-“Just Another Day At The Office” For The Lord
Zechariah was an Old Testament prophet who ministered to the Jewish people when they returned from their prophetic 70-year exile in Babylon. Along with Haggai, he was called by God to urge the people to complete the rebuilding of the temple which had been destroyed by the Babylonian armies in 586 BC. In a series of eight visions, four messages and two burdens, Zechariah encouraged his contemporaries to continue the work of the Lord because great blessings were planned for the restored nation – both then and in the future.
We have his four challenging messages to the Jewish people in Zechariah 7-8. Each begins with “the Word of the Lord came” to Zechariah (7:4, 7:8, 8:1, 8:18) for the people. These messages were the direct word of the Lord to the people through the prophet, and each builds upon the others. Zechariah 7:1-3 tells us that the four messages are the Lord’s response to a question raised by a delegation of Jews from Bethel, who had come to Jerusalem to ask the priests and prophets if they should continue to mourn and fast in the fifth and seventh months, as they had done for many years. These sorrowful fasts were not commanded in Mosaic Law – they began after Jerusalem was conquered.
The fast of the fifth month commemorated the destruction of Solomon’s temple on the ninth day of Av. This same date is still remembered today by many Jews, since the destruction of the second temple by the Romans in 70 AD also occurred on the ninth of Av (July or August). The fast of the seventh month commemorated the assassination of Gedaliah who was the governor of Judah after Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians (Jer. 41).
The delegation from Bethel had kept these fasts for 70 years in Babylon, but wondered if they should continue them now that they had returned to the land and the temple was being rebuilt. The priests didn’t have an answer. But the Lord gave Zechariah the answer – only not a direct one.
In the four messages given through Zechariah, God exposed the hypocritical hearts of many of the people and showed how different the future will be, when Messiah’s kingdom is set up and there is no more need to fast. Because hypocrisy is still a problem in the Church today, and because the peace of the Messiah’s literal kingdom on this earth is still in the future, Zechariah’s four messages are still relevant. Each speaks to the heart of God’s people today.
1. The Lord desires righteousness rather than ritual.
Then the word of the Lord Almighty came to me: “Ask all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted?’” Zechariah 7:4-5 NIV
Zechariah 7:4-7 contains the first message – one of rebuke by the Lord for the way the people kept these fasts. The practice of fasting in commemoration of a terrible event was not wrong, but the Lord rebuked them because they were not fasting as repentance for past sins that led to the exile, or from true sorrow for the destruction of the temple. Their fasting was mere obligatory ritual. They were just going through the motions, and this was hypocrisy.
Unfortunately the same was also true for their celebration of many religious feasts. The people were eating and drinking for selfish reasons – their hearts were not right with God. Their lives were not characterized by righteousness, but ritual. What was true in Zechariah’s day is also true today – the Lord hates hypocrisy. He desires righteousness, not religiosity.
Why do you go to church? Is it just a weekly ritual, or do you truly want to worship the Lord and learn from His Word? Are you bored with church, attending for selfish reasons like looking spiritual, or because it’s socially acceptable, or even because you’ve always gone? Where’s your heart? The Lord desires righteousness rather than ritual!
2. The Lord desires compassion rather than complacency.
And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.’” Zechariah 7:8-10
Zechariah’s second message (Zech. 7:8-14) was one of repentance. Not only were the people just going through the motions when they fasted, but also they were falling back into their old ways of ignoring social justice and failing to show compassion for the poor and needy. That self-centered lifestyle was the very reason God sent them into exile in Babylon for 70 years!
God had sent many pre-exilic prophets to warn the nation about their selfish ways, and predictions of the coming captivity. Remember the prophetic messages of Isaiah and Jeremiah and other prophets? But the people refused to listen and turned their backs on God (7:11). If they had responded to the prophets then, the Lord would have spared the nation from exile and His temple from destruction, and there would have been no need for the mourning and fasting of the fifth and seventh months.
Now what about the new generation that had returned from captivity? Would they show compassion for the widows, orphans and oppressed, or would they resume the lifestyle that led to captivity? And what about you? Do you show compassion for the needy, or are you too busy caring for your own interests?
