"Return to Me," Says the LORD: Repentance the Forgotten Christian Virtue
Exposition through the Book of Zechariah • Sermon • Submitted
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· 12 viewsReturn to the LORD–Repent of sin and turn to Him
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Introduction
Repentance is a change of mind leading to a change of action.
but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
...“The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” Quickly after hearing Yahweh declare His character, Moses “bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.”
My wife, Clare and I have the immense privilege of raising three sons, Noah, Daniel and Boaz. It is a daunting task raising children in a world such as this, with rampant sin and wickedness all around and sin within.
As soon as Moses heard, Yahweh proclaim His perfections, Moses “bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.”
We are young parents, my oldest is five and youngest is one, but one thing we know for sure is that they are born dead in their sin.
When we grow in our understanding of the perfections of God, the only appropriate response is humble worship.
When we grow in our understanding of the perfections of God, the only appropriate response is humble worship.
When we grow in our understanding of the perfections of God, the only appropriate response is humble worship.
We don’t need to teach them how to sin, it just comes out of them.
We didn’t need to teach them how to lie, or steel, or hurt or dishonor God or others.
We didn’t need to teach them how to slander one another or boast in their pride.
The reality is that all of us are just born this way.
And that is why one of the most frequent prayers with utter to Gog on behalf of our children, is that He might save them.
That is why we diligently labor to teach them about God and His will as revealed in His Word
That is why we seek to teach them about the:
character of God
and the work of God
and His plan of redemption as revealed from Genesis through to Revelation
that is why we constantly expose them to the good news of salvation, that they might understand the Person and work of Jesus Christ—His life, death and resurrection.
We tell them about how much Jesus loves children, “He says, let the little children come to me.”
And when we sin against them, which we do often, we confess it to them, helping them understand that we have sinned against both them and God.
But at the same time, pointing them to Christ’s finished work on the cross where there is salvation and forgiveness of sins for all who believe
For all who trust in His work alone for their salvation.
Sin separates us from our God
He created us in His image, after His likeness in order to have a relationship with us, but we like our first parents, Adam, sinned against Him and we continue to do so...
And that is why we need a new heart—regeneration
so that we might be set free from the enslavement of sin
and walk in the newness of life as the Holy Spirit leads and transforms us into the image of Christ, as He takes the Truths of God’s Word an implants it into our minds and hearts leading to a transformed life:
What we believe is what we think, say and do.
What
And the questions is, do you believe in the word of the Lord?
Are you keeping short accounts of sin, continually confessing your sins to God, knowing that “if you confess your sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness?”
we sin and blame it on others
we
God’s kindness, which leads to repentance
Sin hinders our relationship with God and others.
Sin robs us our joy in Christ
God’s kindness, which leads to repentance
God wrath, His hatred of sin
God justice, His punishment of sin
And
Sin causes disunity within the home, the church and world.
Sin brings God’s judgment and fellowship with Him is only possible through full and sincere repentance.
We see this theme running throughout Scripture, where God constantly calls His people to repent —> as the only way of escaping the judgment; and receive the forgiveness and restoration which He offers.”
Sin cause
So with that in mind, please open your Bibles to the Book of Zechariah, which you will find near the end of the OT (it is the second last book of the OT (Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi).
We will focus on although we look at several other passages so as to understand both the historical context and the historical referent of this prophecy.
I want you to understand what took place during this period, 500AD in Israel’s history as well as what this points to, namely, the work of Christ–His life, death and then coming judgement that He will pour out in the Great Tribulation, where He will destroy and cleanse the earth, which will lead to the salvation and repentance of the Jews, the binding of Satan and His demons in the bottomless pit; and the restoration of the earth, when He reigns as the Messianic King over His people Israel, fulfilling His promises to them.
This prophecy is a message hope and comfort which can only be found in Jesus Christ, who is both the Savior and Messianic King of His people.
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Proposition
In we see three reasons why we must turn from sin and turn to God—repenting of our sin and trusting in Jesus.
All three reasons are based upon the character of Yahweh, the LORD—uppercase “L,” “O,” “R,’” “D,” which we see in verse 1, verse 2, twice in verse 3, verse 4, verse 5, and verse 6—in every verse we see Yahweh, the LORD, the Triune Covenant keeping God of the Bible.
