Weekly Guide：Week 94
November 10, 2019
Foreword
We continue to read the books of the minor prophets. The important message in these books reveals the truth about God. God is slow to anger, yet He does not leave he guilty unpunished. This is both righteousness and grace of His glory that cannot be understood by the sinners. Great artworks can only be appreciated by the seeing eyes. Those who are mindful only of themselves can never appreciate the greatness of God and their clogged-up ears can never be penetrated by His glory. The self-centered cannot see beyond their own boundaries.
The sinfulness of human causes us to misinterpret God and thus the inability to appreciate the interweaving righteousness and grace. Christ’s gentleness is displayed through His strength as His mercy incorporates judgment on sin. God never leave us alone too far. He is always waiting mercifully for us to turn away from sin. We can see His glory fully, but only when our eyes are opened by the Holy Spirit.
May you all be renewed each day in His word!
Question
What happens to God’s people after His judgment on them?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Advised those who are humble of the land, who do what He commands, see righteousness, seek humility; perhaps they will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger.
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Canaan, land of the Philistines, I will destroy you, and none will be left.
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Moab will become like Sodom, the Ammonites like Gomorrah-a place of weeds and salt pits, a wasteland forever.
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You Cushites, too, will be slain by my sword. I will stretch out my hand against the north and destroy Assyria, leaving Nineveh utterly desolate and dry as the desert.
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Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled!
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Israel, wait for me, declares the Lord, for the day I will stand up to testify.
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The Lord will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.
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Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - The Lord points out the four sins of Jerusalem: obeys no one, accepts no correction, does not trust in the Lord, does not draw near to God. Reflect on myself, do I listen to God or myself? Do I accept correction when straying away? Do I lean on Him or on my own ability? Am I close to God and looking up to His glory?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What were the reasons people did not want to build the temple?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The prophet Haggai dispute the people for delaying the construction of the temple. Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?
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Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored.
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The Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, the spirit of Joshua, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God.
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The Lord says: In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house, and in this place I will grant peace.
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The Lord rebukes the unclean offering which has caused failures prior to temple construction.
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The Lord has chosen Zerubbabel and made him His signet ring.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - Before construction of the temple, the people have planted much, but harvested little. They ate, but never have enough. They drank, but never have their fill. They put on clothes but were not warm. They earned wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it. When God is not the center of our lives, this is our Spiritual life, never fulfilled. Where does my fulfillment come from? How is God the center of my life?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What was Zechariah’s mission?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The Lord told Israel to turn to Him through the prophet Zechariah.
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Zechariah has a vision of a man mounted on a red horse who has gone throughout the earth.
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The angel asked the Lord, how long will you withhold mercy? The Lord spoke kind and comforting words to the angel.
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Zechariah saw four horns that scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.
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Zechariah saw a man with a measuring line in his hand to measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is.
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Flee from the land of the north, for I have scattered you to the four winds of heaven, declares the Lord.
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Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - The Lord told Israel to not be like their ancestors, but to turn from their evil ways and evil practices. Am I hearing God’s voice in Bible? Am I willing to turn from my evil ways and evil practices?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What was Zechariah’s vision of the golden lampstand?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.
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The Lord says, I am going to bring my servant, the Branch.
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Zechariah saw a solid gold lampstand and two olive trees by it.
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The lampstand is the Spirit of the Lord, the two olive trees are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.
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The flying scroll, twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide, is the curse that is going out over the whole land.
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The cover of lead was raised, and there in the basket sat a woman. This is wickedness.
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Four chariots coming out from between two mountains-mountains of bronze.
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The Lord ordered a crown made of silver and gold to be set on the head of Joshua, to indicate the temple will be built.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - The Lord almighty says, not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit. Am I still leaning on my own might and power or the Spirit of the Lord Almighty?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
Why was the Lord determined to do good to Israel?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The people of Bethel entreat the Lord and ask Him if they should mourn and fast in the fifth month, as they have done for so many years.
