Key verse: Zec 7:13 “As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear,” says the LORD of hosts, and...
Goal: Communicate the invaluable prerequisite of obedient living to answered prayer or fellowship with God. (John 15:7, 1 John 3:22, )
Objectives:
Explore scenarios when God ceases to give attention to our prayers (Saul the King 1 Sam 28:6)
Explain what factors led God to cease giving attention from the passage.
Is there restoration? What is the way out? Explain.
Context
- Judah Sin and Exile to Babylon, Jeremiah 29:4-10
- Exile to last 70 years by decree
- False prophets claim the return will be sooner
- Jeremiah gives God's message- stay there, farm, get married, establish yourselves, trade, and pray for that city..seek its welfare. (Probably this is where the tradition of praying in th 5th and 7th month started for them - Zecharia 7:10
- After 70 years, Cyrus the Persian King Conquers Babylon,
- Orders the Jews to return to Jerusalem and Build God's Temple (Ezra 1:1-4)
- Zerubbabel leads (Together with the High Priest Joshua son of Jehozadak), later Ezra leads and finally Nehemiah leads another group of returnees.
- But some people opted to stay in the Persian Nation- Esther, Mordecai.
- Haggai and Zechariah prophecy to the returnees back in Jerusalem to boldly rebuild the temple, and foretell God's plans for the future Messiah and a future temple.
Text:
1. The Inquiry
Begins with a Inquiry from the people of Bethel, returnees from exile, "Should I weep and abstain in the fifth month, as I have done for so many years?” (The Fifth Month was approaching), it was time for fasting and weeping. This was a tradition kept for seventy years during the exile, 7:5. infact, include the seven month.
Why those months? Note, the time for inquiry, 4th day of the 9th month, Chislev. Sort of, "next year should we fast in the fifth month? should we keep this tradition, this ritual?"
This is a good question; should we? should we not? (In our planning meetings, we ask, what should we continue doing? what should we stop doing?) It is important. We should not be afraid to ask this question, face ourselves, and get rid of what is not adding value.
2. God's response
When you fasted, those 70 years, you did not do it for me. 7:5 you lived for yourself. You did not care about me. you claimed to fast, but you left that place to went out and lived as though i am not there, you just lived for yourselves. Rom 2:24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” Ezek 36:22-23. you did not care about the things i care about.
The message to you, is the same as was given to your forefathers,
"Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another,
Do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor,
and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.” 7:9-10.
For your planning, here is the template, this is the Focus- not the traditional/ritualistic calendar prayers, no!, Plan for these and do them, because i care about them. Look at these areas of your life: Justice and mercy, look into your hearts (That no evil is devised there), look out for those who are in trouble, the less privileged! plan for those things and it shall be well with you.
Otherwise- If you keep the tradition of ritualistic prayer, and continue in the path of injustice and extortion, and greed, your fate will be like that of your forefathers. "I will not listen, and i will scatter you."
Zec 7:13 “As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear,” says the LORD of hosts,, and i scattered them with a whirlwind..."
Lessons for application:
1. Consistency-when we pray, we must live as though we care about what God cares about; John 15:7-If you abide in me, and my words abide in you...Ask whatever you wish, 1 John 3:22. "and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.. Right living matters to God.
2. God is not fooled by spiritual ritualistic outward performances-he looks at the heart Isaiah 29:13, Matthew 15:8, Lips vs Heart. "“‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 1 Samuel 16:7 For men consider the physical appearance, but God considers the heart." 1 Samuel 15:22, " And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
3. Justice and Mercy matters to God- Isaiah 58: True Fasting. "sa 58:6 “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Isa 58:7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
Micah 6:7-8 "Mic 6:7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” Mic 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
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