Three reasons why we are to repent and trust in Jesus,
1) Firstly, because of The LORD’s Anger, verses 1 and 2.
2) Secondly, because of The LORD’s Compassion, verses 3 and 4.
3) The third and final reason which we see in this text, is seen in verses 5 and 6, The LORD’s Faithfulness.
Three reasons why we must repent of our sins and place our faith in the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Messianic King, who will return and establish His Kingdom, according to the pre-determined plan of Yahweh, the LORD, the Triune God.
Before we take a closer look at the character of God, it is important that we understand a little bit about the historical context in which this prophecy was given.
Take a look at verse 1, Zechariah explains that it was “In the eight month, in the second year of Darius,” that “the word of Yahweh came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo,”
We see in the middle of verse 1 that “the word of Yahweh came to the prophet Zechariah.”
As we look at the Book of Zechariah in our Bible’s today, it is important to remember that this was written more than 2500 years ago—during the time of the prophets.
A concept that we may not be familiar with, because there are no prophets today.
However, as we trace the ministry of the prophets throughout the OT, we can see they were men appointed by God to speak on behalf of God.
, we know the account well.
Abraham meets Abimelech king of Gerar and does a foolish thing—due to his fear of man and his lack of trust in and fear of God, he gives Sarah his wife, to Abimelech saying “she is my sister” (cf. 20:2–3).
But God, Elohim, the Triune God who is so patient with His children, quickly intervened, and came to Abimelech in a dream by night saying: “you are a dead man because of the woman you have taken, for she is a man’s wife” (cf. 20:3).
Well, praise the LORD, He intervened, and in a dream he said to Abimelech: “you are a dead man because of the woman you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.”
And then in verse 7, God says to Abimelech, “return” Abraham’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that “he will pray for you, and you shall live.”
God appointed Abraham to speak the Word of God, so that Abimelech might live.
Another well-known example is , the LORD, Yahweh said to Moses
“See, I have made you like God, Elohim to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go...”
Moses would speak the Word of Yahweh to Aaron and Aaron would speak to Pharoah.
The prophet Moses, speaking on behalf of God says in “Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.”
Because this is the Word of God right—we don’t add to Scripture; we don’t remove from Scripture.
And then in Chapter 13 he says, that if “a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, …and says, ‘Let us go after other gods,” and “let us serve them,” “you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams” (), but instead verse 5, you are to put that “prophet or dreamer of dreams” “to death.”
And then in Chapter 13 he says, that if “a prophet or a dreamer or dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, …and says, ‘Let us go after other gods,” and “let us serve them,” “you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams” (), but verse 5, put that “prophet or dreamer of dreams” “to death.”
But Moses, in says to Israel that there will come a prophet after him who will receive and speak Divine revelation and lead God’s people;”
the coming Messiah, who like Moses would receive and preach divine revelation and lead His people (cf. , , ; ; ). In fact, Jesus was like Moses in several other ways: 1) He was spared death as a baby (; ); 2) He renounced a royal court (; ); 3) He had compassion on His people (; ); 4) He made intercession for the people (; ); 5) He spoke with God face to face (, ; ); and 6) He was the mediator of a covenant (; ,
and we know from Matthew, John, Paul and the Author of Hebrews that this Ultimate Prophet is the second Person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ, the Messiah—He is the Ultimate Moses (c.f. , , ; ; ); like Moses but far greater, Jesus:
The MacArthur Study Bible Chapter 18
the coming Messiah, who like Moses would receive and preach divine revelation and lead His people (cf. John 1:21, 25, 43–45; 6:14; 7:40). In fact, Jesus was like Moses in several other ways: 1) He was spared death as a baby (Ex. 2; Matt. 2:13–23); 2) He renounced a royal court (Phil. 2:5–8; Heb. 11:24–27); 3) He had compassion on His people (Num. 27:17; Matt. 9:36); 4) He made intercession for the people (Deut. 9:18; Heb. 7:25); 5) He spoke with God face to face (Ex. 34:29, 30; 2 Cor. 3:7); and 6) He was the mediator of a covenant (Deut. 29:1; Heb. 8:6, 7
1) was spared death as a baby (; );
speaking of the Ultimate Prophet, Jesus Christ the Messiah explains that he like Moses would receive and proclaim Divine revelation and lead His people (c.f. , , ; ; ). In fact, Jesus was like Moses in several other ways: 1) He was spared death as a baby (; ); 2) He renounced a royal court (; ); 3) He had compassion on His people (; ); 4) He made intercession for the people (; ); 5) He spoke with God face to face (, ; ); and 6) He was the mediator of a covenant (; ,
2) He renounced a royal court (; );
3) He had compassion on His people (; );
4) He made intercession for the people (; );
5) He spoke with God face to face (, ; ); and
6) He was the mediator of a covenant—the New Covenant (; )
It is in Samuel and Kings that we see a period of Israel’s history where they reject Yahweh as their King and choose wimp to be their king, king Saul.
