Jambo

“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,” declares the LORD of hosts. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones. In the whole land, declares the LORD, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive. And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’” (Zechariah 13:7-9 ESV).

There are many interesting languages in the world. One of those is Swahili. While the typical greeting is Jambo, which translates more like our “How are you?” Many times the preferred greeting is Habari, which literally means “Do you have any good news?” It is strange that the typical reply is Nzuri. It means “No news, all is well.” If you know anything at all about that region of our world, everything is far from well. Life is hard, hunger common, jobs scarce, and hope dim. Today’s reading is a short poem from the prophet that acknowledges how tough life is, how fragile is our hold on happiness. Life is more prone to trouble, suffering, and loss than to lottery winning. We can expect worries, sickness, and losses. Even the Lord felt such pains. No one is spared. But the end result for us will be greater love for God and God’s greater voice in our lives. We grow closer to God because the Shepherd too felt the sword. He was also tested and perfected by suffering (cf. Hebrews 5:8-9). This passage uncovers the deep consequence of sin and rebellion, so deep we fear to face it. Yet the truth must be told. Zechariah reminds us that the Creator is holy and that he will only make his creation holy again through the work of Christ. This is the “good news” that makes “all well.” Of course, Zechariah leaves much unsaid. The rest of the Bible fills in the gaps. But the poem holds core truth. God will redeem us, lead us, and welcome us back through every hit and hardship we endure. That is the enduring hope we have to carry us through every trial and difficulty we face in this life. Spurgeon said it this way: “Let this one great, gracious, glorious fact lie in your spirit until it permeates all your thoughts and makes you rejoice even though you are without strength. Rejoice that the Lord Jesus has become your strength and your song – He has become your salvation. “ As that truth seeps into your heart, be encouraged today!