“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.’ 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
7:9-12
“The prophetic quotes in vv.9-10 sum up
the 4 precepts that were meant to shape Israel’s social principles.”1
What applies to the children of Israel applies to the Christian today, because
the gentile believer (any non-Jew) has been grafted in to the family of God as
revealed in Paul’s letter to the Romans (11:16-18). We have all been grafted
into the olive root because of the Jews rejection of Christ as Messiah.
It’s not just the ungodly for which God’s
wrath is coming. It is also coming for those who say they believe in Christ and even go to church each Sunday, yet
do not practice what He commands. His
commands are not weighty or restrictive, but rather a clear guide that leads to
a righteous, holy and peaceful life. The things of this world create a slow
fade from reality. If we refuse to hear the words the Holy Spirit reveals to
us, we will starve our spirit man and may even become one of the apostates2
spoken of in the last days.
We are told specifically to avoid planning
evil against a brother. However, we shouldn’t plan evil against anyone, not
just our brethren. An evil heart leads a person to mistreat another. This
springs from an inner hatred and disregard for others.3 It is selflessness and not selfishness that we are called to. “… as
this is every man’s duty, let it be every one’s practice.” 4
Don’t just tell them about Jesus; show them. Be Christ to those you
encounter daily. Until Christ returns,
walk with the King & be a blessing!
1 Asbury Bible Commentary.
2 One who
has abandoned their religious faith. [American Heritage Dictionary of the
English Language]
3 Reformation Study Bible.
4 Matthew Poole’s Commentary.
