The Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 7 of 14 (To update)

The Book of the Prophet 

Zechariah

 Chapter

  7

¹ In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month which is Chislev.

(The Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 7 verse 1)

Oh God my Father how nice it is to keep track of the days and times when You have intervened in our lives. It is worth keeping recorded in a diary or journal for us to refer to especially when we are undergoing times of testing and tribulations Amen.

² Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech and their men to entreat the favor of the LORD, ³ and to ask the priests of the house of the LORD of hosts and the prophets, "Should I mourn and practice abstinence in the fifth month, as I have done for so many years?"

(The Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 7 verses 2 to 3)

Oh brothers and sisters many times we may end up doing the same thing, we might ask each other, should I fast this year like I always did? The answer is are you fasting for the glory of God or for yourself simply to behave according to the customs that one has been brought up in? The question is ours both to ask and to answer Amen.

⁴ Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me; ⁵ Say to all the people of the land and the priests: When you fasted and lamented in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted?

(The Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 7 verse 4 to 5)

Oh God my Father this is a question that can also be addressed to us. To whom are we fasting? In order to satisfy our own selves, for self-control, to obey the rules of the Roman Catholic Church or other denomination or is our intention of offering our fasting to God our Father? The question is ours to answer all in one's personal way Amen.

⁶ And when you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink only for yourselves?

(The Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 7 verse 6)

Oh God my Father what I do I do not do for myself, or for the sake of doing it but for You. Amen. Without You in my life nothing is of value not even life itself. Amen.

The Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 6 of 14

 

The Book of the Prophet 

Zechariah

 Chapter

  6

 

¹ And again I looked up and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains-mountains of bronze. ² The first chariot had red horses, the second chariot black horses, ³ the third chariot white horses, and the fourth dappled gray horses.

( The Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 6 verses 1 to 3)


Oh God, my Father, even though the colours of the mentioned horses have some significance I thank You for using colours with making discrimination in what colours You mention. All beauty, nature and colour have its root in You my God and Father Amen. Moreover, You are the good of all regardless of our skin colour Amen.


⁴Then I said to the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord? ⁵The angel answered me, "These are the four winds of heaven going out, after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth.


( The Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 6 verses 4 to 5) 



Oh God, my Father all nature is subject to You and is created to serve You. You are in control of every single detail of my life. I live in Your confidence because I am not alone Amen. 


⁶ The chariot with the black horses goes toward the north country, the white ones go toward the west country, and the dappled ones go toward the south country.


(The Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 6 verse 6)


Oh God my blessed Father, nature is Your servant, You can send the winds and ocean currents wherever You choose to, all is under Your control even though at times it seems as if humans have control Amen.



⁷ When the steeds came out, they were impatient to get off and patrol the earth. And he said, "Go, patrol the earth," So they patrolled the earth.


(The Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 6 verse 7) 



Oh God, my blessed Father this morning I pray for all the world. I pray that You give us a renewed motivation a big boost by Your Holy Spirit in order to do good on behalf of others and even to ourselves. Amen. 


⁸ Then he cried out to me, "Lo those who go toward the north country have set my spirit at rest in the north country."


(The Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 6 verse 8) 



Oh God, my beloved Father, there are nations and countries who have accepted faith, in You while others are still in the process. There are also those who firmly believe in You and are convinced of their faith and are ready to die for it, while others do so out of convenience or fear of not being accepted by friends or family. I pray that we have good reasons for believing in You Amen. 



⁹ The word of the LORD came to me; ¹⁰ Collect silver and gold from the exiles from Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah-who have arrived from Babylon, and go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah.



(The Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 6 verses 9 to 10) 



Oh God, my beloved Father, as gold was to be collected from the exiles, so many skills and talents can be collected from the migrants and asylum seekers and other foreigners that are living in Malta. It would be best oh God my Father if we treasured such people around the world instead of fearing or placing stigma or prejudice on them Amen. 


