Lord, What are Human Beings that You Care for Them?

Click Here For Today’s Reading

ZECHARIAH 8:1-23 | REVELATION 16:1-21 | PSALM 144:1-15 | PROVERBS 30:29-31

This chapter of Zechariah must be a most comforting one to the Jewish people.  It is full of promises to the people of God’s restoration and promises of blessing.  And what does this “jealous” God want from His people? 

He tells them fair and square:  ¹⁶ These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; ¹⁷ do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the LORD.

Sounds simple enough… don’t you think? 

Turning now to our reading in the book of Revelations, the series of plagues recorded in today’s passage is reminiscent of the many plagues that the people of Egypt were afflicted with during the days of Moses. 

There is also an early reference to Armageddon, the final battle on earth.  May it be that the “mark of the beast” is not upon you or me, if this event should occur in our lifetimes.

Next, our reading in the Psalms reveals David, the Psalmist, asking this in amazement:

³ LORD, what are human beings that you care for them,
   mere mortals that you think of them?
⁴ They are like a breath;
   their days are like a fleeting shadow.

Like David, I am also acutely aware of my insignificance.  And yet, I am impossibly confident in the knowledge that despite my insignificance, this is a God who would do it all over again if I was the only one person on the face of this earth.  That is the mystery and measure of His love for me.  What am I?  I am nothing, and yet I am God’s child.  And even more amazing is this: in my weakness, I am strong.  Just like David.

Finally, a few verses from the book of Proverbs, worthy of record and rumination.  Solomon, wise king of Israel, says:

²⁹ “There are three things that are stately in their stride,
   four that move with stately bearing:
³⁰ a lion, mighty among beasts,
   who retreats before nothing;
³¹ a strutting rooster, a he-goat,
   and a king secure against revolt.

May God bless the reading and reflection of His Word.  Amen.