7:2-3 - Jewish exiles from the countryside are returning to Jerusalem to ask the priests what they should do to bring reconciliation between themselves and God. They want to know if they should fast to bring about a full return to Jerusalem more quickly. It was common in the Jewish world during this time for fasting to be used during hard times. When things were difficult, people would fast in an effort to repent and bring change.
7:5 - Though it may seem really great that people are returning and wanting to make an disciplined effort to fix their relationship with God, Zechariah wants to make sure that their hearts are in the right place. He wants to know - "Are you fasting because you want to honor God, or are you fasting because life is hard?" There is a difference...the difference is motivation...are you doing something to worship God, or is it really just a hidden way to worship yourself. Every Christian should ask the question that Zechariah asks here about the things we do - is this really for God, or is this secretly for me?
7:9 - More than fasting, we are told exactly what God really wants from His people. Justice. Kindness. Mercy. Love. These attitudes and the actions that come along with them are more godly than choosing not to eat for a few meals. (Unfortunately, the people so not want to hear it) Christians today often settle for allowing church attendance and the occasional service opportunity during a church service become the entire scope of things they do to honor God with their lives. Sadly, this is the case because these things are the easiest and most convenient ways to make ourselves feel like we have done something holy. Yet it is the things that truly cost us - time, effort, emotions, sacrifice - that beat in time most closely with the heart of God. (But most times, people don't want to hear that either).
7:12 - This is really brutal imagery here - the people have chosen to harden their hearts, so they won't have to listen to the truth of God and change their lives. Been there before?
7:13 - Look at the follow up verse - this is scary. God says, "I called on you and you refused to listen, so don't be surprised when you call on me the next time when you are in trouble and I refuse to listen." This may explain why there are times in our lives when it feels like God isn't there...like He isn't listening. Have you been taking the time to hear His voice?
8:4-5 - This is such a great picture of what godly community is supposed to look like. The old and the young are plentiful. God is telling us that His community is a place that is safe even for those who are least able to defend themselves. It also models for us a healthy community where people of every generation come together and enter into relationship. The older people delight in the energy of youth and pour wisdom into the lives of those younger. The young people serve the older and learn from their experiences. This is what church is supposed to look like!
8:16 - Zechariah gives us some more instruction here on what godly community is supposed to look like. People in community should be able to speak openly and honestly with one another at all times. Godly communities are always focused on bringing justice in their communities.
8:17 - There isn't a whole lot in the Bible that we are told God hates...so we should probably take notice when we come across those things. God hates when His people desire for evil/bad to happen in the lives of other believers...that is just wrong. God hates when His people lie and gossip about one another. There is no place in the kingdom of God for these things.
8:19 - This is a great teaching on the true heart behind fasting. When you are walking in the presence of God, you can fast frequently with true joy, because fasting actually becomes a time of feasting. Where you feast on the presence of God and allow Him to fill you up...a time where you feast on the word of God and you burn it onto your soul. That is what fasting is truly all about.
8:23 - Zechariah describes a future where people from other nations will cling to the Israelites and will beg them to take them into the city of God, because they see the difference being connected to God makes in the lives of His followers. Do you think people feel the same way when they come in contact with you? Do they want to go where you go and enter into the presence of the God you follow? I hope so.
9:7 - Pagan cultic rituals often involved easting raw meat, drinking blood and devouring food that had been offered to pagan idols. Through this section of scripture God is not only confirming that the military might of Philistia will be destroyed (ex. Plundering of Tyre), but that the their false religion would be wiped off the face of the earth as well.
9:9 - Does this sound familiar? This is messianic prophesy about Jesus! The king is coming to bring righteousness and salvation, but this king is so different than any that have come before him. He is described as "humble," which was a word that was often used to describe the poor and oppressed during this time period. That seems strange for a king. This king rides into town on a donkey, not a warhorse. Again, this just doesn't sound very king-like. And there is a good reason for that...this king is like no other king before or after him...this king is Jesus and he came not to rule with an iron fist...he came to rule through sacrificial servant leadership.
9:16 - Here we see some beautiful shepherd imagery. This really gives us a picture into the heart of God. He will save the flock of His people...they are like precious jewels to Him. These are really intimate and touching words about the love that God has for you...don't forget this.
10:2 - People in agrarian societies in the middle east during this time period would often turn to pagan religious cults when they need rain or wanted healthy crops. Where the Israelites just had one God...all the other false religions had gods for everything. It was tempting and convenient to enter into idolatry, because you could just go make a sacrifice to the god that fit your specific needs. Unfortunately, as we know - all those other gods didn't really exists and so people were just making sacrifices to nothing. Zechariah calls pagan worship what it is - nonsense. Yet this passage does bring up some interesting questions for us - who are we listening to? Who do we look to for help? Do we turn to God, or are we allowing ourselves to be misled by our cultural influences? If we put our trust in anything but God, we become like those helpless lost sheep.
10:6 - Judah is the southern kingdom of Israel that is most often referred to by the biblical prophets. Though they had their issues with idolatry and corruption, they were nowhere near as bad as the northern kingdom. This kingdom had been completely cut off by God, which is why we do not have much in the way of prophetic writings directed at the northern kingdom. The house of Joseph mentioned here in this passage is referring to the northern kingdom of Israel. So what we are seeing in this passage is a really big deal...Zechariah is prophesying that all the people of Israel will be united once again! The beautiful message of this passage is that there is always hope for redemption - do not forget that!
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