WEEKLY SUNDAY
SCHOOL LESSON
An international
Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday August 23, 2015
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readers worldwide
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REPENT
AND RETURN TO THE LORD
(GOD
demands justice)
(Zechariah
7)
The book of the post-exilic prophet,
Zechariah, begins with a series of eight visions (chapters 1-6) that depict in
very graphic language, the full power that GOD has over all human events. These
visions also speak to the importance of spiritual strength, the judgment of GOD
on sin, and the promise of better times ahead for those who believe and trust in
GOD. Those eight visions are followed by a series of updated messages that
embody both, encouragement, and, further admonishments from the LORD.
There are two themes
that are emphasized in the book of Zechariah that should be of special interest
to all Christians today. First, it is a book that is filled with detailed
references to the first advent of JESUS CHRIST, our LORD and SAVIOR. They include
references of JESUS’ lowliness and 100 % humanity (Zechariah 6:20), and, HIS
kingship (Zechariah 6:13, 9:9, 14:9 & 14:16).
The second theme that
should be of interest to Christians is the motif of “eschatology” (the
systematic study of the “End Times”) that is contained in the final section of
the book in chapters 12-14. These chapters focus on the coming of the “Messianic
Age” where Jerusalem and GOD’s people will, at last, become truly holy
(obedient to GOD).
Here in Zechariah 7, however,
we see a call for justice and mercy among GOD’s people, and a change in the
treatment of the Jews toward one another, and toward GOD. GOD did not wish HIS
people to be as their ancestors were, concerning their unGODly conduct against
HIM, and, by plugging their “spiritual ears” so that they could not hear the
words of HIS prophets, who, were ushered along by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT
(v.12).
During the fourth year
of the Persian King Darius’ reign, another message came to the prophet
Zechariah from the LORD. At that time the people of Bethel had sent a
contingent of men, led by Sharezer and Regemmelech, to seek the LORD’s favor on
them. Their charge from the people of Bethel was to ask the prophets and the
priests at the Temple, whether or not they should continue to mourn and fast
each summer on the anniversary of the Temple destruction by Babylonian King
Nebuchadnezzar, as they had done since the time the exile began (Vs.1-3).
The LORD instructed
Zechariah to tell the men from Bethel, and their priests these words;
“During those seventy years of exile, when you
fasted and mourned in the summer and at the festival in early autumn, was it
really for ME that you were fasting? And even now in your holy festivals, you
don’t think about ME but only of pleasing yourselves” (Vs.4-6 - NLT).
It was the same message
that the LORD had proclaimed through the prophets years ago, all while
Jerusalem and the towns of Judah were bustling with people, and even the Negev
and the foothills of Judah were heavily populated areas. In verses 9-10 of this
passage we see yet another message to Israel from the LORD, through HIS beloved
prophet, where HE says;
“Judge fairly and
honestly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. Do not oppress widows,
orphans, foreigners, and poor people. And do not make evil plans to harm each
other” (NLT).
Zechariah 7, verses 4-10
is undoubtedly one of the clearest expressions in the bible, concerning the
heart of GOD. There HE tells us quite simply that man should honor HIM through
our daily behavior, and our positive relationships with each other, and not
through the various rituals (i.e. playing church) that satisfy only ourselves.
When our forefathers
refused to listen to GOD, HE judged them accordingly. Hopefully, we in this
generation will begin to learn from history, and then humble ourselves and
repent, lest history repeats itself, and we ourselves be judged in like manner.
Prior generations in
Israel had not heeded this same message that GOD had given to the pre-exilic
prophets. They had steadfastly turned a deaf ear to all of GOD’s warnings, and
they had hardened their hearts to a point that it simply prevented them from
hearing HIS laws, or the messages that were sent by HIS SPIRIT, through those prophets
of yore. And since the people would not listen to HIM, GOD, in return, would
not listen to the desperate cries of HIS wayward people when they were in
distress. Instead, HE scattered them into distant lands where they were forced
to live as strangers, and their own land became like a desert, and went
virtually uninhabited for a total of 70 years.
A Sunday school lesson
by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
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