Elijah had just enjoyed one of the greatest victories in the Bible record. He follows it up with a great defeat.

The phrase “the word of the LORD” occurs ten times in this chapter. This chapter is about the power and the importance of the word of God.

Much of the book of Zechariah looks forward to the restoration of Israel and the coming of the great King. This last chapter is no exception. The Lord Himself will come down and fight for Jerusalem. His feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives. The mount will split in half making a valley through its midst and through that valley will flow rivers of living waters. Then shall the Lord be king over all the earth. What a beautiful description of the second coming of Christ and the setting up of His kingdom on earth! All His saints should look forward with joy to His return.

God appeared to Abram and identified Himself as the Almighty God. He was not just one of many gods; He is the only Supreme God. The Lord changed the names of Abram and Sarai to Abraham and Sarah to show His power to change their lives and their future. He promised a son to Abraham and Sarah and demanded that Abraham and the men in his household practice circumcision as the token of the covenant. The Almighty God will do a great work in their lives.

Solomon had completed the temple his father David had desired to build. Now Solomon prepares the temple for use. The most important act of preparation is to bring the ark into the temple. This is a cause for much sacrifice and praise.

In these verses, Moses blesses the three remaining tribes: Dan, Naphtali, and Aser. Then, he exalts the greatness of God and declares the happiness of Israel as the people of God. This passage is a fitting close to the blessing of Moses the man of God (Deuteronomy 33:1).

In this chapter, both Sarai (Sarah) and Abram (Abraham) are impatient and cannot wait for the Lord to fulfill His promise of a son. Sarah offers her handmaid Hagar to Abraham as a means to a son and Abraham quickly accepts the offer. Their refusal to wait on the Lord results in additional trials and sorrows. It has always been and will ever be so.

In this chapter, Zechariah looks to the day when the enemies of Jerusalem will be destroyed and the city and nation will be restored. The phrase, in that day, is used six times in the chapter. However, when that day comes, the Jews will mourn for their sins which they have committed, especially when they look on the one they have pierced.

Answer a fool according to his folly, and answer not a fool according to his folly. Is this a contradiction in the Bible?

Wisdom cries out to the simple. She speaks righteousness and she is better than rubies. Sinning against her is sinning against your own soul.