Thoughts

Redemption In the Old Testament?

One of the common ideas of the New Testament is redemption. But in chapter 10, verse 8 we read about redemption, too. Here it is again, starting at verse 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. The Ephraimites will become like warriors, and their hearts will be glad as with wine. Their children will see it and be joyful; their hearts will rejoice in the Lord. I will signal for them and gather them in. Surely I will redeem them…”

Zechariah 10:6-8 NIV

Do you know the meaning of redemption? In Today’s Dictionary of the Bible it says, “Redemption: the purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom.”

The idea is that of payment made for our redemption. The debt against us is not viewed as simply canceled, or written off, but it is fully paid. Christ’s blood…His life…which He surrendered to pay for that redemption, is the “ransom” by which the deliverance of His people from the slavery of sin and from its legal and deadly consequences is secured. 

Yes, even back in the Old Testament God’s plan included redemption. Again we see that the God of the Old Testament is no different than the God of the New Testament.

A Declaration of the One Who Created Everything That Is

I really liked the way chapter 12 began. Verse 1 began with these words, “The word of the Lord concerning Israel. A declaration of the Lord, who stretched out the heavens, laid the foundation of the earth, and formed the spirit of man within him.”

The God who created all that is spoke this message, just in case there was any doubt about its veracity. The Supreme Being of the Universe has a message. All who hear had better listen. 

The bottom line of God’s message in Zechariah chapter 12 is that any nation that comes against Jerusalem will ultimately be soundly defeated. Any nation that comes against Israel is on a fool’s errand. They may triumph for a day, but the final outcome is sure. That message was true then, and it is true today. 

The chapter ends, of course, with a look forward to Jesus Himself, the fact that He would be pierced, and the mourning that would take place upon His death.

The Messiah

Chapter 13 begins with the declaration of what would be the result of the piercing. It says, “On that day a fountain  will be opened for the house of David and for the residents of Jerusalem, to wash away sin and impurity.“ Of course, being on this side of the prophecy and having knowledge of the New Testament and the work of Jesus, we know that this promise applies to all, not just to the house of David and the residents of Jerusalem, it applies to all who believe.

The rest of the chapter speaks more to who this Messiah would be, and it ends with another beautiful promise, “I will refine them as silver is refined and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say: They are My people, and they will say: Yahweh is our God.”

If He Is Your God, You Belong To Him

Imagine. This God who created all that is says, “Steve is mine. Mike is mine. Suzie is mine.” Put your own name in there. You are His, you belong to Him, if He is your God. What a privilege! Are you feeling bad today? Do you think no one loves you? Do you get no respect? YOU ARE HIS! Hallelujah! You. Are. His. That should thrill your heart. I know it thrills mine, especially today.

Yesterday, the Lovely Lady LeeAnn and I were driving along in our car when a young man who was driving under the influence of alcohol and looking at his phone instead of the stopped traffic ahead of him, sideswiped our car. We were traveling at about 30 miles per hour, while I estimate he was doing 50 or 60. He looked up from his phone just in time to avoid the stopped car in front of him, and he swerved into us. Had he been just a foot or more to the right, he would have rear-ended our car with perhaps dire consequences. But God saved us from any injury. Obviously there are many more details, but the bottom line is that we belong to God, and He protected us yesterday. I have been thanking Him ever since, you can be sure. When I recorded yesterday’s episode of this show, it had only been a couple of hours since it happened, so I wasn’t really ready to talk about it to you. I was pretty drained, emotionally, as you might expect. But today I am calmer, and I wanted you to know how we saw God’s hand at work. I guess He must still have work for us to complete here on Earth. 

Lasting Peace

The final chapter of Zechariah shows us a glimpse of one of the final chapters of man’s history on Earth. It talks about a last battle with those who are against God, and the resolution of the aftermath. Peace. 

Why did the Lord leave this message with us? So that, even when we are still in the midst of the turmoil and pain that we all must endure, our heart can have peace in the knowledge that we belong to Him and as such, we will be included in His victory and then have lasting peace. Sure, there are difficulties in life, but we mustn’t lose sight of the fact that they are temporary. Whatever situation we are in, it is only for a season. It is not permanent. God *is* permanent and unchanging. His promises never fail. And His promise is that victory is sure, and peace is secure. Rest in that, Beloved.

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 8-11 NIV, Ch. 12-14 HCSB

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