Zechariah 7- The Scattering

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Then the word of the LORD came to Zechariah, saying, “Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Execute true justice, Show mercy and compassion Everyone to his brother. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, The alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart Against his brother.’ Zechariah 7:8-10

As we continue through this chapter of the prophet Zechariah, this is a continuation of Gods rebuke of Israel’s false religion and worship. As in my previous article, the people were asking the prophet Zechariah , what is the bare minimum they have to do to be “OK with God” (Zechariah 7:3)

This is exposing the heart of the people, they honor God with their lips but their heart is far from him” (Isaiah 29:13) This is the false religious system being exposed by God. And its still the same today, the majority of “self-professed Christians”, rely upon a works based salvational system rather than truly loving God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5) and being saved by grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2)

God is telling the prophet Zechariah what true religion looks like , to love God and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39) “Execute true justice, show mercy and compassion, don’t oppress the lowly person, and don’t carry evil in your heart”! Many of these principle Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)

But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear. Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 7:11-12

Even after the Israelites came back from exile, their hearts were still hard, they still refused to listen to Gods word, The Law sent by His Spirit (The Holy Spirit) This has been the continual history of Israel, including the crucifying of our Lord, the Messiah

“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Acts 7:51

This is why we need to be Born Again in Christ (John 3:3) This is why we need to be regenerated, Born from Above, with a New Heart, a New Mind, the Spirit of God put within us! (Ezekeil 36)

Therefore it happened, that just as He proclaimed and they would not hear, so they called out and I would not listen,” says the LORD of hosts. “But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations which they had not known. Thus the land became desolate after them, so that no one passed through or returned; for they made the pleasant land desolate.” Zechariah 7:13-14

Because of Israels continual disobedience and hardness of hearts, God gave them over to their sins (Romans 1:24-28) They would not listen to God, so God stopped listening to them and once again they will be scattered

“This the land became desolate after them” The land of Israel became desolate after the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD, as Christ fulfilled the Old Covenant and religious system. However Israel had become reborn in One day as prophesied in 1948 (Isaiah 66:8) Christ has pointed his attention to the Church at this present time, however as the prophet Zechariah will reveal later, Christ will come back to save Israel (Zechariah 14, Romans 11) Christ will not lose any of His Sheep (John 10) Amen!

James 1:9-12 – The First Will Be Last- Sermon Notes

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Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, (v9)

Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position [as a born-again believer, called to the true riches and to be an heir of God]; (AMP)

The Apostle James is telling you, to rejoice and have glory , no matter what your position is in this world, think about this there are many people in our prison systems that are getting saved, there are many prisoners who are recieving Jesus and becoming born again, those people are more blessed than the unsaved people in the outside world.  Jesus taught us many examples that the Kingdom of God will not work like the world. Jesus said the First Will Be Last and the Last Will Be First, Jesus was flipping the script of society as we know it. To the world, and to this first century culture , the rich man seems to be blessed, He must be in good favor with God, right? However he might be spiritually poor 

The Apostle James says here “Let the person of lowly or humble circumstances glory or boast  in his exaltation or high position with God” What is James saying here? In the world you might not be considered important, you might even be considered an outcast in society, however don’t worry about that, Rejoice because you are a Child of God, you are an heir of the Kingdom with Christ, you have been Chosen by Christ to be in His eternal Kingdom, and nobody can take that away from you

Cosider this story, we talked about this in our Bible Study, the Widow who gave everything she had

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41-44)

This widow , who was one of the lowest positions of society during that culture, woman were not allowed to work back then, she didn’t have a husband to support her, she was on the bottom of society. All these rich guys were putting in their tithes so they can be seen, she gave only a few coins, but that was everything she had. Jesus said she gave more than all those rich guys, why? Because she gave with her heart, she can glory in her position in the Kingdom because she is a Child of God not a widow of this world, are we getting it?

but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. (v10)

In our world even today, if you have some money and power, everyone thinks your important, everyone listens to everything you have to say, even when they are not even qualified to say it. Consider all the celebrities and pro athletes today, most of these people are idiots but everyone hangs on every word they have to say. Everyone celebrates everything these people do, people try to copy what these people wear, they try to imitate their life after them but why?

Because of their wordly status the world exalts these people, however the big question is what is their status in the Kingdom of God? Is their soul saved? Are they Born Again in Christ? Consider what Jesus said

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  Mark 8:36-37

What good does it do you , to have everything in the world and yet to lose your soul? This is what the Apostle James is trying to say , you might not be celebrity or the rich and famous, but rejoice brothers and sisters, you have the greatest position, a child of the most High God, your name is written in the book of life

Satan even tried to tempt Jesus with this same lie….

8Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

10Then Jesus said to him, [b]“Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ 

Satan offered Jesus this empty promise he offers the world, sell your soul and he will give you the world, and many people fall for this lie, they chase after money, they chase after fame, they chase after everything in this world when they should be chasing after Jesus, the only one who can give you eternal life

For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. (v11)

The Bible tells us Life is like a vapor in the wind, here today and gone tomorrow. The Apostle James is telling us life is short, we think we have all this unlimited time, but as we get older we know time goes by fast. So the point is , why cling to this world? Why sell your soul to a world that is fading away including you?  Cosider what the Apostle Peter says…

because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the LORD endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you. 1 Peter 1:24-25

While our time is short here in this world, Gods Kingdom is eternal, Jesus Christ is the same today, yesterday and forever, the Word of God endures forever! Why put your faith in a world that is temporary, when you can put your faith in the eternal God and His Kingdom

Consider what Jesus taught us about His Kingdom

1“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2In My Father’s house are many [a]mansions; if it were not so, [b]I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

5Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Jesus is preparing a place for You, Jesus will come back and recieve you into Gods Kingdom. Jesus is the Only Way to Salvation. How do we know we can believe all this? Because Christ is Risen, Jesus has already overcome the world

Blessed is the man who endures (preservers) temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (v12)

Going back to the joy in the 3 T’s (Trials, Testing, and Temptation) When you endure the temptation you are blessed,   (God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation) (NLT) You have passed the test, and what is your reward? You will receive the Crown of Life which The Lord has promised. Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again, to promise you eternal life, you need to love him, it says “promised to those who love him” you need to put your faith and trust in Jesus through all things

And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. Mark 12:30

The greatest commandment to Love God with everything you have, The Lord promised the Crown of Life to those who Love Him

  1. In the Kingdom the First Will Be Last and the Last will Be First
  2. Don’t seek this world, Seek Jesus
  3. Your life is like a Vapor, don’t waste your life chasing the world
  4. Your true reward is to be a Child of God
  5. Jesus promised the Crown of Life

Those of low degree may rejoice, if they are exalted to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom of God; and the rich may rejoice in humbling providences, that lead to a humble and lowly disposition of mind. Worldly wealth is a withering thing. Then, let him that is rich rejoice in the grace of God, which makes and keeps him humble; and in the trials and exercises which teach him to seek happiness in and from God, not from perishing enjoyments. Matthew Henry

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

Don’t be conformed to this world, the world is passing away, this world is not your home. Be transformed by Christ, rejoice for you are a Child of God, Christ died for you, and Christ rose again on the 3rd day defeating sin and death forever, rejoice we have Victory in Jesus Christ, Amen

Zechariah 7- False Worship

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Now in the fourth year of King Darius it came to pass that the word of the LORD came to Zechariah, on the fourth day of the ninth month, Chislev, when the people sent Sherezer, with Regem-Melech and his men, to the house of God, to pray before the LORD, and to ask the priests who were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and the prophets, saying, “Should I weep in the fifth month and fast as I have done for so many years?” Zechariah 7:1-3

All throughout history false religion has been practiced , especially in Israel. Here is just another prime example of Israel just “going through the motions” doing religious practices, not from the heart, but as some magical formula that would gain Gods favor

The names of the men , Sherezer and Regem-Melech, are representations of Israel’s idolatry with Babylon from the exile. These are not Jewish names but Babylonian. They basically are asking the prophet Zechariah, “should we bother doing these fasts like we have done so many years”? They were just going to weep and fast as a religious practice and not worship God in Spirit and Truth. (John 4:24)

One thing God hates is false religion, false worship,  religious practices over obedience, as seen throughout the history of Israel

Although they may fast, I will not listen to their cry; although they may offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will finish them off by sword and famine and plague.” Jeremiah 14:12 

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6

Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, “Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests: ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me—for Me? When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves? Should you not have obeyed the words which the LORD proclaimed through the former prophets when Jerusalem and the cities around it were inhabited and prosperous, and the South and the Lowland were inhabited?’ ” Zechariah 7:4-7

God responded with the question “When you fasted and mourned, did you really fast for Me?” This is the root of the problem, why were they fasting and mourning? Because they wanted to be seen? Because it was a religious practice and requirement? God is not impressed and doesn’t want anyone’s false offering

“To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” Says the LORD. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, Or of lambs or goats. Isaiah 1:11

Lets turn our focus on the Church for a moment, recently we just had “Ash Wednesday” where millions of Christians marked their foreheads and then posted selfies of themselves all over the Internet, including celebrities. What was the root of this practice? Was it to bring attention and glory to God or themselves? This was the same idolatry Israel fell into. Look at the words of our Lord who refuted this practice

“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. Matthew 6:16

Disfiguring your face with ashes, was exactly the opposite thing God told you do! So why do millions of people do it? For religious practices, for self glorification, because they think its a magical formula to gain God’s favor. This is exactly what Israel was doing!

I will end with the words of The Lord Jesus about false religion

He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ Mark 7:6-7