Sermon Tone Analysis
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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
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
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.
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
Echoed in James
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.
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