A Call to Return to the Lord

 

August 11, 2020

 

Zechariah Introduction

 

Zechariah prophesied to a group of discouraged Israelites announcing that it was a new day for God’s chosen people.  He sought to inspire those who had returned from captivity to rebuild the temple and rededicate their lives to the Lord.  The message of encouragement involved surrealistic visions and vivid poetic images focused on a reversal of God’s judgment, and called for a reversal of the people’s behavior.

 

Zechariah returned to Judah with the former exiles and was apparently a priest Neh12:16).   He was a contemporary of Haggai.  Though nothing is known of cooperation between the two prophets, they had similar missions and are credited with the successful reconstruction of the temple (Zech. 5:1-2; 6:14). (Taken from the Holman Study Bible)

 

 

Chapter 1:1-6

 

A Call to Return to the Lord

In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying,  “The Lord was very angry with your fathers.  Therefore, say to them, Thus declares the Lord of hosts: Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts.  Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried out, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.’ But they did not hear or pay attention to me, declares the Lord.  Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?   But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers?  So, they repented and said, ‘As the Lord of hosts purposed to deal with us for our ways and deeds, so has he dealt with us.’”

 

As we explore Zechariah, we must also recall the prophet Haggai in that both men were responsible for the temple being rebuilt.  In fact, they both began the call to rebuild about two months apart.  King Cyrus of Persia had issued an edict giving the Israelites permission to return from exile to their homeland 19 years earlier.

Because their fathers would not listen to God’s prophet they reaped what they sowed, and God sent the Assyrians to destroy Samaria and the northern 10 tribes, and the Babylonians demolished Jerusalem and the southern two tribes.  

 

We see the Lord speaking through His prophet Zechariah almost begging the people not to do as their fathers.  Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried out, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.’ But they did not hear or pay attention to me, declares the Lord.  Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?   But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers?  So, they repented and said, ‘As the Lord of hosts purposed to deal with us for our ways and deeds, so has he dealt with us.’”

 

I believe the USA would be very wise to not only listen to these words but to take action on this message.  For God has spoken in Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”  Wake up, God is Love, Mercy, Kindness, Goodness, and Faithfulness, but He is also a Mighty Judge, and a Mighty Warrior, who has contempt for posers who believe that doing good will put them in right standing with a Holy God.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice