December 24, 2022: Haftorah - Zechariah 2:14-4:7

This week's Haftorah reading is from Zechariah 2:14-4:7. As we celebrate Hanukkah this season, join Dr. Jeffery Myers, as he reminds us to dedicate ourselves to ADONAI, from assimilating to this world, in total and complete surrender to Him, just as it is shown in the consecration of Joshua, the High Priest!

Follow along in the AUDIO PODCAST, by clicking on the play button below, and reading along with the notes, as you listen to today's Haftorah:

Lion of Judah Speaks: Haftorah Portion – Zechariah 2:14-4:7

As we are celebrating Hanukkah, we are reminded to dedicate ourselves to Adonai. We must search our hearts for any place of assimilation to this world, culture, and thinking. We have to surrender ourselves in totality to our one and only King. The world wants us to change our beliefs in the absolute truth of Adonai’s Word. This, as a true believer, is an impossibility. Yeshua is coming after a spotless bride, a people who know His voice and follow after Him. Zechariah’s entire prophecy can be applied to us as it points to the coming of Yeshua, the Messiah and helps us better understand the gospel message.

We must understand that Adonai’s call is still being sent out today. The call of Adonai is to come to Him. In II Cor. 6:17 Paul says, “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says Adonai. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will rescue you.” Adonai has called us to come out of the land of the north and come out of the land of slavery. The call is not a physical escape from slavery as it was for Yah’s people to leave Babylon. But it is a call for deliverance from the bondage and slavery of sin. Peter said in II Peter 2:19, “While they promise liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.” The world promises liberty. Satan promises us freedom in sin. He says to us that we will be able to do what we want to do. We will be able to be the person that we want to be. We will overcome anything we want. However, these are lies. Instead, we become slaves to corruption and brought into the slavery of Satan. This is the nature of sin. Every sin proclaims freedom to each of our desires. But the reality is that we have sacrificed our freedom for our mind is enslaved to those things. We do not have any freedom in our sins. We are wearing filthy, dirty rags that are red with sin. We can shatter the chains that Satan has placed upon us. We need to come to Adonai before it’s too late.

In Zechariah 3:1-2, we see the consecration of Joshua, the High Priest, “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of Adonai and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. And Adonai said to Satan, “Adonai rebuke you, Satan! Adonai who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” It is imperative to “see the picture” as these things are revealed in a vision. It seems evident that the vision is about more than just one man, but Joshua represents a certain group. It may be Joshua represents the Priesthood itself, or the whole nation of Judah. What is spoken is that Israel was guilty of rebellion against Adonai. That is why they have suffered for the last 70 years. Joshua, as the high priest, represents the people coming before Adonai, but their access is blocked by the accusations of Satan of sin. However, HaShem does not allow Satan to interfere, and He restores the relationship.

So, rather than rebuke Joshua, Adonai rebukes Satan. His charges do not stand! They cannot disrupt Adonai’s plans. The rebuke is based upon the fact that Elohim had chosen Jerusalem. A faithful remnant would return and once again worship Adonai in His city. This returning remnant is “a brand plucked out of the fire.” Nearly consumed, but saved by Elohim’s kindness and forgiveness. Elohim will not abandon His people.

What is amazing is that instead of casting us away because of our filthy, sin-stained rags, Elohim has said He will remove those clothes from us and give us royal garments. But this is not done to us without conditions. Elohim does not ask for anything in return for the cleansing of our garments. Notice in Zechariah 3:7, “If you will walk in My ways and keep My requirements.” The Branch, the servant of Elohim, has already come. His name is Yeshua HaMashiach. He has removed the sins of all who will walk in His ways and will keep His requirements. We have been washed white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 7:14). In Hebrews 10:22 we are told to have “our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” Paul was told in Acts 22:16, “Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of Elohim.” But yet, we fall short and because of that Satan accuses us but Elohim rebukes Satan and gives us royal robes. What love Elohim has for us!

Halleluyah, with our filthy rags removed, we are allowed entrance into the Kingdom of Elohim. This is the Kingdom that has destroyed all other kingdoms and is the Kingdom that will endure forever. Plus, we are in a Kingdom where we are protected by Elohim, who is as “walls of fire around us.” We are in a Kingdom where the glory of Elohim is dwelling in each of us. Emmanuel is with us! Glory, Halleluyah—the glory of Elohim has returned to His people in the tabernacle and the first Temple built by Solomon, the glory of Elohim was in the midst of the people and Adonai dwelled with them. Sin caused that to end. But when we have been made clean, Elohim is now able to dwell with us again.

We are able to govern the house of Elohim. We see this in the parable in Luke 12:42-48. We have been entrusted with some of Elohim’s things now. When we have been found trustworthy, Elohim will make us rule over the house of Adonai. II Tim.2:12 says, “If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He will deny us.” Zechariah says that those who will walk in the ways of Elohim will have charge of His courts. We have a responsibility to maintain purity and justice. We must maintain purity in worship. We must worship Adonai in spirit and in truth, in righteousness and holiness. However, our responsibility also extends to those outside to help them learn the worship that Elohim demands. If we are called to be participants in the judgment of things to come, we must be righteous judges now in the smaller things of life. Elohim has given us rule and charge. We must rule righteously, justly, and mercifully.

Finally, Zechariah describes the access that we have before Elohim. Hebrews 4:16 makes the point, “Let us therefore come boldly before the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Halleluyah, with the blood of the Branch, Yeshua HaMashiach, removing our sinful, filthy clothes and clothing us with royal robes, we are now fit to stand before the throne of Elohim to receive all that we need. Romans 5:1-2 says, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with Elohim through our Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of Elohim.” Praise Adonai… we have a place before the throne. In Yeshua we have confidence and joy to stand in the court of Elohim. We have a place there for us. Will you walk in the ways of Elohim and keep His requirements?

Shabbat Shalom Mishpocha!

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I pray you continue to have a Happy Hanukkah and a Blessed Sabbath. Give Him the praise for all He has done! Rejoice and celebrate as this Feast of Dedication comes to an end! Give Adonai a shout of praise! See you at the altar and don’t forget to be that LIGHT on a hill. See you next Sabbath,

Shalom Aleichem!