¹¹ Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak; ¹² say to him: Thus says the LORD of hosts; Here is a man whose name is Branch; for he shall branch out in his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD.


(The Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 6 verses 11 to 12) 


Oh God, my Father I wonder what name You would call me, maybe Bible for my true joy is Your Word my God and Father. Even though I am still a sinner I carry in my heart Your Word and when You give me the opportunity I share it with others Amen.


¹³ It is he that shall build the temple of the LORD; he shall bear royal honor, and shall sit upon his throne and rule. There shall be a priest by his throne with peaceful understanding between the two of them.


(The Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 6 verse 13)


Oh God, my Father I pray that one day there will be no differences or divergence between the Roman Catholic Church and the State in the whole world. I pray that we will arrive at a point where the rulers will be both and one will support the other in harmony Amen.  


¹⁴ And the crown shall be in the care of Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Josiah son of Zephaniah, as a memorial in the temple of the LORD. 


(The Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 6 verse 14)


The crown oh God shall be held in the temple of the Lord, likewise, the Blessed Sacrament is also kept in the tabernacle for our reverence and prayers Amen.


¹⁵ Those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the LORD; and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you, This will happen if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.


(The Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 6 verse 15)


Oh God, my Father, there will come a time when those who are against the Roman Catholic Church and our faith will one day become believers and produce much fruit. I pray that as believers we set good examples to non-believers or those from different religions Amen.


Oh God, my Father, I would like to end this meditation on the sixth chapter of the book of the Prophet Zechariah with the following prayer:-


Oh God, my Father many persons and families were hit hard, by the outbreak of the Corona Virus, many have lost their jobs and have financial issues. Even though the state has given financial tokens and packages, I pray that as one body of Christ we donate both money and even prayers for those who are really in need. If each of us helps one person, or one family in some way or another this would already be a step in the right direction Amen.

Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 5

Book of Prophet 

Zechariah

 Chapter

  5

¹ Again I looked up and saw a flying scroll. ² And he said to me; "What do you see?" I answered ; "I see a flying scroll; its length is twenty cubits, and its width ten cubits."

(Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 5 verses 1 to 2)

Oh God my Father, many times there is a great difference between what we see and in reality is really and truly. During times of problems and stress I am to stop and focus and pray for enlightenment or seek the counsel of wise people who help look at the issue from a different perspective and help us see what is there but due to our circumstances is beyond our perception Amen. I thank You, God my beloved Father for such insights Amen.


³ Then he said to me, "This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole land; for everyone who steals shall be cut off according to the writing on one side, and everyone who swears falsely shall be cut off according to the writing on the other side.



(Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 5 verse 3)


Oh God, my Father, Your commandments are there and they will never be changed, for sin will always remain a sin. Therefore I pray that I always keep Your commandments before me and learn to obey and love them Amen.


⁴ I have sent it out, says the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter the house of the thief, and of the house of anyone who swears falsely by my name; and it shall abide in that house and consume it, both timber and stones."



(Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 5 verse 4)


Oh God, my Father as much as we receive Your graces and blessings we also receive reprimands for our wrongdoings, which we also must accept as being according to our actions whether they are positive or negative Amen.


⁵ Then the angel who talked with me came forward and said to me, "Look up and see what this is that is coming out" ⁶ I said "What is it?" He said, "This is a basket coming out." And he said, "This is their iniquity in all the land "


(Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 5 verses 5 to 6)


Oh God my Father if You had to show us the future, would we still continue in doing our sinful acts and attitudes and the related consequences. The question is for all of us to answer Amen.


⁷ Then a leaden cover was lifted, and there was a woman sitting in the basket! ⁸ And he said, "This is Wickedness." So he thrust her back into the basket, and pressed the leaden weight down on its mouth.


(Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 5 verses 7 to 8)


Oh God my Father from all the forms on earth, You chose a woman to represent wickedness. In truth You created us with both Masculine traits and even Feminine, I pray for the world so that we learn how to tame and educate our thoughts and feelings because many times they are the causes that lead us to sin Amen.


