From Judah Will Come the Cornerstone

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

From Judah Will Come the Cornerstone

Date: Dec. 17, 2014

Passage

Zechariah 10:1-12 (ESV)

1   Ask rain from the LORD
    in the season of the spring rain,
  from the LORD who makes the storm clouds,
    and he will give them showers of rain,
    to everyone the vegetation in the field.
2   For the household gods utter nonsense,
    and the diviners see lies;
  they tell false dreams
    and give empty consolation.
  Therefore the people wander like sheep;
    they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd.
3   “My anger is hot against the shepherds,
    and I will punish the leaders;
  for the LORD of hosts cares for his flock, the house of Judah,
    and will make them like his majestic steed in battle.
4   From him shall come the cornerstone,
    from him the tent peg,
  from him the battle bow,
    from him every ruler—all of them together.
5   They shall be like mighty men in battle,
    trampling the foe in the mud of the streets;
  they shall fight because the LORD is with them,
    and they shall put to shame the riders on horses.
6   “I will strengthen the house of Judah,
    and I will save the house of Joseph.
  I will bring them back because I have compassion on them,
    and they shall be as though I had not rejected them,
    for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them.
7   Then Ephraim shall become like a mighty warrior,
    and their hearts shall be glad as with wine.
  Their children shall see it and be glad;
    their hearts shall rejoice in the LORD.
8   “I will whistle for them and gather them in,
    for I have redeemed them,
    and they shall be as many as they were before.
9   Though I scattered them among the nations,
    yet in far countries they shall remember me,
    and with their children they shall live and return.
10   I will bring them home from the land of Egypt,
    and gather them from Assyria,
  and I will bring them to the land of Gilead and to Lebanon,
    till there is no room for them.
11   He shall pass through the sea of troubles
    and strike down the waves of the sea,
    and all the depths of the Nile shall be dried up.
  The pride of Assyria shall be laid low,
    and the scepter of Egypt shall depart.
12   I will make them strong in the LORD,
    and they shall walk in his name,”
      declares the LORD.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 10:4

  From him shall come the cornerstone,
    from him the tent peg,
  from him the battle bow,
    from him every ruler—all of them together.

First, the LORD Almighty will care for his flock (1-5). Rain, at the right time, is critically important for all life. The need for rain had historically tempted the Israelites to worship idols. Apparently leaders in Zechariah's time were also falling into idolatry. Idols cannot give rain or life. The LORD Almighty rebukes these leaders to seek him. He cares for his flock and will make them strong, like a horse in battle (3). He promises to send the cornerstone, the Messiah (1 Pe 2:6), who is also called the tent peg and battle bow. The Messiah raises his people to fight his battles. He leads them to victory.

Second, I will save the tribes of Joseph (6-12). The LORD also promises to save the tribes of Joseph. This refers to the northern kingdom of Israel that was scattered by the Assyrians. The LORD will redeem them, gather them and bring them to live securely under his rule. This restoration of both Judah and Israel symbolizes how Christ uses his church to bring peoples from all nations to himself (Ja 1:1; Mt 19:28).

Prayer: Lord, thank you for Jesus our cornerstone. Please use your church to restore lost people to you.

One Word: Jesus our Cornerstone

Peter is Rescued

Acts 12:1-17

Key Verse: 12:11

When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

Today's Question

How do we keep the Sabbath holy?

See answer and references