What God Is Up To...

17 20 The word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, 21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth, 22 and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders. And the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his brother. 23 On that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the Lord, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2)
One of those "prophet kind of things" in the Bible is how God would share a glimpse of the future with his spokesman, in order for him to then relay it to God's people.  Often he would use a short-term event, which when fulfilled, would give credence to a further future prophecy.  But He also often included a personal promise, like that to Zerubbabel here.  God does not just use people like pawns in His "game." Though He is sovereign in all He does, and can do anything He wants (consistent with His character), He chooses to let His people in on the plan, and allows us to play a part. To be sure, it is easier to look back on what God has been up to, but sometimes He gives us a glimpse of what He is up to now, or soon, just to remind us He knows what He is doing. 

Two-Part Joy

14 Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;
    shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
    O daughter of Jerusalem!
15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;
    he has cleared away your enemies.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
    you shall never again fear evil.
16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Fear not, O Zion;
    let not your hands grow weak.
17 The Lord your God is in your midst,
    a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
    he will quiet you by his love;he will exult over you with loud singing.
(Zephaniah 3:14-17)
As the prophet looks forward to what his people can expect in the future, he is filled with hope once again.  He calls on his fellow citizens to rejoice with him. What is their greatest reason to rejoice? The lack of fear.  Why is their no fear. " The One who is there- The Lord God Almighty, Who saves.  What I find really intriguing is that the LORD is also rejoicing over His people. He loves to act on behalf of His people; He can't wait to quiet our fears; He is singing a great song of victory, and we are invited to sing with Him.  It is a two-way, two part joy, sung in harmony. Today, may we get in tune, get on the same page, and sing in harmony with God.  It's the most joyful tune we can ever sing. 

When Things Are Looking Their Worst...

16 I hear, and my body trembles;
    my lips quiver at the sound;
rottenness enters into my bones;
    my legs tremble beneath me.
Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble
    to come upon people who invade us.

17 Though the fig tree should not blossom,
    nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
    and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
    and there be no herd in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
    I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
19 God, the Lord, is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the deer's;
    he makes me tread on my high places.

(Habakkuk 3)

Things are looking bad - very bad. Some of them are because of what we have done; others are because of what others have done. But things are bad, and there's nothing we can do but brace for the storm.  (What a verse for those bracing for the hurricane today!) Yet I will rejoice. Though physically, emotionally and mentally I may be taking a beating; I will stand strong - like a deer with it's little legs; I can be balanced and on solid ground, if I trust in God to save me and see me through.  May we demonstrate such faith today; may the Joy of the LORD be your strength. 

Follow the Leaders... if You Can Find Them

17 Your princes are like grasshoppers,
    your scribes like clouds of locusts
settling on the fences
    in a day of cold—
when the sun rises, they fly away;
    no one knows where they are.

18 Your shepherds are asleep,
    O king of Assyria;
    your nobles slumber.
Your people are scattered on the mountains
    with none to gather them.
19 There is no easing your hurt;
    your wound is grievous.
All who hear the news about you
    clap their hands over you.
For upon whom has not come
    your unceasing evil?

(Nahum 3)

As the prophets pronounce God's judgment on the nations - both on Israel and Gentile Nations, the leaders are always prominent, mentioned first. In fact, the story of the Bible is in a sense "follow the leaders" - Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, the Judges and the Kings.  Sometimes we follow them to victory, sometimes to disaster.  Who cannot identify with these words of Nahum against the great empire of Assyria: their leaders were out to lunch, nowhere to be found, leaving the people scattered and hopeless while their enemies applauded.  What we are being pointed back to is the fact that God is sovereign: He raises up leaders and nations and lets them fall when they fail to recognize His sovereignty.  As we "follow the leaders", may we first be following Him.  

One-of-a-Kind God

18 

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity

    and passing over transgression

    for the remnant of his inheritance?

He does not retain his anger forever,

    because he delights in steadfast love.

19 

He will again have compassion on us;

    he will tread our iniquities underfoot.

You will cast all our sins

    into the depths of the sea.

20 

You will show faithfulness to Jacob

    and steadfast love to Abraham,

as you have sworn to our fathers

    from the days of old.

(Micah 7:18-20)

As the Story of God unfolds from book to book, we have these threads of truth that repeat over and over - sometimes not as obvious, but surfacing to the top as we reflect on the big picture. In his concluding paragraph Micah reminds us of some of the core characteristics of God: forgiving, compassionate,  faithful. loving.  He is the God like no other - as other writers remind us, He is the only true and living God, and He is true to Himself. Though at times He must show His mighty hand of discipline, correction, and even judgment, He is always also this God of Grace, Mercy and Love.  There is none like Him. 

The Dangling Question...

5 Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. 6 Now the Lord God appointed a plantand made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. 7 But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” 9 But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” 10 And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?” (Jonah 4)
Jonah makes for much more than a good kids story.  It intrigues us because it leaves us hanging.  What happens to Jonah? Does he die out there, stubborn and bitter.  Even more so, it leaves us with that question: Do I really understand and appreciate the love and grace of God?  Is it all about me? Or is God allowed to love others and forgive them?  Will I live my life to serve Him and others, no matter how "happy" it makes me?  Can I see the big picture?  Some of the best stories (and true events!) are those that leave us hanging, and asking ourselves the important questions of life.  Start asking. 

Possession and Ownership

19 Those of the Negeb shall possess Mount Esau,
    and those of the Shephelah shall possess the land of the Philistines;
they shall possess the land of Ephraim and the land of Samaria,
    and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.
20 The exiles of this host of the people of Israel
    shall possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath,
and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad
    shall possess the cities of the Negeb.
21 Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion
    to rule Mount Esau,    and the kingdom shall be the Lord's.
(Obadiah 1:19-21)
As the prophets spoke of the just judgment of the Lord - especially when it came to the exile, their eyes were often on restoration of the Promised land to the tribes of Israel.  They were promised that they would regain possession of the Land from those who had come in and taken it away, while they had been taken away from the land.  Section by section, Obadiah shares how God would restore the land as their possession. But the bottom line is always this: ownership belongs to the LORD. He made it all and gives it all, but ultimately owns it all.  Thus it is with all of life. Often we forget that. We struggle through life trying to get possession - not only of land, but stuff, and time, and choices - of life itself.  In the midst of this struggle we often begin to view it all as our own, and get ourselves into trouble.  It is only when we view it all as His, as gifts that He entrusts to us, and as possessions, time and life to use for His glory, that we will understand, appreciate and enjoy what He gives.  May we use all He gives us today - including our time, energy, thinking, and voices - to bring Him Glory.