Study Desk

The Lord of Armies says this: “I am extremely jealous for Zion; I am jealous for her with great wrath.”

The Lord of Armies says this: “Let your hands be strong, you who now hear these words that the prophets spoke when the foundations were laid for the rebuilding of the temple, the house of the Lord of Armies.

For prior to those days neither man nor animal had wages. There was no safety from the enemy for anyone who came or went, for I turned everyone against his neighbor.

“For they will sow in peace: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce, and the skies will yield their dew. I will give the remnant of this people all these things as an inheritance.

For the Lord of Armies says this: “As I resolved to treat you badly when your fathers provoked me to anger, and I did not relent,” says the Lord of Armies,

Do not plot evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love perjury, for I hate all this”—this is the Lord’s declaration.

The Lord of Armies says this: “The fast of the fourth month, the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth will become times of joy, gladness, and cheerful festivals for the house of Judah. Therefore, love truth and peace.”

the residents of one city will go to another, saying: Let’s go at once to plead for the Lord’s favor and to seek the Lord of Armies. I am also going.

Many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the Lord of Armies in Jerusalem and to plead for the Lord’s favor.”

The Lord of Armies says this: “In those days, ten men from nations of every language will grab the robe of a Jewish man tightly, urging: Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”

Ashkelon will see it and be afraid;Gaza too, and will writhe in great pain,as will Ekron, for her hope will fail.There will cease to be a king in Gaza,and Ashkelon will become uninhabited.

I will remove the blood from their mouthsand the abhorrent thingsfrom between their teeth.Then they too will become a remnant for our God;they will become like a clan in Judahand Ekron like the Jebusites.

I will encamp at my house as a guard,against those who march back and forth,and no oppressor will march against them again,for now I have seen with my own eyes.

As for you,because of the blood of your covenant,I will release your prisonersfrom the waterless cistern.

For I will bend Judah as my bow;I will fill that bow with Ephraim.I will rouse your sons, Zion,against your sons, Greece.I will make you like a warrior’s sword.

The Lord their God will save them on that dayas the flock of his people;for they are like jewels in a crown,sparkling over his land.

Ask the Lord for rain

For the idols speak falsehood,and the diviners see illusions;they relate empty dreamsand offer empty comfort.Therefore the people wander like sheep;they suffer affliction because there is no shepherd.

I will bring them back from the land of Egyptand gather them from Assyria.I will bring them to the land of Gileadand to Lebanon,but it will not be enough for them.

Wail, cypress, for the cedar has fallen;the glorious trees are destroyed!Wail, oaks of Bashan,for the stately forest has fallen!