Zechariah 1:1-6
Zechariah • Sermon • Submitted
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You’d (almost) be forgiven for thinking that a Bible book like Zechariah has nothing to say to the contemporary church.
It’s a wild book of prophecy, with some crazy-sounding dreams and visions.
But, we have more in common with Zechariah’s audience than you might realise.
They were a community in turmoil. Recovering from a period of trauma, having lived through something no one had experienced before.
They were a discouraged community. Disheartened at the state of things, particularly when it came to the Kingdom of God.
They were a weary community. Worn out by opposition and the hard work facing them.
We’ll get to the reasons why they were feeling all this shortly.
But for now, it’s enough to see that in that sense, the message of Zechariah is both relevant and necessary for us today.
A lot of us are saying the same kinds of things:
We’re still finding our feet after the last couple of years. The pandemic has affected us in all kinds of ways that we’re maybe only just realising.
We’re feeling discouraged, because gospel work is hard, slow work. We disappointed that we’re not seeing more fruit - gospel conversations, people on courses, at events, converstions, baptisms etc.
And a lot of are feeling tired - a new kind of tired. Weary. Spent. And some of that is to do with serving in the church, as well as in the home, as well as in the workplace and elsewhere.
We’re longing for better days! We’re praying for better things! As were the people in Zechariah’s day.
And the Lord had many encouraging things to say through Zechariah that still speak today - there are better times ahead!
But his first message was also a challenge: instead of focussing on the things “out there,” make sure you take care of things “in here.” In the community. In the heart.
The first 6 verses serve as an introduction to the themes of the whole book.
Two key points: Learn from the past. Resolve to be renewed.
Learn From The Past
Learn From The Past
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 ancestors.
This helps us figure out where we are. First - a brief history lesson.
Why was the Lord angry with their ancestors? And how is that supposed to encourage anyone, especially when they’re already down in the dumps!?
This is all very necessary - the people want to see things get better. But first they have some things to deal with - the lessons are found in the past.
After the rule of Solomon, Israel was divided into two kingdoms - the Northern Kingdom (called Israel), and the Southern Kingdom (Judah).
Repeated unfaithfulness, covenant-breaking, idol-worshipping, meant that...
Northern kingdom was sacked and scattered by Assyria in 722BC.
586BC - Jerusalem defeated by Neb, population deported to Babylon. Remained in exile for 70 years (as per Jeremiah 25:11)
Catastrophic. A humanitarian crisis - similar to Ukraine. But also a spiritual crisis - God’s people are not in God’s place, under his rule, enjoying his blessing anymore.
Sad thing - it was all avoidable
Do not be like your ancestors, 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.
Prophets like Isaiah, Hosea, Micah had been sent to warn a rebellious people and turn them back to the Lord.
But again and again they did the opposite.
Which is what led to the exile. It was what the Lord had said would happen from the beginning, in the curses listed in Deut 28.
Deuteronomy 28:36 (NIV)
The Lord will drive you and the king you set over you to a nation unknown to you or your ancestors.
The Lord was very angry with their ancestors. The Babylonian exile ought to have been enough of a wake-up call.
But clearly they needed to be reminded.
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.
Even after all that this nation has, after all it has deseved, the Lord stands with open arms and invites them back into his covenant love.
Just like the prodigal father who welcomed back the son who squandered his inheritance, the Lord is patient, merciful and gracious towards his people.
But what about them? Would they learn from the past? Would they ever be able to truly commit themselves to the Lord? We’ll see!
For our own purposes, what lessons from the past do we need to learn?
We may well lament the state of the church in the UK today, but how have we got here? What collective sins might need to be repented of? What have we neglected or failed to do as the people of God?
Or, put it more positively, what can we learn from past periods of blessing, such as revivals? What were believers doing around the time of the Great Awakening, for example?
One thing is for sure - nothing will improve our situation if all churches do is sit back and accept the status quo, accept the steady decline.
And nothing will change if all we do is blame what is going on “out there.” We’ve got to first pay attention to what may need to change “in here” - in the church, in our hearts, individually, corporately.
