Today’s Reading: Zechariah 1-2
RETURN, rebuild, renew, repent.
Return to me. Come to me. Pursue my ways for I have redeemed you.
The Lord says, “Come away! Flee from Babylon in the land of the north, for I have scattered you to the four winds. Come away, people of Zion, you who are exiled in Babylon!” – Zechariah 2:6-7
Yet even now, be free from your captivity! Leave Babylon and the Babylonians.
Sing out this message! Shout it to the ends of the earth!
The Lord has redeemed his servants, the people of Israel. – Isaiah 48:20
Just as God had promised, the exile for the Hebrews ended after seventy years. Cyrus the Great, King of Persia, conquered Babylon and allowed all of the nations exiled to Babylon to return to their homelands. He did this in order to form alliances with these nations, expecting loyalty in future diplomatic matters. The Jews returned to Judah and Jerusalem. The stories of their return are recorded by the prophets Haggai, Zechariah, Ezra, Nehemiah and Malachi. God was calling His people to return – return to the Promised Land and return to Him.
“I, the Lord, was very angry with your ancestors. Therefore, say to the people, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Return to me and I will return to you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.’ Don’t be like your ancestors who would not listen or pay attention when the earlier prophets said to them, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Turn from your evil ways, and stop all your evil practices.’
“Where are your ancestors now? They and the prophets are long dead. But everything I said through my servants the prophets happened to your ancestors, just as I said. As a result, they repented and said, ‘We have received what we deserved from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. He has done what he said he would do.’” – Zechariah 1:2-6
I once heard someone say, “We may waiver in our faith, but God never waivers in His faithfulness.” That is so true. God is consistent and we can trust that He will do what He says He will do. The same God who was calling to the fickle Israelites to return to Him is offering us grace when we stray away. He opens the way for us to RETURN to Him so that we can once again be drawn into His presence.
Return to me. Come to me. Pursue my ways for I have redeemed you.
The Lord says, “Shout and rejoice, O beautiful Jerusalem, for I am coming to live among you. Many nations will join themselves to the Lord on that day, and they, too, will be my people. I will live among you, and you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me to you. The land of Judah will be the Lord’s special possession in the holy land, and he will once again choose Jerusalem to be his own city. Be silent before the Lord, all humanity, for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling.” – Zechariah 2:10-13
What a powerful visual of God’s love for us. He is springing into action on our behalf and happy to do it! He was coming to live among His people in order to show them mercy and carry out His plan of redemption. That’s how much He loves us! He desires to create a path of reconciliation for us to travel as we return to Him — as we flee from our “Babylon”. He came to us so that we could come to Him — so that we could be set free from our captivity. He describes this love for us as passionate and strong (1:14).
Are you praying for a prodigal in your life to RETURN to the Lord? Are you hoping they will turn from the evil ways of this world and receive all God has planned for them? I join you today in praying for those who are lost. May they hear the call of Jesus to come to Him. May they understand the extent Christ went to for them to be redeemed and set free.
Return to me. Come to me. Pursue my ways for I have redeemed you.