It’s Good Friday. In Zechariah 7 Zechariah calls for justice and mercy to be a part of the returned exiles character. The failure to do so sent them into exile in the first place. They were in danger of this happening again.
Zechariah 7: A Call for Justice and Mercy
1 In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, which is Chislev.
2 Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech and their men to entreat the favor of the LORD,
3 saying to the priests of the house of the LORD of hosts and the prophets, "Should I weep and abstain in the fifth month, as I have done for so many years?"
4 Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me:
5 "Say to all the people of the land and the priests, When you fasted and mourned in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted?
6 And when you eat and when you drink, do you not eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves?
7 Were not these the words that the LORD proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous, with her cities around her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited?"
8 And the word of the LORD came to Zechariah, saying,
9 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another,
10 do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart."
11 But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear.
12 They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of hosts.
13 "As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear," says the LORD of hosts,
14 "and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one went to and fro, and the pleasant land was made desolate."
Things to think about…
1. Zechariah 7 is the sad reality of the state of the heart of the returned exiles from Babylon. They returned but did not show the contrition. The land had rest for 70 years, but the Lord was not honoured, Zech 7:5. In the fourth year of Darius, vs 1, dates this period at around 518BC. The temple had been built for 2 years, Zech 7:1, but true heart worship and obedience was far from the people. Men came to Zechariah to ask the Lord’s favour, but Zechariah is weeping. Spiritual leaders should weep for the state of their people when there is a clear rejection of the Lord’s obedience on display in their lives.
2. Zech 7:9, 10 are the central verses of this chapter, “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.". But they refused. Zechariah says they made their hearts “diamond hard”, vs 12. As such the Lord would not bless their prayers. God called but they didn’t come. The Lord says not that when they call, He will not answer, vs 13. This is the sad reality for Christians who for years have hardened themselves to obedience in Christ. Finances, debt, relationships and ministry effectiveness are all restricted because the Lord withholds His blessing.
3. The people are then scattered into the world. Israel was called to be the homeland of God’s people. But the Lord scattered them throughout the earth, Zech 7:14. While there is a reversal being seen today and Jews are returning to Israel, the Jewish people are still by and large secular. We know this will one day change. When Christians act like the world the Lord has little reason to bless them in their endeavours, Zech 7:14
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Cell groups on break over Easter and school holidays
Prayer Points
1. Good Friday and Easter Sunday services – please invite people who are happy to join us.
2. Pray the contacts made yesterday at the Family Day would and the conversations would continue to draw them closer to Christ.
3. Been a big term for our teachers pray Rosie and our teachers get a good rest over these next 2 weeks.
4. Pray for Chuwar Youth and Jarrod’s ministry. Pray as he meets with youth at Westside, Ipswich and Bundamba high schools as well as developing senior leaders.
5. How you can serve in ministry this year.
6. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Wonderful day yesterday, plenty of new contacts. Praise God for all who served Shaun, Paul, Rosie, Technical/Worship teams especially. Thankyou.
2. A good number of visitors on Sunday. Pray this increases over time.
3. Kids@Church and Youth ministries are a great blessing. Keep praying for Rosie and Jarrod as they rest and recuperate for next term.
4. Thankyou Beatty boys for worship on Sunday and Iman and Doug serving as technical team..
5. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Good Friday – starts at 9am. Easter Sunday – 9:30am.
2. Chuwar Youth and Kids@Church on break over Easter and School holidays.
3. Remember to check your duty rosters.
4. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
5. Tune in again this week on our youtube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for April...
Q. 8. Who are they? A. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Bible References – Matt.28:19; 1Cor.13:14; 1Pet.1:2; Jude20 and 21
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known” Jer 33:3