Having concern and compassion for the poor and helpless is not just a mandate for Old Testament times. God’s people today also need to be concerned about social problems. For example, James 1:27 says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.” We must not be indifferent to social issues, or merely discuss the problems of needy people – we should do something to help!
If you’re wondering what you can do, start by praying for people you know who need a helping hand – then do something to help them! Ask your local church about ministries through which you can share with people in need. Remember, the Lord desires compassion rather than complacency.
3. The Lord will turn problems into peace.
Again the word of the Lord Almighty came to me. This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.” This is what the Lord says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called The Holy Mountain.” Zechariah 8:1-3
Zechariah’s third message (8:1-17) was one of restoration in the near and far future. In fact, the promised restoration of the temple that took place under Zerubbabel looked ahead to the full restoration to come in Messiah’s reign. In 8:9-17, the Lord promised immediate blessing. The problems they had faced when they returned from captivity and started rebuilding would be removed. Their land would prosper and they would be blessed instead of disciplined (8:15). All God asked was this: “Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against your neighbor and do not love to swear falsely” (8:16-17). In other words, if they wanted His blessing, He asked that they practice truth, justice and peace.
The Lord’s requirements for holy living then should speak to the hearts of His people today. Take a good look at your life. Is it characterized by truthfulness, or do you practice subtle deceptions with family, boss and friends? Are you fair with others in business, or are you known for being shrewd? Are you a peacemaker, or do you disrupt every fellowship you attend?
The Lord’s requirements of truth, justice and peace are just as applicable today as they were in the sixth century BC. The immediate restoration and blessing in Zechariah’s day anticipated the greater restoration and blessing to come with the Messiah (covered in the first part of the message). Because the Messiah was rejected at His first coming, the complete fulfillment of the prophecy in verses 8:1-8 awaits Christ’s second coming and millennial kingdom. “Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth and the mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called The Holy Mountain” (8:3).
Jerusalem will be at peace, and the streets will be filled with children playing (8:4-5). That isn’t the situation in Jerusalem today, where citizens face many problems and much opposition. But when the Lord returns, all that will be replaced with blessing and peace. We know this prophecy was not fulfilled in past times because 8:7 says that the Lord will bring His people back from the east and west. Jews have never returned to Israel from the west until modern times. And this is just the beginning! Great blessing will take place in the future, when the Jews return to the Lord, and when the Lord Himself “will return and dwell in Jerusalem” (8:3), and turn problems into peace.
4. The Lord will turn fasts into feasts.
Again the word of the Lord Almighty came to me. This is what the Lord Almighty says: “The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.” Zechariah 8:18-19
Zechariah’s fourth message (8:18-23) was one of rejoicing! Two more fasts are mentioned in 8:19 – the tenth-month fast remembered the siege of Jerusalem, and the fourth-month fast recalled its capture. Zechariah’s message from the Lord is that all these sorrowful fasts will be turned to joyous feasts when the Messiah sets up His glorious kingdom. Then there will be no need to fast!
The fasts mentioned in Zechariah’s messages commemorated events that took place because of the faults of ancient Israel, but all these will be forgotten with the feasts of the future kingdom. Then believers worldwide will come to Jerusalem to celebrate (8:20-22), and Israel will be a blessing for the nations of the world. There will be no hatred or anti-Semitism (8:23). What a great day! The Lord will turn fasts into feasts!
What About Today?
What seems like a big deal to us is “just another day at the office” for the Lord! That’s what Zechariah 8:6 means: “‘It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to Me?’ declares the Lord Almighty.” In other words, don’t think that these prophetic blessings will be hard for God to accomplish. Solving all problems and bringing great blessing seemed unbelievable to the people of that day, but for God it’s the norm!
And it’s true today as well. I trust your God’s not too small! Have you had the faith to see God at work in your life? Or have you only heard about His great work in the lives of others? You too can experience the wonderful blessings of the Lord in your life, family and church. No matter what difficulties you face, God is able to handle all of them! God can “do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Eph. 3:20). What seems like a big deal to us is “just another day at the office” for Him!
By David R. Reid
With permission to publish by: Sam Hadley, Grace & Truth, 210 Chestnut St., Danville, IL., USA. Website: www.gtpress.org
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