Eternity Daily Bible Study No. 203 Treasures From The Prophets - 1 To subscribe just send a blank email to: eternity-dbs-subscribe@strategicnetwork.org Zechariah 1:8-11 MKJV I watched by night. And behold! a Man riding on a red horse, and He stood among the myrtle trees in the ravine. And behind Him were red, sorrel and white horses. (9) Then I said, O my lord, what are these? And the angel who talked with me said to me, I will show you what these are. (10) And the Man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are those whom Jehovah has sent to walk to and fro through the earth. (11) And they answered the Angel of Jehovah who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and behold, all the earth sits still and is at peace. Zechariah 6:1-8 MKJV And I turned and lifted up my eyes and looked. And behold! Four chariots were coming from between two mountains. And the mountains were mountains of bronze. (2) Red horses were in the first chariot; and in the second chariot black horses; (3) and in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot horses with dappled, strong colors. (4) And I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, What are these, my lord? (5) And the angel answered and said to me, These are the four spirits of the heavens who go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth. (6) The black horses in it go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the dappled go forth to a south country. (7) And the strong colored ones went forth and sought to go, so to walk to and fro through the earth. And he said, Go! Walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth. (8) And he cried to me and spoke to me, saying, Behold, these who go toward the north country have caused My Spirit to rest in the north country. The Lord observes us and our ways. In this case it is heavenly horsemen riding throughout the earth, in Daniel it is the heavenly watchers, and in Genesis God and two angels come down to check the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah. In Job Satan also roams to and fro throughout the earth to see what is upon it (Job 1:7). God, men and demons observe us. Paul takes this angelic audience quite seriously when he says that he is literally a "spectacle to the world and to angels and to men." Our life is not unobserved, insignificant, a part played by a fool upon an empty stage who frets and struts his hour and then is no more. Rather our life is keenly watched drama. God says of Job with pride "Have you seen my servant Job?" and the angel says to Daniel "O Daniel, O man greatly beloved". (Daniel 10:11). At various points in the life of Moses, Elijah and Jesus there is a seen that the heavenly chorus is watching intently. Hebrews picks this theme of the observed life with two well known passages of Scripture: Hebrews 4:12-13 MKJV For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing apart of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (13) Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight, but all things are naked and opened to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Hebrews 12:1-2 MKJV Therefore since we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (2) looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right of the throne of God. Some see the "cloud of witnesses" as the great crowd of past saints watching us as we run our race in life and this "cloud" includes all the heroes of faith in the previous chapter (Hebrews 11). Just as Moses and Elijah appeared and talked with Jesus at the Transfiguration so they are still conscious and living with God and observing the drama of redemption. How they participate in it is wisely hidden from us - and we are certainly not required to pray to them! But they are watching! It is as if the early finishers of the Marathon now stand and watch as each entrant crosses the line - fervently wishing them to run well. Prophecy is based on the fact that our life is observed by God and can be spoken to in very particular terms by God. When Jezebel got Ahab to murder Naboth over the vineyard God observed it. Naboth's unjust death was noted in heaven and divine retribution was the result: "1 Kings 21:16-19 MKJV And it happened when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth of Jezreel, to take possession of it. (17) And the Word of Jehovah came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, (18) Arise, go down to meet Ahab the king of Israel in Samaria. Behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to possess it." And you shall speak to him, saying, So says Jehovah, Have you killed and also taken possession? And you shall speak to him saying, (19) So says Jehovah, In the place where the dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours." God was watching every move of Ahab and could send Elijah to prophecy at the psychological moment as the king goes in to possess that which he had taken by intrigue and murder. For some reason God is intensely interested in our key moral choices. Judas is forever defined by one terrible moral act - as are Ananias and Sapphira. When we evade taxes, or take a bribe, or indulge in a "short-cut" in quality control or cheat on an exam God knows it and notes it. Not only that but our noble moments, the fleeing of Joseph, the journey to Mt Moriah by Abraham, the sufferings of the apostles are all known to God and cherished as beautiful moments in heaven. Psalms 56:8 MKJV You number my wandering; O put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your Book? This observing and recording of our lives is ceaseless. Heaven is our fan club. Even the hairs on our head are numbered - not just counted but numbered! "Here is hair number 148753 from John Edmiston that was found in his brush on August 2003!" Even the most obsessive fan of a rock star does not do that! Our deeds are written in books, out tears are kept in bottles. Our wanderings that seem aimless and random to us are noted. We are heroes in a saga like Lord of the Rings! Not only does heaven observe, heaven influences the outcome. This brings us to the second lot of horses in Zechariah. These horses seem to have a job to do and an influence to bring to events. Perhaps they break strongholds of the Enemy because they are pulling chariots and going to war. "Behold, these who go toward the north country have caused My Spirit to rest in the north country.". God's Spirit is given rest when people are obedient to God. The north country seems to be place where the Spirit was no longer striving against evil but was at rest and freely exalting Christ. Perhaps the spiritual war was won, the demons were defeated and a revival broke forth! Whatever the reason, God won a victory! Heavenly beings are going ahead of the gospel to prepare the way for the messengers of Christ. This has tremendous implications for our life and ministry! First of all - it is significant to God down to the smallest details. When you feel no-one else cares - God cares. Secondly what counts in our lives is our moral choices and our service to Christ and the gospel. Pragmatism, embellishment, lying, flirting and petty theft are rampant in some quarters. Yet these are key choices, moral choices, destiny making choices. Our little acts of betrayal and dishonesty are not so little. Righteousness is imperative, we are on display! Thirdly there is little indication that Heaven is impressed by our wealth or position. There is the joke about the miser who bargained with God so he could take his gold to Heaven and on his arrival an angel exclaims "You brought pavement!" The true treasure of life is hidden in the heart and the character and in right moral choices under pressure. This is what Heaven notes. Rahab was a prostitute, yet her right moral choice under pressure justified her in Heaven's eyes - far above the king of Jericho who soon perished in the rubble. When this whole world is rubble and ash - will you have a testimony or a tragedy? Blessings, John Edmiston Were you blessed by Eternity Daily Bible Study? To subscribe just send a blank email to: eternity-dbs-subscribe@strategicnetwork.org Read and interesting article on Technology & Spirituality http://www.aibi.ph/missions/sociotech.htm Visit the Eternity Daily Bible Study Archives - http://www.aibi.ph/eternity/ Study at the Asian Internet Bible Institute- Free online non-formal, in-service, bible and ministry training: http://www.aibi.ph