But as Moses speaks, Jesus had not yet come, and so again in he warns Israel about the many false prophets “who will, verse 20
“presume to speak a word in the name” of God, “a word which” God did “not command him to speak” (18:20)
presume to speak a word in the name” of God, “a word which” God did “not command him to speak” (18:20)
they will “speak in the name of other gods” (18:20).
“that same prophet shall die” (18:20).
And you will know that they are a false prophet because “the word” that they spoke will not, and does not “come to pass or come true” (18:22)
Let’s look at one more example, which I would like you to turn to in your Bibles, .
It is in Samuel and Kings that we see a period of Israel’s history where they reject Yahweh as their King and choose wimp to be their king, king Saul.
This is the period in Israel’s history where they reject Yahweh as King and choose a wimp of a king; they chose king Saul to be their king.
In we read:
6 [Saul’s servant] said to him [concerning Samuel], 6 “Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor; all that he says comes true. So now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us the way we should go.”
7 Then Saul said to his servant, “But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”
8 The servant answered Saul again, “Here, I have with me a quarter of a shekel of silver, and I will give it to the man of God to tell us our way.”
9 (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, “Come, let us go to the seer,” for today’s “prophet” was formerly called a seer.)
We see here that God’s people understood that, God’s appointed prophet speaks on behalf of God.
In verse 6 we see that God’s prophet
Is a man of God, a man who belongs to God.
Sometimes people or the king call for the prophet and at other times, God Himself calls him and sends him out with a message.
he is a man who is held in honor, he was well-known in the community, probably because of his ongoing ministry within it.
all that he says comes true, I mean, “duh...” If he speaks on behalf of God, of course it’s going to come true.
In verse 7 we see that
Sometimes they were paid for their ministry.
Other times, it is God Himself who calls Him and commissions him to take a specific message to a people or a king.
A prophet was well-known in the community; probably because of his ongoing ministry within it;
A prophet was well-known in the community; probably because of his ongoing ministry within it; although he himself doesn't belong to any one given community. He belongs first and foremost to God, He is the “man of God.”
Prophets represent God to the people.
But because Yahweh is a faithful covenant keeping God, He didn't leave His people Israel without “His Word,” which “He spoke,” through “His appointed prophets...”
provides helpful background information to the prophetic ministry; keep your finger in Zechariah and turn to .
So with your finger’s in Zechariah let’s turn back to that period of Israel’s history where this transition takes place, .
We know that sometimes, God called them to leave their occupation.
Sometimes they were paid for their ministry, but at other times, God called them to leave their occupation. Sometimes they remained in some specific occupation. But a prophet could not be bought, they belonged to God alone.
provides helpful background information to the prophetic ministry—the former prophets, which we read about in the Book of Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings.
Other times, God called they remained within a specific occupation.
But, a prophet could never be bought—he belonged to God, he is God’s man.
God’s prophet was a man of God, who spoke the Word of God to whomever God ordained,
whether it be His people,
, Israel back to obedience to God’s will as laid out in the Mosiac Covenant.
or the wicked nations around
or to the king himself.
Most often, God sent His prophets to Israel, calling them to
return to Yahweh,
and to forsake the gods of the nations
and submit to and worship Him alone.
God’s prophet would call the people back to obedience as laid out in the Mosiac covenant.
Saul’s servant said to him concerning Samuel, “Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor; all that he says comes true. So now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us the way we should go.”
