3/20/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
I saw a billboard not too many months ago. On a black background were big white letters saying, “Don’t make me come down there.” It was signed, “God.” I had noticed the organization putting up billboards expressing other views that can’t be supported by a biblical understanding of God’s nature. I shook my head, shrugged, and prayed for the countless people who would see that message and misunderstand the nature of God as revealed in the Bible.
Is God the eternal judge? He certainly is. When he comes in judgment nobody will be able to stand before God in his own righteousness. God will show himself as a consuming fire. There’s no biblical way around that.
But the message of this billboard suggested that God is a grumpy old dude, rather like I am. Are you going to make me get up out of my recliner? Are you about to inconvenience me? Shouldn’t you rethink that plan? Really? Are you actually going to annoy me so much that I have to go over there and get you to quiet down?
This isn’t the way God comes to his people in Zechariah 9:9-12. How does he come? He comes in peace. He’s the gentle and humble king. A king, no doubt, but he is riding on a donkey, and it isn’t even an old donkey. This is a pack animal, not a war horse. The symbolism of the entire passage is that of peace and reconciliation. There’s no anger there. It’s a proclamation of peace. It’s a message of hope. It’s about restoration.
In Christ, the prisoners of sin have been reconciled to God. They have been returned to their right duty, as caretakers of this world, as righteous and humble servants, as those who follow their King of peace.
May the peace of God guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus the savior.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
I saw a billboard not too many months ago. On a black background were big white letters saying, “Don’t make me come down there.” It was signed, “God.” I had noticed the organization putting up billboards expressing other views that can’t be supported by a biblical understanding of God’s nature. I shook my head, shrugged, and prayed for the countless people who would see that message and misunderstand the nature of God as revealed in the Bible.
Is God the eternal judge? He certainly is. When he comes in judgment nobody will be able to stand before God in his own righteousness. God will show himself as a consuming fire. There’s no biblical way around that.
But the message of this billboard suggested that God is a grumpy old dude, rather like I am. Are you going to make me get up out of my recliner? Are you about to inconvenience me? Shouldn’t you rethink that plan? Really? Are you actually going to annoy me so much that I have to go over there and get you to quiet down?
This isn’t the way God comes to his people in Zechariah 9:9-12. How does he come? He comes in peace. He’s the gentle and humble king. A king, no doubt, but he is riding on a donkey, and it isn’t even an old donkey. This is a pack animal, not a war horse. The symbolism of the entire passage is that of peace and reconciliation. There’s no anger there. It’s a proclamation of peace. It’s a message of hope. It’s about restoration.
In Christ, the prisoners of sin have been reconciled to God. They have been returned to their right duty, as caretakers of this world, as righteous and humble servants, as those who follow their King of peace.
May the peace of God guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus the savior.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
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