Slices
Prepare
Reflect on the past few years. When have you been particularly aware of God’s presence with you, or experienced his care and protection? How has his fruit been evident in your life? Praise him for his faithfulness to you.
Bible passage
The Branch of the Lord
2 In that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel. 3 Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem. 4 The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire. 5 Then the Lord will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory will be a canopy. 6 It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding-place from the storm and rain.
Explore
After judgement comes hope. After punishment, a time of restoration and then fruitfulness. The ‘Branch of the Lord’, mentioned several times in the Old Testament, is a reference to the Messiah. Through the redeeming work of the Messiah, God’s people will be made holy and washed clean (vs 3,4). In particular, the women who were castigated in chapter 3 will be cleansed by the Lord himself. God doesn’t just judge; he also restores and uplifts.
God’s presence will be as real and obvious as it was for the Israelites in the wilderness who followed a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (v 5). In this future time, there may still be overpowering heat, and storms and rain, but God’s presence will be a canopy providing shelter, protection and safety (v 6). Whatever life throws at us, God is our refuge and strength!
How wonderful is God’s work in restoring his people! The words ‘glory’ or ‘glorious’ are used three times in just five verses.
Respond
‘I am the vine; you are the branches … I chose you … so that you might go and bear fruit’ (John 15:5,16). Pray that God’s fruitfulness will be shown through you so that his glory will be seen in your community.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 2 Chronicles 29,30; Ephesians 6
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for our senior staff team as they review the take up of Mission Support and seek to discern further developments that will broaden and deepen the impact of the Revealing Jesus mission framework through the local church.