⁹ Then I looked up and saw two women coming forward. The wind was in their wings; they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and sky. ¹⁰ Then I said to the angel who talked with me, "Where are they taking the basket?" ¹¹ He said to me, "To the land of Shinar, to build a house for it; and when this is prepared, they will set the basket down there on its base."



(Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 5 verses 9 to 11)


Oh, God my Father as You ordered wickedness was to be taken to a place of its own and placed there, I pray that You also remove the wickedness of the world and instead of it purify it with Your love and grace Amen.



Oh God my Father today You are putting before us a very important question. You have asked us by means of the Prophet Isaiah and the vision, what are we saying. For many images are being placed by the media in front of our eyes, which is not always a true image of reality but a virtual one of luxury and ideal state of being that when we reflect on it, this can never be our actual state of life. I pray that You open our eyes so that we may see because although we say we see we are blind. Amen.


Oh God my blessed Father, I wish to end this fifth chapter of the book of the prophet Zechariah with the following prayer;


Mercy Mercy and more Mercy my God and Father, for we cannot live without Your love Mercy and Forgiveness. We are in need of healing my God and Father, for we have grieved others and have also been grieved by them. I pray that You silence the evil forces and spirits that are active Amen.

Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 4

 

 

Book of Prophet 

Zechariah

 Chapter

  4

 

 

¹ The angel who talked with me came again and wakened me, as one is wakened from sleep. ² He said to me, "What do you see?" And I said; "I see a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it; there are seven lamps with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. ³ And by it there are two olive trees, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left." ⁴ I said to the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?"

 

(Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 4 verses 1 to 4)

 

Oh God my Father many times You talk to us by means of dreams, visions apparitions, other people, however we do not always understand what You mean to reveal to us by such events. In such situations I pray that we and I be humble to first and foremost turn to You for advice and not on to the ways of the world for a true and valid interpretation Amen. 

 

⁵ Then the angel who talked with me answered me, "Do you not know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord."

(Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 4 verse 5)

 

Oh God my Father how nice it is for one to humble and admit that our knowledge is still limited even though we have made great steps in our information technology. We have to admit, that all knowledge is found in You, and that You give us doses of knowledge by means of the people that You choose for the good of all Amen. I pray that we retain our not knowing position of humility so that we can continue to be transformed by You into people who live according to Your wll and be holy like You as You Tourself wish us to be Amen. 



⁶ He said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

(Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 4 verse 6)

 

Oh God my Love the power of Your love is far greater than anything in the world. It is what keeps me going and the sole reason why I am still alive Amen. Thank You Jesus.



⁷ What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain; and he shall bring out the top stone amid shouts of 'Grace, grace to it!"

(Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 4 verse 7)

 

Oh God my Father, today You are asking me about what is my greatest problem and that You are able to crush it and claim victory over it by building a monument that marks Your victory. You are telling me that there is no problem that is too big or to strong for You to overcome. I give You my current situation that of my marriage, so that You deal with it in a better way than I am at the moment. I pray that the separation goes through so that I can start a new life with You Amen. 



⁸ Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ⁹ The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.

(Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 4 verses 8 to 9)

 

Oh God my beloved Father You have laid the foundations of my life, You have known me even before I was born, but now You are shaking my life from its foundations. Will you complete my construction oh God my Father, or do You need to demolish me to my foundations before You start constructing me again? I abandon my life, my work to You oh God my Father. May Your will be done. I do not simply care any more. I resign control, You are now in the driving seat, more than ever before Amen. Its Your show I am a passenger. Thank You Jesus. 



¹⁰ For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the land of Zerubbabel. "These seven are the eyes of the LORD which range through the whole earth."

(Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 4 verse 10)

 

Oh God my beloved Father, even though we may take You for granted You are aware of all that is happening on earth Amen. We can never escape Your face even if we try to Amen.



