BEING AT EASE IN ZION. Friday 12/6/2026

INTRODUCTION

The phrase "at ease in Zion" is a biblical idiom that describes a state of complacency, spiritual lethargy, or self-satisfied indifference. It originates from the Old Testament book of the prophet Amos (Amos 6:1), where he pronounces a "woe" (a warning of judgment) upon those who were overly comfortable while ignoring the moral decay and suffering in the world. Spiritual Complacency includes being too relaxed or "coasting" in your faith, ignoring the needs of others i.e.living a life of luxury and ignoring the pain, injustice, or struggles of the people around you coupled with false security
i.e. believing you are entirely safe or untouchable because of your social status or religious privileges, which leads to a lack of watchfulness. God was totally displeased when He noticed that the neighbouring nations of those that returned from captivity were complacent about the need and the plight of His people. Though they were sinners, God still held them accountable. If God could show His displeasure at the complacency of heathen nations to the plight of His people, how much more would He be unhappy with the complacency of His saints?

1. Messengers on Global Patrol

In most nations, the government often sends out security personnel to be on patrol in their nations for security reasons. God Himself always stations the patrol team in every nation to monitor and regulate the happenings in those nations and communities. These are angels on assignments. They are in your city. This recorded revelation happened in *"the second year of Darius"*. The audience were the Jews that had returned from captivity because Zechariah was a post-exilic prophet who ministered during the period of those who returned from exile. *"I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom"*. This man was leading a team of others for which we don't know their number except that they were seen riding on *"red horses, speckled, and white"*. The myrtle tree is a laurel, which is evergreen and possibly a symbol of the people of Israel. This man leading them was called an angel. *"Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be"*. These angelic beings were patrolling and monitoring spirits. The Lord has never abandoned the world to Satan and his hosts. He still rules over the affairs of men. Who are those horse riders? These are the ones the Lord hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth. They were to monitor what was going on, on the earth and report back to the heavenly headquarters. The head of this patrolling team is called the angel of the LORD. *"And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees"*. A similar incident happened in Sodom and Gomorrah when two angels under the leadership of the Angel of the LORD visited Sodom and Gomorrah. The Lord of the angels told Abraham, *"I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know"* (Genesis 18:21). The Lord decided to visit Sodom to witness and get first hand information.

Satan also walks about the earth for evil (Job 1:7, 2:2; 1 Peter 5:8). The earth is the centre of the operation of the demonic forces of darkness, just as heavenly forces. "The Lord Jehovah, the Creator of the Universe, has His representatives (angelic beings) walking up and down in the earth to examine the affairs of men.”

2. Message from God's Patrollers*

The Heavenly patrol team sent their intelligence reports to heaven and this is what they saw. *"We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest"*. God's people who returned from captivity were having a serious and difficult time settling down in their land. What caught the attention of the patrolling angels was that the heathen nations around were complacent as if their plight did not concern them. They were like the Jews that the Prophet Jeremiah lamented as to the complacency of the Jews while Jesus hung in the cross. *"Is it nothing to you that passed by"*. Most animals of the same species have care and concern for one another, but the carnal mind is selfish and only, in most cases, show a helping hand when they know they will benefit from it.

How does God respond to the complacency and the spiritual lethargy of men when they see their neighbours in need and they shut up their bowels of compassion? Much more, how did God see the coldness of people towards the needs of His people? *"And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease"*. This "displeased" used here also means distressed with a reddish appearance of the eyeball. *"For I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction"*. The heathen, rather than giving a helping hand to His people, they made life more difficult for them. God wants us to be a solution to the problems of our neighbours, answers to their prayers and helpers of their destinies. Any attitude short of this is never pleasing to God.

3. Mercy for God's People

There was a conversation between the Angel on earth and the LORD of hosts which was made known to Zechariah. The Angel asked this question not because He was ignorant of the answer, but He wanted the prophet to get the answer directly from the LORD of hosts. The question was *"how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?"*. Since the neighbouring heathen had cruelly maltreated and stiffly opposed the Jews after their return from 70 years of captivity, thereby making life difficult for them, the answer to this question would delight the prophet. *"And the LORD answered...with good words and comfortable words"*. The Lord characteristically will always comfort those who are oppressed and will not quench the smoking flax.
This was the message of comfort that God delighted to give those who mourn and those who are troubled. Jeremiah was instructed to Cry thou, *"saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy"*. The Lord is always jealous towards His oppressed children and will always come to their aid and will never be late. The prophets are also expected to be sensitive towards the needs of the broken hearted.

*Prayer Points*

1.Ask God to forgive you of all attitude of complacency towards the service of God and the need of fellow believers 🙏.

2.Pray that God will touch your heart to be easily touched with the needs of others 🙏.

3.Ask for divine comfort for brethren in Light encounter tabernacle worldwide that are passing through tough times🙏

4.Ask God to visit your city and pour upon all the Spirit of repentance upon all 🙏.

Amos 6:1

Today's Message