For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
John 13
What is the new command? How is it “new?” What will be the result of obedience? Jesus gave His disciples a “new” command, which John later pointed out wasn’t really new at all. The intent of the Law was always for people to, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…and…Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt. 22:37, 39b). The difference is in how you do that. As part of this new command, Jesus said, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (Jn. 13:14b). So rather than loving people by following the Law, we now love others by following Jesus.
Zech. 1-2
What does it look like for you to “return to the Lord?” Why would you need to? What does God promise when you do? In Zechariah 1:2, God says, “The LORD was very angry with your ancestors.” He was. As we read on, we see that God was no longer angry with His people, who repented when His promised judgment on them came to pass, and was now angry with the nations that executed His justice. “I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they went too far with the punishment.” (Zech. 1:15).
Besides signaling that Judah’s restoration from captivity was near, this all reinforces to me that God’s purpose in executing judgment on His people was to get their attention. His desire was never to destroy them. In fact, the reason He took them near to destruction was to save them from total destruction. It also tells me that He is a very forgiving God. He is slow to anger but quick to forgive. Note how many years God’s people disregarded their covenant promises with Him compared to the 70 years it took for His anger to pass.
God went on to say, “I will return to Jerusalem with mercy.” (Zech. 1:16a). That is actually a Messianic promise. The covenant that was based on the Law is what brought judgment down on God’s people because there is no mercy in the Law. Mercy came to us in the person of Jesus Christ. He is God’s new covenant that satisfies God’s righteousness without judgment.
Ps. 148
List everything and everyone that the psalmist calls to praise the Lord, and the reasons why. Everything – all of creation – should and will praise the LORD. Heaven and earth, above and below, young and old, prince and pauper – God is above all of it. He is worthy of our praise.