(ESV)
6 [Saul’s servant] said to him [concerning Samuel], 6 “Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor; all that he says comes true. So now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us the way we should go.”
“Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor; all that he says comes true.
So now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us the way we should go.” 7 Then Saul said to his servant, “But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” 8 The servant answered Saul again, “Here, I have with me a quarter of a shekel of silver, and I will give it to the man of God to tell us our way.” 9 (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, “Come, let us go to the seer,” for today’s “prophet” was formerly called a seer.)
6 But he said to him, “Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor; all that he says comes true. So now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us the way we should go.” 7 Then Saul said to his servant, “But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” 8 The servant answered Saul again, “Here, I have with me a quarter of a shekel of silver, and I will give it to the man of God to tell us our way.” 9 (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, “Come, let us go to the seer,” for today’s “prophet” was formerly called a seer.)
7 Then Saul said to his servant, “But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”
8 The servant answered Saul again, “Here, I have with me a quarter of a shekel of silver, and I will give it to the man of God to tell us our way.”
9 (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, “Come, let us go to the seer,” for today’s “prophet” was formerly called a seer.)
We see that God’s prophet brings the Word of God
We see here in these verses that God’s prophet speaks for God.
He doesn't have any political or ethnic allegiance—He is God’s servant.
Sometimes it’s the people or the king who calls for God’s prophet.
Other times, it is God Himself who calls Him and commissions him to take a specific message to a people or a king.
And sometimes God’s prophet was called by God Himself, who commissions him to take a specific message to a people or a king.
A prophet was well-known in the community; probably because of his ongoing ministry within it; although he himself doesn't belong to any one given community. He belongs first and foremost to God, He is the “man of God.” He doesn't have any political or ethnic allegiance—He is God’s servant.
Prophets represent God to the people.
Sometimes they were paid for their ministry, that’s how they lived if God called them to leave their occupation. Sometimes they remained in some specific occupation. But they could not be bought; they belong to God alone. They are His spokesman. His servant. No one owns them except God Himself.
Prophets called the people and the king to do God’s will.
They often called God’s people, Israel back to obedience to God’s will as laid out in the Mosiac Covenant.
They
And sometimes
God’s prophet, the Man of God, who was also formerly called a “seer” was held in honor; and all that he says comes true.
Verses 6 indicates that “Man of God,” came to be known in the community, probably because of his ongoing ministries within that community, as we see with Samuel.
God’s prophet, the Man of God, who was also formerly called a “seer” was held in honor; and all that he says comes true.
God’s prophet was a man of God who brought the Word of God to people and the king.
God’s prophet, belonged first and foremost to God; he did not have any political or ethnic allegiance, he represented God to the people.
Throughout Israel’s history, God would lead them through His prophets.
They were sometimes paid, that is how they lived if God called them to leave their occupation.
But, they could not be bought.
Sometimes they remained in a specific occupation.
Nevertheless, the prophets, navim, were called of God—God’s spokesmen. They called the people and the king to do God’s will
Often calling God, people back to obedience as laid out in the Mosaic covenant.
This leads us to the Book of Zechariah, one of the last OT prophets, you can turn back there in your Bibles.
ps
Throughout Israel’s history, God lead them through His prophets.
After Zechariah, Haggai and Malachi die, there would be a period of silence, until John the Baptist bursts on the scene 400 years later, prophesying saying “Prepare the way of the Lord,” Jesus Christ, the Messiah is coming.
These leads us about Zechariah, who was one of the last prophets of the OT; and it would be about 400 years later, John the Baptist would be commissioned by God to prepare the way for Jesus Christ the Messiah.
Zechariah, whose name means: “Yahweh remembers,” proclaims an encouraging message of hope—a message of immense comfort, because it is a message about Jesus Christ, the returning Messianic King.
Due to their covenant treachery and despite the numerous warnings of the prophets, Ezekiel and Jeremiah, Babylon dragged the people of Judah, the Southern Kingdom into exile. Yahweh had raised up the Babylonians to discipline His people, eventually resulting in Nebuchadnezzar destroying the Temple (Solomon’s Temple) in 586 BC.
