Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today's reading is from the book of
Zechariah, chapters 9 and 10. Chapter 9. The
burden of the word of the Lord against the land
of Hadrach and Damascus, its resting place. For
the eyes of men and all the tribes of Israel
are on the Lord. Also against Hamath, which borders
on it, and against Tyre and Sidon. though they
are very wise. For Tyre built herself a tower,
heaped up silver like the dust, and gold like
the mire of the streets. Behold, the Lord will
cast her out. He will destroy her power in the
sea, and she will be devoured by fire. Ashkelon
shall see it and fear. Gaza also shall be very
sorrowful, and Ekron, for he dried up her expectation.
The king shall perish from Gaza. and Ashkelon
shall not be inhabited. A mixed race shall settle
in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the
Philistines. I will take away the blood from
his mouth and the abominations from between his
teeth. But he who remains, even he shall be for
our God, and shall be like a leader in Judah,
and Ekron like a Jebusite. I will camp around
my house because of the army. because of him
who passes by and him who returns. No more shall
an oppressor pass through them, for now I have
seen with my eyes. Rejoice greatly, O daughter
of Zion. Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem. Behold,
your king is coming to you. He is just and having
salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt,
the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot
from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem. The
battle bow shall be cut off. He shall speak peace
to the nations. His dominion shall be from sea
to sea and from the river to the ends of the
earth. As for you also, because of the blood
of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free
from the waterless pit. Return to the stronghold,
you prisoners of hope. Even today I declare that
I will restore double to you. For I have bent
Judah, my bow, fitted the bow with Ephraim, and
raised up your sons, O Zion, against your sons,
O Greece, and have made you like the sword of
a mighty man. Then the Lord will be seen over
them, and his arrow will go forth like lightning.
The Lord God will blow the trumpet and go with
whirlwinds from the south. The Lord of hosts
will defend them. They shall devour and subdue
with sling stones. They shall drink and roar
as if with wine. They shall be filled with blood
like basins, like the corners of the altar. The
Lord their God will save them in that day as
the flock of his people. For they shall be like
the jewels of a crown, lifted like a banner over
his land. For how great is its goodness, and
how great its beauty! Grain shall make the young
men thrive, and new wine the young women. In
the time of the latter rain, the Lord will make
flashing clouds, He will give them showers of
rain, grass in the field for everyone. For the
idols speak delusion, the diviners envision lies,
and tell false dreams. They comfort in vain,
therefore the people wend their way like sheep.
They are in trouble because there is no shepherd.
My anger is kindled against the shepherds, and
I will punish the goat herds. For the Lord of
hosts will visit his flock, the house of Judah,
and will make them as his royal horse in the
battle. From him comes the cornerstone, from
him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from
him every ruler together. They shall be like
mighty men who tread down their enemies in the
mire of the streets in the battle. They shall
fight because the Lord is with them, and the
riders on horses shall be put to shame. I will
strengthen the house of Judah and I will save
the house of Joseph. I will bring them back because
I have mercy on them. They shall be as though
I had not cast them aside. For I am the Lord
their God and I will hear them. Those of Ephraim
shall be like a mighty man and their heart shall
rejoice as if with wine. Yes, their children
shall see it and be glad. Their heart shall rejoice
in the Lord. I will whistle for them and gather
them, for I will redeem them, and they shall
increase as they once increased. I will sow them
among the peoples, and they shall remember me
in far countries. They shall live together with
their children, and they shall return. I will
also bring them back from the land of Egypt and
gather them from Assyria. I will bring them into
the land of Gilead and Lebanon, until no more
room is found for them. He shall pass through
the sea with affliction and strike the waves
of the sea. All the depth of the river shall
dry up, then the pride of Assyria shall be brought
down, and the scepter of Egypt shall depart.
So I will strengthen them in the Lord, and they
shall walk up and down in his name, says the
Lord. I hope you enjoyed today's reading as much
as I did. and I look forward to seeing you again
tomorrow to continue on our journey. God bless
you and have a great day.