From Zechariah 1-7
The people of God are under Persian rule in exile. In the opening chapter of Zechariah, the prophet recalls what happened to their fathers. He instructs the people to repent of their evil deeds before the LORD’s word of judgment overtakes them.
This post is part of my bible in a year series.
Passage and Comments
The people are in exile. They are under the reign of the Persian ruler Darius. Zechariah is about to give them a history lesson. Will they learn from the past?
1 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, 2 “The LORD was very angry with your fathers. (Zec 1.1-2)
‘The LORD was very angry with your fathers’. Perhaps an understatement. But this is the whole reason why they are in exile in the first place. Their fathers persistently rejected the LORD despite numerous warnings. They sinned and repeatedly committed idolatry. Abandoning the LORD. The LORD had to honour his side of the covenant and send them into exile for their sins.
Will this generation learn from their past? From their fathers past mistakes?
3 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. (Zec 1.3)
The verse repeats ‘the LORD of hosts’ three times. The emphasis is on his authority, power and claim over his people. His people who have not turned to the LORD.
The LORD promises to be with those who repent and turn to him.
4 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. (Zec 1.4)
The people are told, ‘Don’t be like your fathers. They too performed evil deeds.’ The ‘former prophets’ spoke to them before their exile. But they persisted in their sin.
But they didn’t repent in time and look what happened as a result. Zechariah has reminded them of their fathers mistakes in the hope this current generation will learn from them.
Because of the LORD’s anger at their fathers, Zechariah commands the people to repent.
5 Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?
6 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.’ ” (Zec 1.5-6)
The LORD contrasts how long their fathers and the prophets who spoke to them lived with the words and statutes he has commanded. The point is their fathers and the prophets saw the time when the LORD’s predicted punishment finally caught up with them.
The LORD’s word will remain forever. Sooner or later, justice will be done.
When their fathers came under the LORD’s punishment they recognised it for what it was and repented. Zechariah gives this current generation opportunity to repent before it is too late.
Story of Israel
“The historical situation that occasioned Zechariah 1–8 was the return of the Jews from exile following the defeat of the Babylonians by Cyrus, king of Persia, in 540 BC. In recent years, the notions of “exile” and “return” have attracted much criticism, criticism that is justified if these terms conjure up the idea of Judah as an empty land from 587 to 540, which was repopulated by the descendants of those who had been deported to Babylon in 597, 587, and 582. Judah was not an empty land during this period. However, the temple in Jerusalem remained in ruins, and those who lived in the land had little or no opportunity to organize themselves politically as a national entity. What the “return” offered was the possibility of renewed, organized national identity, albeit within limits prescribed by the Persians. The OT writers saw this possibility of national renewal as a gift of God via his servant Cyrus (2 Chr 36:22–23; Ezra 1:1–4; Isa 44:28; 45:1); and the fact that Zechariah’s prophecies are dated to the reign of Darius I (521–486) can be taken as an indication of a pro-Persian attitude in the book. It does not require a great deal of imagination to picture the hopes and expectations of those who were given the opportunity to reorganize national life after 540.” (Rogerson, J.W., 2003. Zechariah. In J. D. G. Dunn & J. W. Rogerson, eds. Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, p. 721.)
Story of Jesus
After predicting the coming of the Christ and the kingdom of God, John the Baptist warns his audience and commands them to repent.
7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance.
And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Lk 3.2-9)
John predicts a coming wrath. The wrath of God will be poured out on all those who continue in sin.
If there is some sin in your life repent of it now. Don’t wait for the LORD’s word to overtake you.
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