Due to their covenant treachery and despite the numerous warnings of the prophets, Ezekiel and Jeremiah, Babylon dragged the people of Judah, the Southern Kingdom into exile. Yahweh had raised up raised up the Babylonians to discipline His people, eventually result in Nebuchadnezzar destroying the Temple (Solomon’s Temple) in 586 BC.
But “Yahweh [the LORD] remembers,” He hasn’t forgotten about them nor abandoned them; rather He will restore them and bless them. He will fulfill His covenant, despite their faithlessness.
Babylonians against His people Judah. Nebuchadnezzar dragged this Southern Kingdom into exile. thThe Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar had taken In the year 586 BC, Nebuchadnezzar had completely destroyed Solomon’s Temple.
דָרְיָ֑וֶשׁ (Darius)
After 70 years in exile, in 538 BC, Yahweh raised up Cyrus the Persian to defeat the Babylonians and to let God’s people go back to Jerusalem (which we can read about in ).
Zechariah was born in Babylon and he together with his grandfather, Iddo were amongst the first group of exiles to return to Jerusalem in 538BC under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua the High-Priest (cf. ). His father, Berechiah had already died by this stage.
There were only about 50,000 Jews who returned, but those who returned immediately began rebuilding the temple (cf. ), but as you know they faced opposition from the Samaritans and the work stopped (cf. ).
(his father Berechiah had already died), Only about 50,000 people returned, but those who return under the leadership of Zerubbabel immediately begin rebuilding the temple (cf. ), but as you know they face opposition from the Samaritans and the work stopped (cf. ).
Sixteen years later, God commissions Haggai and Zechariah to speak His Word addressing the complacency of God’s people and the need for a reordering of their spiritual priorities
tells us that Haggai and Zechariah prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem.
(cf. ).
If you turn back a page in your Bible’s you will see that the word of Yahweh also came to Haggai in the “second year of דָרְיָ֑וֶשׁ Darius,” but “in the sixth month,” whereas in Zechariah you can see that the Word of Yawheh came in “the eighth month,” so just two months later, around October/November 520 BC.
In 538 BC Cyrus the Persian defeated Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king who had taken Judah into exile. 70 years prior.
If you turn back a page in your Bible’s you will see that the word of Yahweh also came to Haggai in the “second year of דָרְיָ֑וֶשׁ Darius,” but “in the sixth month,” whereas in Zechariah you can see that the Word of Yawheh came in “the eighth month,” so just two months later.
Their message was the same: “REBUILD THE TEMPLE,” for the Messiah is coming soon.
God used Haggai to start the revival, whereas He used Zechariah to encourage them to repent and persevere, reassuring them of future blessings—the people were not just building for the present but with the future hope of the Messiah in mind.
God used Haggai to start the revival, whereas He used Zechariah to encourage them to repent and persevere, reassuring them of future blessings—the people were not just building for the present, but with the future hope of the coming Messiah.
the people were not just building for the present, but with the future hope of the Messiah in mind.
reassuring them of future blessings—the people were not just building for the present but with the future hope of the Messiah in mind.
This book is about Jesus Christ.
The pre-incarnate Christ is on every page, a u[wee]iophany—an appearance of the Son, and He appears throughout Zechariah’s prophecy, he is referred to as “the angel of the LORD”—all uppercase L.O.R.D, Yahweh.
and He appears throughout Zechariah’s prophecy.
Take a look at verse 11, we see Jesus, “the angel of Yahweh was standing among the myrtle trees”
Verse 12: we see Jesus, “the angel of Yaweh said”
we see “the angel of Yahweh” “standing beside Joshua the high priest, when Satan was accusing him.”
Verse 5, as they clothed Joshua the high priest with clean garments, Jesus, “the angel of Yahweh,” was standing by.
, ,
And then in verse 6, we see Jesus, “solemnly assured Joshua.”
Not only does the pre-incarnate Christ appear throughout this book; but this prophecy also includes His ministry, His incarnation, His entry into Jerusalem, His rejection, His crucifixion, and His reception, and at the end, He saves Israel and establishes His Millennial Kingdom where He restores all things and fulfills His covenant promises to them.
ivesh this prophecy to a remnant of Jews who had left Babylonian captivity and returned to Jerusalem.
His message is a message of hope; a message of comfort; a message about Jesus Christ, the returning, Messianic King.
