Zachariah, like Haggai, was one of the first captives who returned to their Homeland from Babylon. He combined the function of a prophet with that of a priest.
In this capacity, he encouraged the people who had become despondent and apathetic, to continue with the reconstruction of the temple.
many of the people had been born in exile and had a very little idea how the sins of their fathers had been responsible for the devastation of the old temple and the exile, in the first place.
Zachariah therefore warned that if they kept repeating the sins of their fathers, they should not expect anything less than the consequences.
Zechariah 1:1-6
1. In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
2 The Lord hath been sore displeased with your fathers.
3 Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.
4 Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the Lord.
5 Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?
6 But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the
Lord of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
This is a timely warning to all those who might presume on the mercies of God. Sin has its consequences – “the soul that sin shall die”.
But thanks to God for making available to us His word,His prophet and above all, His spirit whose witness can only be ignored at our own risk.
But when we sin and are truly sorry for it and turn back to the lord in genuine repentance, He will abundantly pardon.
The Jews of Zacharias time needed to know- just as we Christians today need to know – that neither time nor economic, social and cultural circumstances can change the wages of sin.
It is still death!
Reflection:
Are there sins or habits that you have played with thinking that they do not matter or that they have long been associated with your family circumstances, and that God should “understand”?
Repent of the of it right now and ask the lord for the Grace to be delivered from their guilt and power.
Prayer
Heavenly father, help me to so live in tune with you that whenever I sin, your spirit will not let me restuntil I turn back to you in repentance .I pray in Jesus name.
