Study Desk

Then I looked up and saw two women coming out with the wind in their wings. They had wings like the wings of a stork. And they lifted up the large basket between earth and heaven.

When the strong horses went out, they were in a hurry to look over all the earth." And he said, "Go, look over all the earth." So they went over the whole earth.

They asked the religious leaders of the house of the Lord of All, and the men who speak for God, "Should I cry and go without food in the fifth month, as I have done these many years?"

Are not these the words the Lord made known through the men who spoke for Him in the past? They spoke these words when Jerusalem was full of people and riches, together with the cities around it, and when the Negev and the lower hills were full of people.'"

But they would not listen. They turned away and stopped their ears from hearing.

They made their hearts like hard stone, so that they could not hear the Law and the words which the Lord of All had sent by His Spirit through the men who spoke for Him in the past. So the Lord of All became very angry.

I will bring them back and they will live in Jerusalem. They will be My people and I will be their God. I will be faithful and do what is right and good for them.'

"The Lord of All says, ‘The times when you do not eat in the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become glad times of joy. They will become happy, special suppers for the people of Judah. So love truth and peace.'

The Word of the Lord is against Hamath also, which is beside Hadrach, and against Tyre and Sidon, even though they are very wise.

The Lord of All will fight for them, and they will destroy, and walk on the stones that were to be thrown at them. They will drink and make much noise as with wine. They will be filled like a cup used for putting blood on the corners of the altar.

How good and how beautiful they will be! Grain will make the young men grow strong. And the young, pure women will grow strong with new wine.

The false gods say what is not true. Those who use their secret ways tell lies about the false dreams they have seen. Their comfort means nothing. So the people go from place to place like sheep and are troubled because they have no shepherd.

Together they will be like powerful men, crushing under foot those who hate them into the mud of the streets. They will fight and win the battle against the horsemen because the Lord is with them.

I will give strength to the family of Judah. I will save the family of Joseph, and I will bring them back, because I have loving-pity on them. They will be as if I had not turned away from them. For I am the Lord their God, and I will answer them.

I will call them together, for I have saved them and set them free. And they will be as many as they were before.

Even when I send them everywhere among the nations, they will remember Me in far countries. They and their children will live and return.

When they pass through the sea of trouble, I will hold back the waves in the sea. The whole Nile River will dry up. The pride of Assyria will be brought down, and Egypt will lose its power.

I will make My people Israel strong in the Lord, and they will walk in His name," says the Lord.

For I will no longer have pity on the people who live in this land," says the Lord. "I will give everyone over to the power of his neighbor and his king. They will bring trouble to the land, and I will not save them from their power."

I destroyed the three shepherds in one month. I was angry with them, and they hated me.