Return To Me, Then Rebuild (Zechariah 1:1-6, 1 Peter 2:21-25)
Rev. William L. Barron, January 1, 2023Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
The prophet Zechariah brings a message of encouragement to the exiles who are about to return to their land. This book is sometimes referred to as "The Gospel Of Zechariah," because it points to Christ, or the grace of God in Christ. The book is a model of prophecy. John Calvin says that the book demonstrates the Lord's work for every age. A lesson for us is that we must care for one another and aim for reconciliation when the opportunity arises. We need this because we sometimes wander into sin. Zechariah makes four points. First, God judges all sin. The exiles' forefathers failed, and we must learn from the lessons of the past so that we do not make the same mistakes. We will all stand before God. Christ covers sin; it is a gift of grace. We are all broken in Adam, and we must repent for reconciliation. Second, God's past judgments are warnings for today. The Old Testament is not just history. It points us to the need to change how we are living, warning us to not do what our forefathers did. Third, obedience brings blessings, particularly if we confess and repent of iniquity harbored in our hearts (Ps. 66:18). Zechariah's contemporary, Haggai, taught that if we return to God, we will receive blessing. Forth, God's word is inescapable. God will stay with us, and with His judgment comes grace. Words must be followed by action. We must turn away from sin and toward God.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « The Birth Of The King | None | The Risen Christ Dissipates Our Fears And Doubts » |
Zechariah 1:1–6 (Listen)
1:1 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. 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. 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. 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.’”
(ESV)
1 Peter 2:21–25 (Listen)
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
(ESV)