Here’s how the study works: Read the chapters mentioned in the heading during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for several chapters creates the opportunity to revisit them and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
6:11 “Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jozadak.”
Crowning a high priest combines the role of priest and king – a foretaste of Jesus' ministry. God sets a precedence a long way in advance. God always prepares us for our roles, tasks, ministries a long way in advance.
6:11 “Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jozadak.”
Crowning a high priest combines the role of priest and king – a foretaste of Jesus' ministry. God sets a precedence a long way in advance. God always prepares us for our roles, tasks, ministries a long way in advance.
7:5 “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? ’”
We can look spiritual but what is our heart attitude? We can engage in all the right outward signs of being spiritual but looks can be deceiving.
7:5 “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? ’”
We can look spiritual but what is our heart attitude? We can engage in all the right outward signs of being spiritual but looks can be deceiving.
8:8 “I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.”
“They will be my people, and I will be…their God.” God's unfolding purpose throughout Scripture is to have a people for himself, who will trust him and live in a way that pleases him.
8:8 “I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.”
“They will be my people, and I will be…their God.” God's unfolding purpose throughout Scripture is to have a people for himself, who will trust him and live in a way that pleases him.
9:12 “Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.”
God likes to restore double.
“Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours” (Isaiah 61:7). See also Job 42:12-13.
9:12 “Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.”
God likes to restore double.
“Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours” (Isaiah 61:7). See also Job 42:12-13.
10:6 “I will strengthen Judah and save the tribes of Joseph. I will restore them because I have compassion on them. They will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the Lord their God and I will answer them.”
So often God works through strengthening his people. God does not remove his people from battle but strengthens them in it.
“Together they will be like warriors in battle” (v.5). “They will fight because the Lord is with them” (v.5). “The Ephraimites will become like warriors” (v.7).
10:6 “I will strengthen Judah and save the tribes of Joseph. I will restore them because I have compassion on them. They will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the Lord their God and I will answer them.”
So often God works through strengthening his people. God does not remove his people from battle but strengthens them in it.
“Together they will be like warriors in battle” (v.5). “They will fight because the Lord is with them” (v.5). “The Ephraimites will become like warriors” (v.7).