READ: Zechariah 13-14; Proverbs 30; Revelation 20
SCRIPTURE: Zechariah 13: 1 On that day a fountain will be
opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them
from sin and impurity.
OBSERVATION: Visiting famous
pilgrim sites and taking sacred bathing is known as punya teerth yatra
in India. Traditionally people believe such religious bathing would help them expiate
their sins and blemishes. However, experts warn about the water quality in holy
places and say they can cause diseases. Here in Zecharia 13:1, we see a
fountain that is kept open for the inhabitants of Jerusalem “to cleanse them
from sin and impurity.” People who refused to obey the prophets who warned them
to get rid of idolatry and sinful practices will come to the Messiah and mourn for
him with weeping. The Spirit of God will lead them to come to the Messiah. They
need to be cleansed from their sins. But what can wash away them? Bathing in
the water would clean external impurities. But such bathing cannot wash away
our sins. Here, we see God’s provision for the people who come to him in
repentance.
This fountain metaphorically alludes
to Jesus the Messiah. Mathew Henry says, “This fountain opened is the pierced
side of Jesus Christ, for thence came there out blood and water (John 19:34),
and both for cleansing.” Spurgeon says it is God’s “inexhaustible”
fountain for us to receive God’s forgiveness. God’s promise to remove his
people’s sins will be fulfilled at the “opened up” fountain of God (Zech.3:9). A
promise under the New Covenant is that God will forgive his people and cleanse
them from all impurities and idolatry Jer.31:34; Eze.36:25; Rom.11:27;
Heb.10:16-18). When Jesus died on the Cross, on that day, the fountain of
cleansing and forgiveness was opened up for all. When we confess our sins, “the
blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all [every] sin” (1 Jn.1:7,9). Inspired
by Zechariah 13:1, William Cowper wrote the following meaningful song in 1772
AD:
There is a fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins,
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains:
APPLICATION: I find God’s
grace, mercy, and salvation when I come near the cross where Jesus died for my
sins. There is no other shortcut to come before God. When I confess my sins, I
receive forgiveness of sins and begin a loving relationship with God. I was
dead in my transgressions and sins and far away from God. But by the blood of
Jesus Christ, I come near to God. I am a sinner saved by God’s grace. “It is
the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8,9). I should always remain in Christ and obey the
voice of the Good Sheperd Jesus Every day. In Christ, I have everything I need.
PRAYER: Father God, thank
you for your loving provision to cleanse your people from sin and impurity.
Jesus, thank you for love that saves us. Holy Spirit, give me your wisdom to follow
your guidance to cleanse and protect me from sins.
- Arputharaj Samuel
+91 9538328573
Day – 363
(Tamil version
of this devotion is posted here)
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