Let me quickly show you:
which is a message of hope, a message of comfort, a message of restoration. t these prophecy to the post-exilic Jews who had returned to Jerusalem—leaving
Turn to “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
(ESV)
His ministry was
The Coming King of Zion
This describes the first coming, when Jesus entered into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey and goes towards the temple, the very temple that Zechariah and Haggai tells the Jews to rebuild, which was complete within 4 years, in 516 BC (cf. talks about that)
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
But as we know, when Jesus entered this earth 2000 years ago; He didn’t come to rule and reign, even though we saw glimpses of His reign during His 33 years on earth, we know that He came to die, to provide provide a once for all atonement for our sins—to provide salvation and forgiveness of sins, to all who would forsake their sins and trust in Him.
We know that He was first rejected, and Zechariah knew this as well, turn to
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
“Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver.”
“Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver.”
12 Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver.
Behold, your king is coming to you;
Sound familiar? Yes! This is a prophecy concerning Judas’ betrayal.
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
And then He was crucified, turn to Chapter 12:10,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on Him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over Him, as one weeps over a firstborn.”
This speaks not only of Christ’s crucifixion but also a time when the Jews will realize that the Messiah whom they pierced, is the Messiah who is pouring out His judgment upon them in Great Tribulation; and they will repent, weeping and mourning as a result of their sin.
And they will repent and He will protect them during the remaining years of the Tribulation,
Him Whom They Have Pierced
which we read about in the Book of Revelation,
because Yahweh’ remembers and Yahweh is faithful, even when we are not.
because Yahweh’ remembers and Yahweh is faithful, even when we are not.
because Yahweh’ remembers and Yahweh is faithful, even when we are not.
In you have Christ in judgment—pouring out His wrath during the tribulation, take a look at verse 8:
“In the whole land, declares the Lord, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive. And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ ”
10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.
two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive.
The Jews will repent and be protected during the remaining years of the Tribulation.
8 In the whole land, declares the Lord,
But there is destruction and cleansing before restoration.
two thirds shall be cut off and perish,
and one third shall be left alive.
And then in Christ steps onto this earth as the Messianic King, the Temple will be reconstructed in accordance with Ezekiel’s design and Christ will rule and subdue the earth, restoring all things.
9 And I will put this third into the fire,
and refine them as one refines silver,
The nations will bring tribute to Him, v. 16 says that
“they shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and keep the Feast of Booths, and those who don’t will be punished.
and test them as gold is tested.
But before we, the Church or the Jews of Zechariah’s day get to this glorious point in redemptive history—the day when Jesus will once again walk on this earth and reign as the rightful King.
First we must repent.
The day when Jesus will once again walk on this earth and reigning as the rightful King.
Repentance is a prerequisite.
You will not experience any of the blessings of God if you do not repent of your sin and idolatry.
And that is the word of Yahweh to Zechariah in Chapter 1 verses 1–6. We see three reasons why we, like the Jews of Zechariah’s day, need to repent.
Before this point, all God’s people must repentwalks on this earth again, there is a prerequisite. There is a need for repentance. And that is the word of Yahweh to Zechariah in Chapter 1 verses 1–6. We see three reasons why we, like the Jews of Zechariah’s day, need to repent.
They will call upon my name,
And that is the word of Yahweh to Zechariah in Chapter 1 verses 1–6. Where we see three reason why the Jews of Zechariah’s day needed to repent.
In order to productive in the ministry God has called us to; you cannot hold onto unresolved sin—you need to repent.
All sin is against, therefore confess yours sins to Him.
If you have sinned against your brother and their is disunity, go and confess your sins to him and seek his forgiveness.
And if your brother has sinned against you, be quick to forgive.
As our Pastor says, “we are never more like Christ than when we forgive.”
The first reason why we need to repent is because of the LORD’s Anger, verses 1–2
and I will answer them.
I will say, ‘They are my people’;
and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ ”
1) The LORD’s Anger (vv. 1–2)
1) The LORD’s Anger (vv. 1–2)
and we see that “the word of the LORD” which came to the prophet Zechariah was a description of The LORD’s anger with their father.
“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, “The Lord was very angry with your fathers.”