¹¹ Then I said to him, "What are these two olive trees on the right and on the left of the lampstand?" ¹² And a second time I said to him, "What are these two branches of the olive trees, which pour out the oil through the two golden pipes?"

(Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 4 verses 11 and 12)

Oh God my beloved Father I thank You for putting up with human curiosity, which is positive when it leads to development of the human, but negative when it is destructive and skeptic leading to the loss of one's faith in You.

¹³ He said to me, "Do you not know what these are? I said, "No, my Lord." ¹⁴ Then he said, "These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth."

(Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 4 verses 13 and 14)

Oh God my Father, there are things that we have knowledge of but in truth we need more knowledge about while others that we should be aware of but still we are lacking in knowledge about. We have made great advances in science and technology, however when it comes to our faith in You and our spiritual growth and development we are still babies suckling at our mother's breasts. 

I would like to close the fourth chapter of the Prophet Zechariah with the following prayer:

I pray that You keep on being patient loving and caring with humanity and continue to feed us of Your Word, according to our stage of development.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 3

 

Book of Prophet 

Zechariah

 Chapter

  3

 

 ¹ Then he showed me the high priest Joshua standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.

 

(The Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 3 Verse 1)

 

Oh God, my beloved Father, this is how I always imagined it. Satan is always ready to accuse me in different situations. He is always ready to highlight the long list of sins that I have committed and make me feel guilty in Your presence. Right now I feel that I am in this situation and maybe this is why I feel so confused and indecisive and divided within myself. I beg on You to help me find my way out of this situation Amen.

² And the LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this man a brand plucked from the fire?"

(The Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 3 Verse 2)

Oh God as humans we are all plucked from the fire, for we are all subject to persecution from the taunts and temptations of the evil one Amen.


³ Now Joshua was dressed with filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. ⁴ The angel said to those who were standing before him. "Take off his filthy clothes." And to him he said, "See I have taken your guilt away from you, and I will clothe you with festal apparel." ⁵And I said, "Let them put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with the apparel; and the angel of the LORD was standing by.

(The Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 3 Verses 3 to 5)



Oh God my beloved Father, this is a scene that we are always to keep before us. On appearing in Your presence, we appear with all our sins, that are like dirt on clothes. We can only imagine the stench and the appearance of a person who has never had a bath in a lifetime and had wetted his pants and masturbated as sinful acts and many others. We come before You in a state of disaster, however as in the case of Joshua You give us back our dignity and our situation improves from that of a sinful slave without dignity, to that of being accounted as sons and daughters of God. Amen.


⁶ Then the angel of the LORD assured Joshua, saying ⁷ "Thus says the LORD of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here.

(The Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 3 Verses 6 to 7)


Oh God my beloved Father, if we obey Your Word as in the Bible, and live according to the commandments that You gave us,You will give us new benefits and responsibilities which help us to continue this mission that You have given us before Your physical departure from earth.


⁸ Now listen Joshua, high priest, you and your colleagues who sit before you! For they are an omen of the things to come: I am going to bring my servant the Branch. ⁹ For on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven facets, I will engrave its inscription, says the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the guilt of this land in a single day. ¹⁰ On that day says the LORD of hosts, you shall invite each other to come under your vine and fig tree. 

(The Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 3 Verses 8 to 10)



Oh God my beloved Father, You are the stone, the rock of my salvation on which You have built Your Church. On the other hand from You all the roots and branches find their existence. As Christians, or Roman Catholics we are also branches for our roots are in You, and it is only from You and not from ourselves, that we can trace our existence and livelihood to this very day Amen. As found in verse ten one day all Religions and Churches will be united as one body and we will all invite each other to be united together as one people of God Amen. God bless You, and bless us all Amen.


