Zechariah Part 14: A God Honoring Society

Text: Zechariah 8:16-17.

Intro: what does a nation that honors God look like?

What God Wants From Them

Israel’s continuing problem

As He’s mentioned before, Zech. 5:3.

Its addressing the two areas where sin is present

personal relationships

Speak Truth

Don’t devise evil against one another

A people who claims Yahweh as their god cannot do anything but the opposite

leaders of Israel

give judgments that are true and make for peace

love no false oath

Leaders of a nation must bow to Yahweh

This is carried over to the church

Speak The Truth To One Another

To Israel

presupp., Isaiah 45:19.

Why is this a problem?

Truth must be the bedrock of any just society

God is now with them

a society that claims to have Yahweh as their God, must be committed to the truth

He is the god of truth, Deut. 32:4.

if they are known for lies, why would they believe them about God?

To Us

Is this a problem for us?

Ep. 4:25. i remember changing my life around, lying about things that didn't matter.

not forgetting Rev. 21:8.

Render Judgments That Are True and Make For Peace

To Israel

In your gates

the gates of the city was where judgments were made (Deut. 21:19, Amos 5:15)

Why is this a problem?

have they had this problem before?

Yahweh Is a just God, Isaiah 30:18.

To Us

Is this a problem for us?

john 7:24.

Do Not Devise Evil In Your Heart

To Israel

Why is this a problem?

said before, Zech. 7:10.

In your heart means that this is contemplated evil, not intrusive thoughts

lebab - heart, conscience, inner person, the locus of a persons thoughts.

have they had this problem before?

To Us

Is this a problem for us?

Matthew 15:19-20.

Love No False Oath

To Israel

Why is this a problem?

Zech. 5:3.

have they had this problem before?

To Us

Is this a problem for us?

These Things I Hate

mirroring Proverbs 6:16-19.