See there in verse 2, “The LORD was very angry with your fathers.”— literally “angry with anger,” it’s very emphatic.
A Call to Return to the Lord
God hates sin.
God in His holiness cannot dwell with an unholy people
He cannot look upon sin with pleasure.
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.
He hates sin so much that He raised up a wicked nation Babylon to discipline His people Judah.
He hates sin so much that He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who took on flesh and walked on this earth as fully God and fully man—truly God and truly.
God in flesh
God incarnate.
He grew up in the sick sin world, tempted just as are but He never sinned.
And even though His committed no sin—because He is the sinless Son of God, He set His face towards Jerusalem and and with joy He endured the cross.
Where God the Father poured out the full fury of His wrath upon Him
That’s how much God hates sin
Jesus died, Jesus was buried and Jesus rose again on the third day, conquering sin, death, and the devil.
joy gave up His lifeIsrael
This is the anger and the compassion of God, which is the second reason we need to repent, because of the LORD’s Compassion, which we see in verses 3 and 4.
The LORD was very angry, literally means, “angry with anger,” — which is very emphatic and emphasizes both God’s anger and expresses lament and pain—which is an accomodation, ways to help us understand God.
God hates sin.
He sent Judah into Babylonian exile—this groups father had been taken there and had died there.
2) The LORD’s Compassion (vv. 3–4)
2) The LORD’s Compassion (vv. 3–4)
The Word of the LORD continues in where He instructs Zechariah “to 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. 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.”
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.
God in His compassion says: “Come to Me, I will give you rest” ().
He tells these Jews, come to Me, return to Me; forsake your wicked ways; don’t be like your fathers…and here’s the promise, here’s the comfort, “And I will return to you.”
If you confess your sins to Him, God is faithful and just to forgive you your sins and cleanse you of all your unrighteousness ().
“Draw near to Me and I will draw near to you” ()
And if you don’t God will destroy you.
Because Yahweh is the LORD of hosts—the LORD of the armies.
We see here in verse 4, that God through the former prophets, Ezekiel and Jeremiah cried out saying: ‘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.”
And what God says, always comes true.
God is faithful to His Word
This leads us to our third and final point, The LORD’s Faithfulness which we see in verses 5 and 6.
3) The LORD’s Faithfulness (vv. 5–6)
3) The LORD’s Faithfulness (vv. 5–6)
“Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?
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.’ ”
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.’”
God explains that “their fathers” who had sinned against Him, committing covenant treachery, worshipping the false gods of the nations, where being disciplined by Him as He crushed them with the Babylonians.
Their fathers and the former prophets have died, verse 5; but in contrast to their lives which is just a vapor, verse 6, “God’s words and statues remain forever”
God is faithful to His Word, what He has promised will come to pass.
We are living in a time of grace, where people of every tribe, language and nation are being saved through the faithful proclamation of the gospel.
And the message hasn’t changed, Trust in the Person and finished work of Christ alone and be saved.
Turn from your sin and turn to Him.
Forsake the idols of your heart and turn to Jesus.
Conclusion
Earlier this week, we were eating breakfast as a family and my boys know that we require them to sit on their chairs, sitting upright, eating their food over their plates.
But Boaz is still learning that He should not throw the food
So we trying to teach him, Boaz, no throwing the food “God says, that you need to honor and obey your parents,” .
And this happen over and over and over again.
So, I excuse myself from the table to prepare a cup of coffee.
And Daniel, my three year old, stands up on his chair—one foot on his chair and one foot on the table and slanders his little brother, Boaz––Boaz is throwing food Boaz is throwing food.
But the irony of it all, is that whilst he is pointing out his brothers disobedience, he fails to see how he himself is disobeying.
Standing up in pride, arrogance and judgement of his brother, whilst being completely blinded by his sin.
This message is for you, don’t be tempted to think of anyone else...
As Rick Holland once said, “You are the catcher, and the ball is coming to you.”
So I get up to make a cup of coffee and And it’s so funny but it really demonstrates the deceptiveness of sin, because Daniel
Be ready to catch it.
And then act.
Turn from your sin and turn to Jesus Christ.
So I get up to make a cup of coffee and And it’s so funny but it really demonstrates the deceptiveness of sin, because Daniel
Let’s pray.