Habakkuk 1:1 - Zechariah 10:12
As we get toward the end of the Old Testament. Can you feel the desperation? A nation so full of promise. A people that had the hand of God providing and protecting them, yet turned their back on the deliverer. And because of His holiness and love, the Lord chastened His people. O, how the mighty have fallen! Israel taken into captivity by Assyria. Judah taken by Babylon. A small remnant remains, and a smaller remnant will return from Persia.
"How long, O Lord must I call for help, but you do not listen?" (Hab 1:2)
The types and shadows are slowly coming to an end. There will be a time of silence from God when His people will call out for help, but there will be no answer. It is the quiet before the storm. But there is a ray of hope for the line of David and for the descendants of Abraham by faith.
"Look at the nations and watch - and be utterly amazed. for I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told" (Hab 1:5)
Something special is coming; rather someone that you would not believe. Even though you have been told for generatons, you will be amazed at the revelation of God's plan. The former temple will pass away and a living tabernacle will be among them. And in that new house, will be the true Sabbath rest.
"The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house, says the Lord Almighty. And in this place, I will grant peace." (Hag 2:9)
"See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey. (Zech 9:9)
"They will look on me, the one they pierced, and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child" (Zech 12:10b)
And a small seed will be planted. It is the seed of faith. That seed will be a conviction in God's love and power to save. And there will be a return to faith in the Lord God to fulfill all He has promised.
"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." (Hab 2:14)
"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." (Zeph 3:17)
That seed will grow into a vine because of their trust in God's revelation. That vine will produce fruit because they will humbly give their lives to their God. They will know that God is their refuge and shelter.
"But I will leave within you, the meek and humble, who trust in the name of the Lord." (Zeph 3:12)
"Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what He commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord's anger" (Zeph 2:3)
And something that we would never believe, happens. The promised King is not one for political power or national gain; but one of humility of spirit. The righteousness God seeks is not external, but internal. The sacrifices that the Lord wants are not animals, but a life lived by faith.
"But the righteous will live by his faith" (Hab 4:4)
"Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty." (Zech 4:6b)
And tomorrow, something you would not believe will happen.
In our reading, a new life will be born.
In our own lives, faith will be strengthened.
In the world around us, someone will be asking "How long must I call for help, before someone answers?"
And you can say. "Look here and be amazed, God is mighty to save and has done something you won't believe."
