank You for
desiring to Be Close to us. Amen.

Jehovah, I come before You with
a heart of contrition, knowing that
I often have not honoured You
enough as Lord & master of my life.
You’re a Relational God who desires
to walk with me just as You walked
with Adam & Eve in the early days.
You wait for me to talk to You; and
yet I’ve wasted on futile distractions.
Forgive me for often seeking to
walk alone & ignoring the joy and
blessing of Your presence. Amen.

Lord Jehovah, to know You more
deeply and experience the depth
of this intimacy is my heart’s desire.
Give me Lord the capacity to Love
You more deeply as I receive Yr love.
Delight my soul with Your word and
with fresh insight of the Holy Spirit.
Slow my steps so that abiding
with You will become a way of life.
Help me to Honour You as King
and to advance Your kingdom.
And dear Jehovah Relational God
please Draw Me Close to You. Amen

Holy Focus Leads to Revival (Jan10)

The first half of Nehemiah teaches
lessons about working for God; the
second emphasises worshipping Him.
Beginning with chapter 8 the account
centers on the spiritual rather than
physical well-being of the people.
The public reading and explanation
of God’s Word bring a sweeping
revival to the city. Rejoicing at the
sound of God’s precious laws as
preached by Ezra the priest, the
people respond with prayers of
confession, worship to God and
a fresh resolve to live godly lives
in keeping with their commitment.

Although God had enabled them
to build the wall, the work wasn’t
complete until the people rebuilt
their lives spiritually. Ezra instructed
the people in God’s Word. As they
listened, they recognised the sin
in their lives, admitted it and took
steps to remove it. Recognising
and admitting sin is not enough;
for revival must result in reform;
for God does not want halfhearted
measures. We must not only remove
sin from our lives but also ask God
to move into the center of our lives.
Lord, we Seek Your Strength;
Lord, we Seek Your Grace; and
Lord, we Seek to Follow You. Amen.

Lord, we Seek Your Strength:
Nehemiah who was the governor,
said: Do not mourn nor weep.
For all the people wept when
they heard the words of the Law.
Don’t be dejected and sad, for
the Joy of the Lord is yr Strength.
And the Levites too quieted the
people, telling them: Hush! Don’t
weep! For this is a sacred day. So
the pple went away to eat & drink &
to celebrate with great joy because
they had heard God’s words and
understood them (Neh 8:9-12).
Lord, we rejoice in the grace that
You have poured out in our lives.
Thank You that it is never too late
to come back to You in repentance.
The past can be difficult to let go
of, but with Your Joy helping me,
I can move forward into what
You have prepared for me. Amen.

Lord, we Seek Your Grace:
Yet for many years U had patience
with them, & testified against them
by Your Spirit in Your prophets.
Yet they would not listen. Therefore
You gave them into the hand
of the peoples of the lands. But
in Your great mercy, You did not…
abandon them, for U are a Gracious
and merciful God (Neh 9:30-31).
Lord, thank U for Your great mercy
that You have never judged me
according to what I have deserved.
Thank You that Your grace toward
me that is beyond comprehension.
Thank You that You will never
forsake me; and Help me to never
forsake You in any way either.
Pray that my attitude will be right
before You, and that I will not take
Yr grace & mercy for granted. Amen

Lord, we Seek Your Presence
and we seek to Follow You:
The rest of the people – the priests,
Levites, gatekeepers, singers,
Temple servants and all who had
separated themselves from the
pagan people of the land in order
to serve God… now all heartily
bound themselves with an oath.
They vowed to accept the curse
of God if they failed to obey the law
of God… They solemnly promised
to carefully follow all the commands,
laws and regulations of the Lord
their God (Nehemiah 10:28-29).
Lord, from the covenant led by
Nehemiah,we realise our relationship
with You go beyond regular devotion
and church attendance. For it will
affect our relationships, time and
resources. For when we chose
to follow God, we also in a way
promise to serve Him in such a way.
Grant us the grace for apart from
You, we can do nothing. Amen.

Complete the Assignment (Jan 9)

With progress continuing on the
rebuilding of the walls, Nehemiah’s
opponents shift their attacks from
direct confrontation to conspiracy.
Sanballat and Geshem repeatedly
try to sidetrack Nehemiah from his
God-given assignment. Even a false
prophet arises to lead Nehemiah
into a potentially fatal trap – only
to have his plan foiled by Nehemiah’s
keen discernment. In spite of deceit,
espionage & attempted assassinatn
Nehemiah and his dedicated band
of bricklayers complete the city
walls in less than two months –
a feat even Israel’s enemies perceive
is “wrought of God. And now come
new responsibilities for Nehemiah.
As governor, he appoints delegates,
organises and utilises the new
leadership in the newly built city.

Nehemiah demonstrated excellent
leadership. He was spiritually ready
to heed God’s call. He also used
careful planning, courage and
perseverance to get the work done.
For positive expectations are never
a substitute for doing difficult work.
Lord, grant us grace to listen to Your
instructions and to carry them out.
Lord, we will Help Those In Need.
Lord, we will Stand Firm to Do Right.
Lord, we will Fulfil Your Assignment.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, we will Help Those In Need:
About this time some of the men and
their wives raised a cry of protest
against their fellow Jews. They were
saying: We have such large families.
We need more food to survive.
Others said: We have mortgaged
our fields, vineyards and homes
to get food during the famine…
When I heard their complaints,
I was Very Angry (Neh 5:1-3, 6).
Lord, confess that it would be hard
to call much of my anger righteous.
I really do want to see righteous
anger being modelled in our home.
So help me to be angry over what
makes You Lord angry so that You
might have Your way in the world.
And help me to let go of the anger
that is selfish and all about getting
my own way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lord, we will Stand Firm to Do Right:
Then the fifth time, Sanballat sent
his assistant… (with) unsealed letter:
It is reported… that you & the Jews
are plotting to revolt, and therefore
you are building the wall. Moreover,
according to these reports you
are about to become their king…
I sent him this reply: Nothing like
what you are saying is happening;
you are just making it up out of
your head… They are all trying to
frighten us, thinking: Their hands
will get too weak for the work, and
it will not be completed (Neh 6:5-9)
Lord, we pray that our church
leaders will be equally committed
to doing what is right in God’s eyes.
Pray that whatever intimidation and
distractions may come, they will
concentrate on the work God has
called them to do. And strengthen
their hearts and hands. Amen.

Lord, we will Fulfil Your Assignment:
After the wall had been rebuilt
and I had set the doors in place,
the gatekeepers and the singers
and the Levites were appointed.
I put in charge of Jerusalem my
brother Hanani along with Hananiah
the commander of the citadel
because he was a man of integrity
and feared God more than most
men do… Also appoint residents
of Jerusalem as guards, some
at their posts, some near their
own houses (Nehemiah 7:1-3).
Lord, we recognise that correctly
assessing people’s gifts, reliability
& character is essential of leadership.
And that integrity and fear of
God are the key character traits.
For people of integrity can be trusted
to carry out their work; and God-
fearing people can be expected to
do so in line with God’s priorities.
Grant us Lord the passion to serve
and to take care of all that God has
entrusted to us. In Jesus’ name.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3tSZmocnNR0