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The Lord was not pleased when they fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months because it was not for Him.
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The Lord called but they did not listen. He scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations, where they were strangers.
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The Lord will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem.
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The Lord has determined to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah. Do not be afraid.
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The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.
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Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat Him.
Meditation: My Story
- Community - The Lord wants Israel to administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other. Am I obeying His will?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How do the Lord’s righteousness and victory come to Jerusalem?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The Lord’s judgment will come to the land of Hadrak and Damascus.
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Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious.
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Because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.
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Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone.
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I will strengthen Judah and save the tribes of Joseph. I will restore them.
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Listen to the wail of the shepherds; their rich pastures are destroyed! Zechariah shepherded the flock marked for slaughter. He took two staff and called one Favor and the other Union.
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He broke the staff called Favor, revoking the covenant he had made with all the nations. Then he broke the second staff called Union, breaking the family bond between Judah and Israel.
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The Lord commanded Zechariah to take again the equipment of a foolish shepherd. For He was going to raise up a shepherd over the land who will not care for the lost but will eat the meat of the choice sheep.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - The Lord will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. How does this promise influence my life?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Scripture Reading
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
When will Daniel's prophecy be realized?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The words of prophecy are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end.
+ Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked.
+ None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Daniel's prophecy will not be realized in his time but rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. Where's my hope? Do I have faith in future, that I will rise to receive my allotted inheritance?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did God fulfill the promise to return the Israelites to Jerusalem from exile the first time?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ To fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia. He made a proclamation to let the Israelites to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.
+ God moved the heart of fifty thousand Israelites to return to Jerusalem in company with Zerubbabel. They prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings.
+ King Cyrus brought out the articles belonging to the temple of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem. Sheshbazzar brought all these along with the exiles when they came up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Nearly fifty thousand Israelites (most of them likely were the next generation born in Babylon) were moved and obeyed God, to leave the familiar land, to leave their livelihood, to accompany Zerubbabel, trekking a long way, through all difficulties, to go back to the unfamiliar homeland to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Do I know that I am of the people of God, even though the journey of life is filled with struggles and the world is full of temptations, I still am aiming wholeheartedly to go through the narrow door which leads to the promises of God?
+ **Integrity** - God accomplished His plan according to His timetable. Seventy years after the Israelites' exile, God fulfilled His word spoken through Jeremiah, to move the heart of Cyrus king of Persia, and by his hands contributed to the return. Do I believe God has a great plan for me and would accomplish it according to His time table? Pray to God to give me faith in Him and wait for His timing.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ After returning to Jerusalem, the Israelites came together to rebuild the altar, sacrificed offerings each day, and celebrate the sacred festivals of the Lord.
+ In the second year, Zerubbabel led the people to begin the work on the temple. When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord. No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, and the sound was heard far away.
+ They refused to let their enemies to join in the temple rebuilding. So their enemies set out to work against them and to frustrate their plans
+ The rebuilding effort was stopped until the reign of Darius. The opposition continued until the reign of Xerxes and the reign of Artaxerxes.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Community** - When laying the foundation, the people shouted to the Lord. Some with shouts of joy and some wept. We react differently to the same thing because we have different experiences. How may I accept other's view points and try to understand them?
+ **Integrity** - Israelites refused their enemies' request to rebuild the temple and brought opposition to their rebuilding effort and caused it to stop. In real life, have I experienced unreasonable attack because of my refusal to offend God? How did God strengthen my faith?
+ **Fidelity** - The Israelites rebuilt the altar together and renewed their offering before the temple reconstruction began. How am I building my relationship with God and make it the foundation of my life and serving the Lord?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did God fulfill the Israelite's effort in rebuilding the temple?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ In the second year of Darius's reign, the Lord raised up the prophets to prophesize to the Jews to restart the temple rebuilding.
+ Zerubbabel and Joshua set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.
+ Dedication of the Temple
+ Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, sent to King Darius the news of temple's rebuilding. By God's protection and the rebuilding continued without pause.
