November.  The eleventh month.  Deuteronomy 1.3 tells us the eleventh month was the month that Moses proclaimed the Law to the Israelites the second time as they stood on the border of the Promised Land after wandering in the wilderness for forty years.  1 Chronicles 27.14 says it was the month that the Ephraimites were to provide the standing army for Israel near the end of the reign of King David.  And Zechariah 1.7 begins the record of Zechariah’s vision of the “fours:” horsemen, horns, and craftsmen, and the measuring line, about God’s restoring and protecting His people after the Babylonian exile.  Doesn’t look like they have much in common, does it?  Oh, but they do… (you knew they would.)
In the first God graciously reminded the people how they were to live if they wanted to retain the privilege of living in the land He had given them, the land denied their parents because of their grumbling and disobedience against the Lord.  God reminded them of His deliverance from slavery to Egypt and from their enemies, His provision and protection during their wanderings, and His leading them to the very place they stood, clearly telling them He would continue to provide, protect, and lead, if they would continue to trust Him and to obey His laws.  While His grace is always unconditional, their, and our, appropriation of it is conditional: faith that results in obedience.
In the 1 Chronicles passage, God moved His servant David to establish a regular rotation of soldiers for the protection of His people: the means by which He would continue to do so.  By this point in their history, God had granted them peace from their enemies all around.  There is no way that an army of 24,000 would have withstood an attack from the armies of the countries around Jerusalem at the time.  These forces probably spent the month in training, staying ready for the call to arms if needed, and kept everything in readiness: when the armies of Israel were called up, all would be ready for them to go to battle.  As always, what David and the army of Israel were did was trust God to be their protection, and evidence that trust with the obedience of preparation.
Finally, Zechariah’s vision was one God interpreted as His protection of His people, His returning them to the land He had promised and given them.  But this time, His city, Jerusalem, would be protected without walls, because God Himself would be a wall of fire around the city, (2.4.)  Talk about trusting God!  He would even see to the rebuilding of the destroyed Temple—and all of this, “not by might, not by power, but by (His) Spirit,” (4.6.)  Their obedience, which would evidence their faith, would be to build that Temple.
The point is this: God protected His people then, and He will protect His people now.  We need to trust Him and to evidence that trust with obedience.  The people on the banks of the Jordan, ready to enter the Promised Land, faced giants and fearful enemies.  David and his people faced numerous and strong warrior enemies.  Zechariah’s people faced many enemies from many nations fighting for world dominion.  Yet they trusted God.  We face terrorists, a bad economy, uncertain election results, ridicule and possibly persecution for our faith.  But, like them, we are called to faith and to evidence it with obedience to God’s Word… in this eleventh month, and every month.  Don’t just think about that… do it!
– Pastor Jim