Last time our exiles had just been encouraged: the work they were doing would be worth it. The glory of this temple would exceed Solomon’s.
Suddenly, a new voice: Zechariah.
Zechariah means “The LORD remembers.” I learned from this study that whenever we see LORD in all capitals, it is referring to Covenant Yahweh – Covenant Maker, Covenant Keeper. The Faithful One. The One Who had to seek us out or we would be hopelessly lost.
Let’s see what our prophet has to say and what it has to do with our Covenant Keeper Remembering:
“In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo:
‘The LORD was very angry with your forefathers. Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says:
‘Return to me,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty.
Do not be like your forefathers, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the LORD.
Where are your forefathers now? And the prophets, do they live forever? But did not my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your forefathers?
‘Then they repented and said, ‘The LORD Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to.'”
(Zech 1:1-6)
According to the timeline chart in my Study Bible (pg 1331), the portion from Haggai last week was spoken to our exiles in October 520 B.C. Approximately one month later in November, Zechariah’s new word comes for our exiles.
I wonder why?
Had they not been obeying? Did they not pick back up their tools and work, armed with the knowledge that God’s glory would be greater in this new temple?
Or had they obeyed, but for some reason needed a different, more negative message?
I know I do sometimes. Encouragement can only get me so far in certain situations. The rest of the way? I need the flip side of parenting from my Good Father: discipline.
In this initial section, the focus of our Covenant God’s remembering is the exiles’ forefathers’ disobedience. Which resulted in slavery. He is urging them to be different. To return to Him and He will return to them.
But they were, weren’t they?
Oh, but there is One Who sees our hearts. All the way down to our motivations.
I know God is all about us doing the right thing even when we don’t feel the right thing. But there’s something in that appeal to return to Him.
Like most tender areas, I may not even have to ask. But I will. Just know I’m asking myself, too:
Where do you need to return to Him? Not just in actions, but in First Love ways?
I have been having a couple of weeks where I felt my actions were about 10 steps ahead of my heart. I know that I know He doesn’t want me to stop the right actions.
But my recurring prayer?
Help me. Be love in me and through me.
I personally want a warning. A small bit of fear of all I will miss out on and personal slavery that will result if I haven’t “returned” to Him in my heart.
Because in the end, all I want is Him.