The pattern repeats itself over and over…repent, repent, return to me, return to me and I will return to you…
Isaiah 44:22 I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you.
Jeremiah 4:1 "If you will areturn, O Israel," declares the LORD, "Then you should return to Me. And bif you will put away your detested things from My presence, And will not waver,
Jeremiah 15:19 This is how the LORD responds: "If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman. You must influence them; do not let them influence you!
Joel 2:12 "Yet even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
Malachi 3:7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, 'How shall we return?'
Haggai 2:17 I sent blight and mildew and hail to destroy everything you worked so hard to produce. Even so, you refused to return to me, says the LORD.
What was Gods purpose in sending blight, mildew and hail? Was the purpose to destroy or to cause HIS children to return to HIM? HE want us to return! What is the end game in all that HE is doing within the universe? It is the new heavens and the new earth, and what is that but a place where our relationship with our creator and Father is restored to perfection, not only our relationship to HIM but to each other.
People long to have wonderful intimate relationships with other people, spouse, children, parents, siblings…IT IS NOT POSSIBLE apart from an intimate relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ!
Return, turn and run to HIM, like the prodigal…I must come to my senses and return to my Father in Heaven.
In verse 14 God tells us that HE is “extremely jealous” for us. This is not a bad jealous, HE knows what idolatry will do to HIS children…HE is jealous that we be in a right relationship to HIM. It is awesome to know that the work HE began in me, HE will complete it.
Thank you Lord Jesus!
Background and summary of Zechariah
Zechariah is frequently called the “prophet of hope.” As a young man he reinforced the urgings of Haggai that led exiles who returned from Babylon in 539/538 b.c. to finish rebuilding the fallen temple of the Lord in 520 b.c. (Haggai). His book contains a series of fascinating visions conveying vital spiritual truths (1:7–8:23) and an extended portrait of events leading up to God’s final victory at history’s end (9:1–14:21). How these last chapters must have encouraged the little Jewish community, struggling economically and surrounded by hostile enemies. And how it can encourage us today, to meditate on the coming, certain triumph of God over evil.
Two themes emphasized in Zechariah are of special interest to Christians. First, this little book is filled with references to Christ. Messianic references include mentions of Christ’s lowliness and humanity (6:12). They describe His betrayal by Judas (11:12–13), His deity (3:4; 13:7), His priesthood (6:13), and His kingship (6:13; 9:9; 14:9, 16). Zechariah also speaks of the Messiah’s being struck down by the Lord (13:7), His second coming (14:4), His glorious reign (9:10; 14), and His establishment of world peace (9:9–10; cf. 3:10). In few Old Testament books do we find such constant attention given to the coming Saviour.
The other theme which interests modern Christians is eschatology, the study of end times. The last section of Zechariah describes a culminating siege of Jerusalem (12:1–3; 14:1–2). The enemy is temporarily successful (v. 2), but the city is defended by the Lord (vv. 3–4). He personally intervenes to destroy the invaders (12:9; 14:3). God’s intervention causes great changes in the very structure of the Holy Land (vv. 4–5), and initiates a Messianic Age (vv. 16–19) in which Jerusalem and God’s people at last become truly holy (vv. 20–24).
Richards, L. O. (1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). The Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (573). Wheaton: Victor Books.