On Ferguson, NYC, & Jerusalem

"On that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David & the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin & impurity."

(Zechariah 13:1)

Here in the United States, recent events surrounding the deaths of two African-American men, Michael Brown & Eric Garner, plus the subsequent Grand Juries choosing not to indict any officer involved in either death, and the passionate response across the nation, has shown us just how far we are away from living the way that God envisioned this world.  We do not treat each other equally.  We do not seek peace, grace & respect among each other.  We do not strive to understand one another completely. 

As I read Zechariah today, my thoughts were on our country.  Zechariah wrote at a time of great national turmoil & struggle... a time in which  the people of Israel were anticipating the coming of the Messiah to help set things right.  They longed for the day when God would fulfill his plans for this world.  In light of our struggles as (sometimes deeply) flawed humans, these words from Zechariah have added death of meaning (and hope!):

• "On that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David & the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin & impurity." (Zech. 13:1)
• "On that day living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea, and half to the western sea." (Zech. 14:8)
• "And the LORD will become king over all the earth; on that day the LORD will be one and his name one." (Zech. 14:9).

We definitely need a cleansing fountain.  We need healing, forgiveness, grace, & peace.  We need divine living waters to flow through our lives... and communities... from Ferguson, MO to NYC, to Jerusalem... and beyond.

"Come, Lord Jesus!  Come."