Proposal
Zechariah 8:14-19
For thus says the Lᴏʀᴅ of hosts: “As I purposed to bring disaster to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the Lᴏʀᴅ of hosts, so again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not. These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lᴏʀᴅ.”
And the word of the Lᴏʀᴅ of hosts came to me, saying, “Thus says the Lᴏʀᴅ of hosts: The fast of the fourth month and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace.
The LORD’s foremost desire is for restoring what was lost. Think of the parables tied back to God seeking and saving the lost. When the LORD went to the extreme of letting His people receive the consequences of their rebellion, it was not with pleasure but in hope that they would turn back to Him. His end game is always restoring to good.
For thus says the Lᴏʀᴅ of hosts: “As I purposed to bring disaster to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the Lᴏʀᴅ of hosts, so again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not. 1
Yes, the Israelites had sinned against God repeatedly, decidedly, unrepentantly, even willfully and had received the just consequence but the LORD did not desire to leave them in that state. There is always the desire to draw back to Himself. He would give them new opportunities to live as His people if only they would agree with His ways:
“These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lᴏʀᴅ.” 2
Encouraged is what is good, what promotes social order and gives opportunities to seek the LORD and the reminder of elements that separate, lead away from relationship. Not only does God want social order but He includes the desire that they would return to the times of remembrance and celebration of their relationship with Him,
And the word of the Lᴏʀᴅ of hosts came to me, saying, “Thus says the Lᴏʀᴅ of hosts: The fast of the fourth month and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace. 3
Do we get so caught up in the busy-ness of our lives that we don’t have time to celebrate who God is and all that He has done that we may have relationship with Him, be joyful before Him, even enjoy His presence? Today would be a good time to take time for God.
All Scripture references from the Blue Letter Bible, ESV
at https://www.blueletterbible.org
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version
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