+ King Darius issued an order to prevent any disturbance to the temple's rebuilding and to provide all necessary funding and all that is needed for burnt offerings.
+ The temple was completed in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. The Israelites returned from exile celebrated the Passover.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - The rebuilding of the temple was paused for fourteen years because of the oppositions. Many of those who returned from exile might have lost their hope and enthusiasm. But, by God's own timetable, He re-energized His servant, turned around the situation, and completed the rebuilding in four years. Am I waiting for God? Do I feel the waiting has no end in sight? Seeing what God had done in the temple's rebuilding can I patiently and faithfully wait for His timing?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What was the purpose Ezra taking the second wave of Israelites back to Jerusalem?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ During the seventh year of king Artaxerxes' reign, Ezra brought the second wave of Israelites return to Jerusalem.
+ God was with Ezra, caused Artaxerxes to provide Ezra everything he asked for and the gold and silver articles for worship in the temple, as well as the tax burdens of the Levites and priests.
+ Ezra called on the Levites to return to Jerusalem to serve in the temple.
+ Ezra refused the protection from Artaxerxes' soldiers but fasted and petitioned to God for protection.
+ The hand of God protected them from enemies and bandits along the way.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - Ezra fasted to petition to God for protection and refused Artaxerxes' protection. He believed God is His only protector and provider. When I face challenges, do I first go to God? What did Ezra's faith remind me?
+ **Fidelity** - Ezra called on and prepared the right people to help him to serve God. Am I co-working with others in concert to serve God?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did Ezra lead all Israel to repent for their sins?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The Israelites in Jerusalem, including Levites and priests, married gentiles and strayed away from God.
+ When Ezra heard this, he tore his tunic and cloak, pulled his hair from head and beard, and sat appalled. Everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around Ezra fell on their knees with hands spread out to the Lord their God and prayed to repent their sins and guilt.
+ They encouraged Ezra to make a covenant with God to send away the foreign women whom they have married and their children. Ezra and all Israel took oath.
+ All Israel gathered in Jerusalem within three days. Ezra proclaimed the sins they have committed and led the way to repent to God. All people, greatly distressed, send their officials to act for the assembly, until the fierce anger of God in this matter had turned away.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Seventy years had span from the rebuilding of the temple to the second returning. Those in Jerusalem likely were the second generation of those who were in the first returning. They have forgotten their identity as God's chosen people, married foreign women and strayed away from God. Perhaps it was caused by the circumstances, or perhaps their parents did not teach them God's word. Am I committing the same mistake and compromising with the circumstances? Am I ignoring my responsibility to lead the next generation?
+ **Integrity** - After Ezra led the assembly in prayer and repentance, they spent several months and series of actions to deal with their sins. How is this reminding me of my sins? After praying in repentance, what actions do I take to deal with my sins?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What is a life pleasing to God like?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Paul encouraged the Thessalonian believers to continue to do what they were doing, with faith, love, and hope, to strive and endeavor to do even more.
+ Paul with Jesus' command asked the Thessalonian believers not to live in sin but holy lives.
+ Paul encouraged the believers to love each other, to live quietly, and to testify.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - The Thessalonian believers were quite mature in their lives of faith, love, and hope but Paul encouraged them to do even more. It is never enough practicing life's integrity as we strive to do more. Think, without reservation, about the areas have I grown and be grateful for it! At the same time, don't be complacent in believing that I have it all. How shall I continue to do more?
+ **Integrity** - Live a holy life, stay away from sexual immorality. A command from Jesus. Not obeying this command will both pollute our body which is God's temple and offend others around us. The morality of the time in Roman Empire was corrupted as in today. We face the same challenges and temptations as the Thessalonians faced. Whether married or not, man or woman, what temptations do I face? How do I use my body in the right way by keeping it holy and by respecting it? How do I teach my children to keep their bodies holy and not to follow the world?
Prayer
Notes and Responses