He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations…” vs. 10a
Zechariah 9:9-12
After their return from captivity, the returning Jews devoted their energy to rebuilding the temple and the walls of Jerusalem. The prophet Zechariah encouraged them with a vision of restoration: a new king would come and reign victoriously, not with arrogance, but with a humility that would bring peace to the entire world, a peace that could only become reality when weapons of war were put aside–the chariots, the war horses, and the battle bow. As we pause now to celebrate Independence Day in the United States, we’re well aware that the prophet’s vision has never become reality. World peace is maddeningly elusive, and the biggest roadblock seems to be humanity’s reluctance to put aside the weapons of war. We love our atomic bombs and automatic weapons, and the more powerful the better. Some say that’s just the way it is, and that’s the way it will always be. But others dare to hope that one day the arrogance of power-seeking world leaders will be replaced by a spirit of humility, and there will be peace among the nations. It may seem a futile dream, but it’s hard to understand how followers of Jesus could wish for anything else. Perhaps it’s something we could think about on the Fourth of July!
Thought for the Day: What would it take for weapons of war to be no more?
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