There is much to be learned from the past - from times of blessing and times of decline.
But we can’t afford to stop there. We must also...
Resolve To Be Renewed
Resolve To Be Renewed
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.
Echoed in James
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
A bit more history -
539BC - Babylon fell to Persia,
Cyrus decreed Jews could return and rebuild Temple
Small number back in Jerusalem, sacrifices restarted and foundation built
Opposition and discouragement brought work to a standstill
520BC - God raised up Haggai & Zech to encourage the people to rebuild and renew
Haggai: rebuild the temple
Zech: renew yourselves
Point: a rebuilt temple is no good without a renewed people
A rebuilt Temple of God is no good without a renewed people of God.
The people have returned to Jerusalem, they have returned to offering sacrifices, they’ve returned to rebuild the House of the Lord, but have they returned to the Lord?
The very fact that God appeals to them in this way suggests that they haven’t. But they need to hurry up...
Zechariah 1:5–6 (NIV)
Where are your ancestors 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 ancestors?
God’s patience does not last forever, but his word does. His word and his will stand for all eternity, and his purposes will not be thwarted by a rebellious people.
Rather than being shoved out of his way, get alligned with his way - repent and return to the Lord, says Zechariah.
It’s a plea for wholehearted renewal on the part of the people. God’s position is clear: he will return to them in a heartbeat, if only their hearts would beat for him again.
Zechariah 1:6 (NIV)
“Then they repented and said, ‘The Lord Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to do.’ ”
Just like the prodigal son, who eventually came to his senses and went home to his father, the people couldn’t ignore the truth any longer.
They admit that they deserved all that the Lord had brought about. They confess that his word stands against them.
And so they resolve to be renewed.
But, the point is, no matter how sincere their resolution is, no matter how determined they are to learn from the past and remain faithful into the future, they simply can’t do it.
The next several chapters in Zechariah are dreams. It’s going to be a crazy ride! But those visions reveal that all is still not well with the people, even after they resolve to be renewed.
And in later chapters come promises of a new King, a shepherd who will deliver and save, one who will cleanse from sin and bring about a new era of worship to the Lord.
Only when Jesus appears can their be any hope of true renewal.
And so what joy is ours that we can hear the call of our father in v3 to return to him, and know that we can do so, fully and freely through our Saviour Jesus and filled with his Spirit!
And just as with the people of old, this is not a one-time thing. We must be continually, repeatedly, daily resolving to be renewed in the Lord.
Again, it’s all very well wishing things were better, that people were more open to the gospel, that we saw more conversions and baptisms, that our church was bigger and better -
But a rebuilt church of God is no good without a renewed people of God.
Yes, we’ve been thrown by the last few years. It’s changed a lot of things. It’s taken it’s toll on us. But not even pandemics get in the way of God’s plans, and we need a renewed confidence in the power and sovereignty of God.
Yes, we’re discouraged. Even before covid things were hard in terms of gospel work. We have seen only a small number of people saved in the last several years. But nothing has changed really. God is still saving and he still desires to save. We need a renewed conviction that the gospel is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.
And yes, we’re tired. Weary. Spent. There are so many good things that need to be done, but we only have so much in ourselves to give. But God has always been in the business of displaying his power through weakness. He has a thing for using broken and battle-worn servants to do his eternal work. We need a renewed confidence that our labour in the Lord is not in vain.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Instead of resolving to just let things wash over us, let’s resolve to be renewed in the Lord as we trust in him to do his work through us.
And just as with the people of Israel, that starts with us learning the lessons that need to be learned. Perhaps part of the reason the UK is where it is today is because we have stopped actively depending on the Lord.
Instead, maybe we’ve started to believe that the church is built by programs and initiatives, rather than prayer and trust.
If there is one takeaway point from this message, make it this one: let’s resolve to be renewed in the Lord by depending on the Lord more actively in prayer.
And one of the best ways to do that is by doing it together.
Read the account of just about any revival in history and you will find a group of believers praying for it.
Whether revival comes or not, let us be found bowed before the Lord in humble dependance, resolved to be renewed in him.