After a few articles looking at a couple of God’s messages to His people (through the prophet Zechariah) from Zechariah 7, let’s turn over to the next chapter. Earlier in chapter 8, God promises to restore His people in the promised land, but let’s pick up in verse 16.
These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the LORD.
Zechariah 8:16-17 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/zec.8.16-17.NIV
I can see how the Lookout study guide (cited below) bundled this passage with Zechariah 7:8-10, where God told His people – or reminded them, really – to show justice, mercy, and compassion, while not oppressing others and planning evil.
Again, God’s message isn’t just about what not to do (which is how some people incorrectly see God), but also includes what people should do. Honoring God isn’t just about “not doing bad things”, but rather filling up our lives with good things: good attitudes, good behavior, good relationships, and good choices. These things don’t save us from our sins, but they do help us live the abundant life that Jesus brings (see John 10:10), which is what I believe is the life that God created us for in the first place.
And, there’s not really anything earth-shattering here. The Jewish people in Zechariah’s day should know these things as well as we should know them today:
- Be truthful
- Be fair (“justice”, again, which was mentioned in chapter 7)
- Don’t plot evil
- Don’t lie
Remember how Zechariah 7 started, with a delegation asking whether they should still fast in a certain month? In that light, consider the next couple of verses from Zechariah 8.
The word of the LORD Almighty came to me.
This is what the LORD Almighty says: “The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.”
Zechariah 8:18-19 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/zec.8.18-19.NIV
God now says something about multiple times of fasting, not just one of them: These times of fasting will become joyful. They will become times for celebration.
Now, I don’t know if the fasting part was actually meant to go away. Although we often relate fasting to a time of sorrow, I think that – as mentioned in an earlier article – fasting can be done to seek God’s presence, which is truly a joyful opportunity. Maybe God was changing fasting to feasting, or maybe He was offering the people celebration in their fasting.
Regardless of the specific behavior, though, both fasting and feasting should point people back to God. While I like to eat good food, I should eat it with thankfulness, and I should remember that even when I go without, I serve a good God whose presence is better than my favorite meal, and who has provided me with blessings in both fasting and feasting.
Still, in all of this promised blessing, the people must remember to “love truth and peace”. God’s blessings, mercy, and grace aren’t an excuse to abandon His instructions and do whatever we want. Instead, they are opportunities to learn more about Him, to give Him the credit and glory for His goodness, to live how He has shown us, and to share His blessings to us with others.
Whether we are feasting or fasting, let us do so for God: not for ourselves, not out of some religious obligation, and not so that others will think that we are somehow extra pious.
Also, let us practice the good that we know God wants us to choose – including justice, mercy / kindness, compassion, truth, and peace – and not try to haggle with Him or try to get out of His basic expectations for us.
And finally, let us pay attention to the lessons that God is teaching us, and respond by choosing to follow His instructions, before He has to take more dramatic action to get our attention.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for August 11, 2024
References:
- The Lookout, August 11, 2024, © 2024 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Minor Prophets Vol. 2 Nahum-Malachi, by Mark Allen Hahlen and Clay Alan Ham. © 2006 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 