Zechariah Part 18:

Text: Zechariah 10:1-6.

Intro: Life can be difficult at times. it can be filled with the most joyous valleys and the deepest darkest of experiences. it can whisk us up into the realms of pleasure, contentment, and satisfaction in the Lord. It can also bring us down into the dregs of depression, anger, confusion, and abandonment of God if we let it. Human beings, while going through the proverbial valleys in life, for all of human history, have chosen, time and time again, to turn from God when this get bad. and they do this in a variety of ways, all in the vain hope of returning to some semblance normalcy. In a lot of ways, we are still children in this way. If we, as humans, cant get what we want from God, we will inevitably replace Him with something or someone that will. This is called Idolatry. And while our society doesn't seem to have the same basic forms of idolatry, taking the likeness of statues, the same principles that make up idolatry are there. A changing of devotion and worship from Yahweh the Creator, rightful master, designer, and sustainer of the universe and our being, to whatever else it is that we are seeing at the time, that we claim God simply inst giving to us.

We find these principles all over our landscape: from extreme self love, entertainment, and sexual deviancy.

I want to get this into your head, before we get into our text this morning, before you think, “Well, this has nothing to do with me.” I believe the Word of God.........teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness

Vs 1-2

vs 1, The Lord Brings the Rains

Spring rain: March/April. Absolutely necessary from crops to survive

He alone, Ps. 65:9, 135:7.

Test The Lord, Mal. 3:8-10.

vs 2

They are tempted to go to idols

Teraphim - Household gods, small idol

qusemim - practice of divination, to seek the spirits of the dead, to determine the future.

this was forbidden by God, Deut. 18:9-14.

the question is why?

The foolishness of Idolatry

Is. 41:21-25. (Former things, future things, do Anything!)

the danger of idolatry

idolatry eventually leads to direct demonic contact, (Ouija board)

The glorifying of idols

Israel has a history of doing this very thing

1 kings 16:30-32, they turned to Baal, a god who controlled storm clouds and fertility

Jer. 14:22.

may we never be tempted to go outside of our trust in God to find security, peace, and answers that fit our likeness. trust in God alone.

Vs 3, God’s Anger With The Shepherds

Shepherds - he-goats (Respect our elders)

God’s always had a problem with the shepherds, so He decides to be their shepherd Ezek. 34:10-11.

Jesus is the good Shepherd, John 10:11.

Vs 4-6

from Him

the Cornerstone

Ps. 118:22, Mt. 21:42.

the tent peg

Is. 22:23.

The Battle Bow