Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 271: Washed Clean

Good evening, everyone!

Today I read Zechariah 1-7.

In today's reading, God spoke to Zechariah and told him what to tell the people.

The people were instructed to repent and turn back to God. They did not.

Then, Zechariah was shown visions. I'll be honest, I didn't understand all of them again. But these at least have less confusing imagery than the ones from the other books of the prophets.

In the visions, angels were patrolling the earth, riding horses. They stated that the earth was peaceful. Quiet.

Another angel, the one showing Zechariah the visions, cried out to God asking for compassion for His people - Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem. God answered the angel, comforting him, reminding him that He is a jealous God, and that He will not allow His people to be trampled forever.

Then there are visions about horns and a measuring rod, which I did not understand.

And that's only in chapter one.

Basically, God acknowledges that He sees the plight of His people, and that even though they have refused to repent for now, He will not allow them to suffer forever. They will eventually return to Him, and He will save them.

I thought this was the most fascinating because of the angel crying out to God on behalf of His people.

Angels sent to patrol the earth. Angels interceding for us.

Well, now Jesus intercedes for us at the right hand of God, the Father.

I'm not sure if angels intercede in exactly the same way, but I found this very interesting. Even they can cry out for mercy for us.

Another interesting thing happens in chapter 2.

Satan comes before God, bringing with him Joshua the priest. Joshua is clothed in dirty clothes. God rebukes Satan, and then demands that Joshua's dirty clothes be removed, and clean garments be put on him.

And then God declares that He has taken away the iniquity, and washed him clean.

The filth that Satan wants to put on us cannot stay when God declares it must go. When we declare it must go. When we come before God and repent, we are washed clean.

And that's the image I want to leave you with today. I encourage you to read this book for yourself. I will definitely be reading it again.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Zechariah 8-14.