Learn From the Mistakes of Others

"Two years have passed between chapters six and seven. Two more years will yet be required to complete the rebuilding of the Temple (cf. Ezr 6:15). The people have been working hard (cf. Hag 1:14). Many exiles had returned from Babylon and had settled in Jerusalem and the other cities of Israel (cf. Ezr 2). The scars of the Babylonian invasion are slowly being erased, but the nation is still in an interim state. During the Babylonian captivity the exiles had instituted a fast day in commemoration of the destruction of Jerusalem. Now that Jerusalem is being restored, the question arises concerning the need or validity of continuing to keep the fast. A delegation is sent to Jerusalem to inquire of the Lord; and in response, God sends four messages through His prophet to the nation." [1]  You can read the account in Zechariah 7.

The question is pretty clear: “Should I weep and abstain in the fifth month, as I have done for so many years?”” (Zechariah 7:3, ESV). "Zechariah’s answer is given to the whole question of these fasts, and it is directed to the whole nation, not just to the men in v. 2. God is not concerned about fasting per se. He desires obedience to His word (v. 7)." [2]  "Zechariah asks whether these liturgies were done for God— that is, as an act of true repentance to help build a relationship with God— or merely to free themselves from the circumstances of discipline." [3]  "The test of true repentance is a life of obedience to God, specifically, true judgments that show kindness and mercy (v. 9) to the widow and fatherless, the sojourner and the poor (v. 10)." [4]  But how did Israel respond in the past to these messages?  Why did God scatter them?

“But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the Lord of hosts. “As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one went to and fro, and the pleasant land was made desolate.”” (Zechariah 7:11–14, ESV)  

"In summary, in this section Zechariah offers not only the message of the earlier prophets but also a history lesson in the consequences of ignoring or rejecting God’s message." [5]  "The lesson to the Jews of the restoration period is clear: Do not be like your unrepentant, unfaithful, disobedient, covenant-breaking forefathers, or you will suffer a similar fate. One indispensable ingredient in true spirituality is a dogged attentiveness to familiar truths, but they did not "pay attention." [6]  "As Zechariah’s generation needed to be reminded of the example of an earlier generation of God’s people, so we must remember these examples and learn from their error." [7]

What sad words: ““As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear,” says the Lord of hosts,” (Zechariah 7:13, ESV).

Father, we somehow think that You are pleased with things “... promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body ...” (Colossians 2:23, ESV); but it is obedience that You desire. “For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:16–17, ESV). The exiles wondered if the dispersion was over.  Could they stop all the fasting?  Your answer was "yes" and "no".  Yes they could stop the fasting and start obeying. And no, they hadn't learned the lessons of their forefathers very well.  Father, you give us so much history so we can learn and change.  Open our broken and contrite hearts by Your Spirit and bring a life-transforming reflection.  May we not repeat the mistakes of yesterday.  May tomorrow bring fresh perseverance in holiness.  For Your Name sake.  

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1. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (1816). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

2. Believer’s Study Bible. 1991 (W. A. Criswell, P. Patterson, E. R. Clendenen, D. L. Akin, M. Chamberlin, D. K. Patterson & J. Pogue, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (Zec 7:3). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

3. Boda, Mark J. (2009-05-26). Haggai, Zechariah (The NIV Application Commentary) (Kindle Locations 7015-7017). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. 

4. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (1759). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

5. Boda, Mark J. (2009-05-26). Haggai, Zechariah (The NIV Application Commentary) (Kindle Locations 7117-7118). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. 

6. Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Zechariah/Exposition of Zechariah/IV. The Problem of Fasting and the Promise of the Future (7:1-8:23)/C. The Command to Repent (7:8-14), Book Version: 4.0.2

7. Boda, Mark J. (2009-05-26). Haggai, Zechariah (The NIV Application Commentary) (Kindle Locations 7210-7211). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. 

To Obey Is To Believe. To Believe Is To Obey

"This is the true meaning of becoming a Christian, even to be justified by faith in Jesus Christ, and not by the works of the law." [1]

“We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.” (Galatians 2:15–16, NIV)

This affirmation of the Gospel does not reject good works, but it places them in the proper order and sequence.  Luther tells a parable:

"This bridegroom must be alone with the bride in his secret chamber, all the servants and family being put apart. But afterwards,. when he openeth the door and cometh forth, then let the servants and handmaidens return, to fulfil their ministry. There let charity do her office, and let good works be done." [1]

Now Paul writes,"So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus" that we might be saved.  The ESV translates this “. . . so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ . . . ”  The Greek text is καὶ ἡμεῖς εἰς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐπιστεύσαμεν; or also we on Christ Jesus believed.   This is the essence of Christianity.  “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”” (John 3:14–15, NIV)

The question raised by this text is, "What does it mean to believe?" John writes in the 3rd chapter of his Gospel:   ³⁶ Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

True to Hebrew literature, John’s Gospel is structured a lot in parallelisms. This helps us understand his meaning; and more importantly, the meaning of the Holy Spirit.  Note the parallel ideas:

(+) Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life;

(-) Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life . . ..

John equates belief with obedience.  Some translations use the word reject instead of obey, but that is an inaccurate interpretation of the Greek.  The word is ἀπειθέω and is clearly used in terms of refusing to comply or obey. Notice how Jesus makes this plain in this encounter:

“While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”” (Matthew 12:46–50, NIV).

To become a Christian and live as a Christian is defined by Jesus who said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27, NIV).

 Father I love You.  Today I desire You more than I normally do.  I thank You for that passion.  I wish I always had such a preeminent affection for You.  I know part of the reason is that "the things of this earth are growing strangely dim." There is a sadness and a struggle in this life that propels me more and more to see my Savior, face-to-face.  You have saved me by Your grace.  You have given to me as a gift a precious faith purchased by Your Son on Calvary.  You have set before me a purpose and ministry in this life.  I thank you for all that because it provides on the horizon an inheritance that will never fade or grow old.  To be with Christ is far better.  But to serve and obey You is also awesome.  Help me today to magnify Jesus in my life.   May my walk of obedience confirm Your calling and choice of me.  For the glory of Christ and the joy of all who love You.  Amen.

Faith is trusting God's goodness sufficiently that it is evidenced by obedience.

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1. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.