S) "5 Then the angel who was speaking with me went out and said to me, 'Lift up now your eyes and see what this is going forth.' 6 I said, 'What is it?'"
Zechariah 5:5-6a (NASB)
O) There are a few things to draw from this short vision (vv.5-11). For one thing, it is fairly esoteric. Zechariah asked for an explanation, and he recorded it for us, but even the definitions he was given seem like they need more definition. Just from that interaction (which is why I highlighted what I did), we see the value in asking God questions. When God gives an answer, we also need to remember that He reveals everything we need to live a righteous life (see 2 Peter 1:3). Now, within the answer, there are those mysteriously defined details. There is a woman cast into an ephah, representing wickedness. The ephah is covered with a lead lid on its top, and two winged women fly away with it to a city called Shinar, where the woman will be on a pedestal. Well, given the nature of such prophetic visions, it's hard to know that Shanir refers to a literal, particular city. What is clear, though, is that wickedness will be idolized (which is reinforced throughout Scripture). It is also clear, that the LORD is not pleased with this particular wickedness (since it was thrown down into this ephah). Perhaps this represents stealing and swearing falsely by the LORD'S name (see vv.1-4).
A) The LORD always hates being misrepresented, and certainly swearing falsely by His name would misrepresent Him. He always hates stealing. There is no form of wickedness which pleases Him. So, that much of this vision should be no surprise, and it's not particularly applicable, or at least, there are a great many other verses which convict me of my sins, convince me of my guilt, and remind me that I am not perfected and I still need sanctification. The real point of action, I think, is in Zechariah's response to seeing things that He did not understand. It is a simple, but powerful position to take, to ask the LORD, "what is it?" I do not ask that of God nearly enough. Most of my prayers tend to be praise, worship, and supplication. As important as it is, to devote time to prayer in order for me to surrender control (that I would humbly ask Him to act, acknowledging my impotence), I also need to make time to ask the LORD for direction and definition. I need to ask God what it is that I'm seeing.
P) Father, You are perfect in Your knowledge, and unfailing in Your faithfulness. All day, everyday, I experience a world of information and I interpret things. I confess that I am relying on my own wisdom, knowledge, and experience far too often. I am not relying on You enough, Lord. Please forgive me for that. Let me depend on You more and more. Holy Spirit, lead me in the way I should go, including in drawing me to pray and ask for more clarity and definition. Your thoughts are not my thoughts, Your ways are not my ways. Your thoughts and ways are as far above mine, as the heavens are above the earth. You are God and I am not. Let me fully depend on You, to define what I see. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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