Zechariah and grace for exiles.

I began a study on the post-exilic book of Zechariah today, Sunday, 6th Oct 2024. I am using Richard D Phillips’s Zechariah (Reformed Expository Commentary, P&R Publishing, New Jersey, 2007), as my launch pad to engage deeper into this book which from my first study today is already yielding much grace from the LORD.

Key verse in the opening chapter is verse 3; “Therefore you say to them, Thus says the LORD of hosts; You turn to Me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will turn to you, says the LORD of hosts.”

I was struck by the number of times the word, “says”, and “say” – 4 times – are contained in just this one verse.

And interestingly, the third derivative of the word says denotes a meaning of God speaking through an altered state of consciousness. For now this is not so important than the heavy emphasis of God to His spokesperson, and to His people of the mode of delivery of His message.

However, the mode of delivery of the message is pointing to a crucial message, “Turn to Me, God Almighty, and I, God Almighty, will turn to you!”

A turning is required of God’s people for God in turn to turn back to them. This turning back to a holy and righteous God, One both transcendent and yet, self-revealed, requires God’s people to turn. This turn in the Hebrew is repent.

The point here for God’s people, and anyone who have faced devastation, both physically, and psychologically, is to turn back to God. Turning back to God necessitates a turning away from the current way of living. A living encapsulated by independence from God.

Independence from the One who created this world, existence, you and me, is to be dependent on every force inherent in it. A force from the dark side. A force exemplified by the existential reality of its inhabitants’ state that is irrevocably broken, damaged, and irreparable.

The call to return and repent, from the Creator, is a call of grace. The call has in His word the very force of His power to revive. And God’s call of grace involves the Spirit of the Living God, of whom we will learn more as we journey through Zechariah.

Grace is God’s gift to all who feel the lostness of self-amidst the wider lostness of mankind in a lost world. God through this call of His word through His spokesman the prophet, demonstrates His unwavering commitment to His own integrity to keep His word to bless His people. Not just for mere survival, but a blessing which involves the giving of the Blesser with the blessing.

God gives Himself to His people in His blessings. He calls His people to return to Him, not for the sake of building a facade of worship, but to experience Him in “spirit and in truth”. The echoes of Christ who reveals God in all His majestic grace and beauty are already being heard here in the first chapter of Zechariah.

Revival is not the endgame. Union with the Blesser who blesses is.