After computer science lecture at 3pm, I went and studied for my midterms at main stacks until 10pm. I then went back to the apartment and finished up my economics problem set with the econ people that were working in our apartment. I have two midterms in econ and computer science next tuesday.

Devotion time questions:

Zechariah 2

Reflect on God’s promise regarding Jerusalem, that it “will be a city without walls” and that God himself “will be a wall of fire around it.” What is the role of walls around an ancient city?

The walls of an ancient city protected the city from enemies. It also defined the city by setting the boundaries.

What would it mean today to live, as God’s people, “without walls,” relying on God to be our “wall of fire”? What would it mean for me to live this way?

It means taking down the things we set up that allow us to have less of a trust in God. This doesn't mean we are to live recklessly or not take necessary precautions in life, but instead we are to put our hope and trust in the right place, and not things like money, success, fame, etc...

It should be God that defines us, not something of this world.

The Lord declares to the exiles to flee from their land of captivity. How might being in captivity have affected the Israelites' mindset? Is there some stronghold or issue that I feel captive to that God is calling me to flee from?

Being in captivity might have turned the people's hearts away from God, since they could have felt the need to protect themselves by submitting to their captors rather than to God. The nation the Israelites were captive to probably didn't have the same morals or respect for God, and thus the Israelites could have been forced to sin and disobey God in order to conform to that nation's customs.

Thoughts omitted here.

How would God's promise of His presence (e.g. “live among you”) be particularly comforting and encouraging to the Israelites in their (post-exilic) circumstances? Are there any circumstances that I'm facing right now in which I can cling to God's promise today?

The Israelites had the enormous task of rebuilding their lives after returning to the ruins that were once their homeland. They could have given into despair with their walls, buildings, and temples lying in ruins, but God promised them that he would be with them as they tried to rebuild their lives after captivity. They would not be alone through the process, but God would be there to continually strengthen and guide them.

Thoughts omitted here.