I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

     Zechariah points out the foolishness of those who turn to sources of divination in order to plan for the future, rather than following the commands of God. He then condemns those leaders who have encouraged the people to seek after such guidance instead of guiding them to God. Zechariah then condemns those people who reject godly leaders, even after they have been shown the venality of their wicked leaders.
     Today’s passage contains a warning against both those leaders who lead people away from God to the worship of idols, and those people who seek out such leaders rather than godly leaders. This is all too common among human societies. Wicked leaders lead people astray and wicked people are unwilling to follow godly leaders. It is a cycle which can only be broken by the intervention of God’s Holy Spirit to change the hearts of the people. I believe we are well into such a cycle now. Let us fervently pray to God that He send His Spirit to raise up leaders to lead people back to Him and to transform the hearts of the people to be willing to follow such leaders.

     John now hears words of condemnation for “Babylon”, a nation which dominates the earth through military and economic might. It’s fall is announced and God’s people are warned to separate themselves from its sins. I believe from the context that this represents the same world power as was discussed in yesterday’s passage and referred to there as the prostitute. The people of this nation will not believe that any harm can come to them because they will be confident of their power and wealth. As a result of this arrogance, their fall will come all the more swiftly. John tells us that the rulers of the world who had both committed adultery with her and conspired to bring about her downfall will be terrified by her fall. The merchants of the world will weep for the fall of this power, since its fall will cause a collapse of world markets.
     No matter how mighty a nation may be, it will not long survive when it steeps itself in sin and persecutes those who strive to live righteous, godly lives. When those who strive to live by God’s commands see the nation in which they live head down this path they must strive with all of their hearts to not be seduced into the sins of those around them.

     I will praise the Lord with all of my being. The psalmist reminds us not to put our trust in powerful people. No matter how good their intentions they will die one day and they have no power to help us beyond that day. Instead, lest us rely on God, whose power will know no end. He is the sure defender of the weak and powerless. He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. He loves the godly, who are those who strive to do as He does (giving justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry). I will praise the Lord and strive to live as He would have me do.

     Stirring up anger will create quarrels and conflict as surely as beating cream will, in due time, create butter. There is no mystery here, yet many people seem surprised when the anger they nurtured in others leads to conflict and disorder.