Oh God my beloved Father, I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:-



Oh God my beloved Father, I come before You as I am, with all the good that You have permitted me to accomplish throughout the years of my existence and with all the sins that I was weak enough to commit throughout the same time of my existence. I believe that You have mercy on those who have mercy and non mercy on those who have not. I pray that when my time comes I will be worthy to appear blameless in Your presence Amen.


 

 


 

 

Book of Prophet Zechariah Chapter 2

Book of Prophet 

Zechariah

 Chapter

 2

ⁱ I looked up and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. ² Then I asked, "Where are you going?" He answered me, "To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length."

(Book of Prophet Zechariah Chapter 2 verses 1 to 2)

Oh God If I would ask You the same question today in 2016, I wonder what Your reply would be. You might answer me that You are counting the number of people who are still faithful to You and Your name, and those who really and truly love You, among those who say they do, but in truth they do not. Amen. Oh God my Father I pray that when my time comes I will be worthy of appearing in Your presence Amen. 


³ Then the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him, ⁴ and said to him, "Run, say to that young man; Jerusalem shall be inhabited like villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and animals in it. ⁵ For I will be a wall of fire all around it, says the LORD, and I will be the glory within it."


(Book of Prophet Zechariah Chapter 2 verses 3 to 5)

Oh God my Father I thank You for speaking to me personally after such a long time. I know that You are aware of my situation with the petition board and I know that You are going to protect me with Your firewall against the forces of evil. I thank You Jesus my God and Father. 

⁶ Up, up! Flee from the land of the north, says the LORD; for I have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven, says the LORD. ⁷ Up! Escape to Zion, you that live with daughter Babylon.

(Book of Prophet Zechariah Chapter 2 verses 6 to 7)

Oh God my Father today You are making me more aware that You are my God and Saviour and that at any time You can free me and others from our situations of Egypt and bondage from the forces of evil that keep us as slaves, both within ourselves mentally and even in situations over which we seem to have no control. Today You are setting us free to leave behind us all our previous hurts and issues of anger and start a new life under His protection. I thank You my God and Father Amen. Thank You for setting us free. If we decide to sin, it is now our own choice and our responsibility to face the consequences of our actions, for God has given us a second and third chance to confess our sins and start again in our relationship with him and others Amen. 


⁸ For thus said the LORD of hosts (after his glory sent me) regarding the nations that plundered you; Truly, one who touches you touches the apple of my eye.


(Book of Prophet Zechariah Chapter 2 verse 8)





Oh God my Father I thank You for holding us as being so precious for You. Even though You are referring to the people of the 'Old Testament', I am sure that we are also precious before You, for we are also Your creation Amen.


⁹ See now, I am going to raise my hand against them, and they shall become plunder for their own slaves. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me.


(Book of Prophet Zechariah Chapter 2 verse 9)


Oh God my Father, even though Your people the apple of Your eye did negative acts, You still could not show partiality and overlook their actions. You are both just loving and merciful, however when we need to be put in our places and humbled for our own good You justly do it by bringing about situations that humble us. I thank You my God and Father, for doing so even though at times it may be hard to accept Amen.


¹⁰ Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the LORD. ¹¹. Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in your midst. And you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.

 
(Book of Prophet Zechariah Chapter 2 verses 10 to 11)


Oh God my Father, that will indeed be the day when we will become Your people again, and we will be humble enough to give You back the central place in our life, and permit You to take full control of our past present and even our future. Amen.


¹² The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem. ¹³ Be silent, all people, before the LORD; for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.


(Book of the Prophet Zechariah Chapter 2 verses 12 to 13)


Oh God my Father, how I wish that You take me as Your special portion for I feel lonely and unloved. I pray to be silent but my hurt is broken. I believe that You are active in my situation even though I am not seeing You working. Amen.



Oh God I would like to end this second chapter of the book of the prophet Zechariah with the following prayer;


Oh God my Father I am praying that You intervene in my life for I am passing through hell and back. I do not know how long I can endure anymore. I pray that You deliver me from my situation Amen.