Where do you find strength?

Do you find strength for life from your career? From your family? From an encouraging word from a friend?

This summer we are studying the Old Testament book of Zechariah. This book was written 500 years before the birth of Jesus Christ and it contains prophecies about the coming Redeemer.

In Zechariah 10, the prophet gives a veiled prophetic image of what God will bring to his people through Jesus Christ. Zechariah 10.4 says, "From him shall come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler, all of them together."

This verse gives us a cursory image of what Christ will be for his people. First, he will be a cornerstone. He will be the foundation for his people, a sure and solid foundation for his church. 

When Christ comes he will also be like a tent peg. What does that mean? 

Tent pegs secured the tabernacle for worship during the Old Testament. A tent peg brings stability and permanence so that winds and storms will not move the tabernacle. Prophetically, when Christ comes to his people he will bring a spiritual stability and permanence that God's people have never experienced. He will bring security to them that neither Moses or David could provide when they led God's people.

Thirdly, Christ will be a battle bow for his people. In the Ancient Near East, one of the primary military weapons was a bow. It demonstrated military strength and might in the face of militant opposition. Likewise, Christ will bring strength to his people and will not be defeated by any of his enemies. He will come and conquer all his foes.

Zechariah's prophetic words point us to Christ. He will be a foundation, he will be a tent peg, and he will bring spiritual strength like a bow ready for battle.

This image reminds you that your strength comes from Jesus Christ - from who he is and what he has done for you at Calvary. You can find confidence when you are successful in your vocation, when life at home is honoring God, or when someone shares an encouraging word with you. Yet, lasting spiritual strength comes only from Jesus Christ. He is the one who is the foundation of his church, who brings stability to his people, and who brings eternal strength to all who follow him.