Zechariah 10:1-12 – Restored

Read Zechariah 10:1-12

Our focus shifts a bit in this new section of Zechariah. No more glimpses into the kingdom. They are oracles from God alright, but they speak to all that is wrong with the world. Such a contrast to the messianic rule of peace. Yet, there are promises woven in.

The first problem to fix or restore is finding a shepherd for those who don’t have one. In Zechariah’s context, the whole concept of shepherd would have been a lot different than ours today. My mind went to the perfect solution – Jesus. Jesus is our Good Shepherd. “For the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has arrived to look after Judah, his flock.”

Zechariah 1:7-17 – World Peace, Really?

Read Zechariah 1:7-17

We’re told Zechariah waited three months for this new vision. Do you think he wondered if he was going to hear from God again? Now comes a vision that seems a bit complex. It doesn’t appear that the color of the horses has any significance nor does the location among the hedgerow of the evergreen shrub, myrtle, indigenous to the region.

The message would be timely for the people were floundering after returning to their homeland. You know, there is always that awkward period of adjustment and transition. My husband and I are heading into a new season, which includes moving our residence across town. There will always be upheaval amid change.

Jeremiah 52:1-11 – A New Season

Read Jeremiah 52:1-11

What’s going through my head right now is “déjà vu!” I feel like I have already lived through this text recently. (See Chapter 39 and also 2 Kings 25.) In effect, Chapter 52 serves as a conclusion or historical appendix of all the things God said would happen through Jeremiah. We’ll reflect on the fall of Jerusalem in a couple chunks.

Today we look at what happened to the kingly leadership. From what we read in Scripture, kingship doesn’t necessarily mean devotion to God. While Zedekiah’s future sounds painful, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise if he had been listening to Jeremiah. Zedekiah had plenty of opportunity to re-evaluate his life and turn toward God. It’s hard to imagine enduring such torture when it could have been avoided. This was certainly not a good “season” for Zedekiah.

1 Kings 15:1-32 – Moving On

Read 1 Kings 15:1-32

lighthouse overlooking a bay, with a sunset in the background

This passage will take us onward from Rehoboam and Jeroboam. Starting with the new king in Judah, the southern kingdom, we have Rehoboam’s son, Abijam. We know Jeroboam’s reign was 22 years from a previous reading, so Abijam steps up when Jeroboam still has four years left in the northern kingdom.

If you’re a visual person like me, you might want to find a chart or something that gives the timelines of these kings and how they overlap. Interesting fact here–Abijam is related to two sons of King David – his mother’s relative was Absalom and his father’s relative was Solomon.

1 Kings 1:28-48 – True Succession

Read 1 Kings 1:28-48

benches surrounded by orange and yellow leaves of fall season

Realizing his own avoidance or possibly forgetfulness, David rises to the occasion here and finally proclaims the new king. We see a climax in this reading as the “true” succession will now take place. David’s other son, Adonijah, will soon learn he jumped the gun and is not the rightful heir to the throne. After all, it is God who gifted the people with a king. It was up to God who was “up next.” David obediently sets up Solomon to be the next king.

David said to his wife, Bathsheba, “As surely as the Lord lives, who has rescued me from every danger, your son Solomon will be the next king and will sit on my throne this very day, just as I vowed to you before the Lord, the God of Israel.” David doesn’t waste any time. He knows he needs to take fast action before the people desert him again and follow Adonijah. It is Solomon’s time to shine.