Unit: Minor Prophets (Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi)
Theme: Give Careful Thought
Lesson Text: Zechariah 7:4-14; 8:16-19; Malachi 4:5-6
Supplemental Texts: Deuteronomy 30:6; Psalm 51:7-10; Ezekiel 11:17-21; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5; 9:6-8; James 1:27; 1 John 3:17-24
Aim: Give careful thought to your heart; do not harden it.
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By Mark Scott
The word heart occurs well over 700 times in the Bible. Sometimes it literally means the muscle in the chest that pumps blood (1 Samuel 25:37). Sometimes it figuratively means the depths of something like the heart of the earth (Matthew 12:40). But most often it means the center of the inner person (Deuteronomy 6:5). Scripture warns us against having a hard heart. Instead, our hearts should be repentant and thoughtful.
Zechariah is yet another post-exilic prophet. He prophesied alongside of Haggai. Whereas Haggai’s prophecy concerned the temple, Zechariah’s prophecy concerned the nation at large as she came back from captivity. The book of Zechariah is filled with visions and object lessons. In the first six chapters of the book, Zechariah conveys no less than eight visions to the people. The visions serve to call on the people to have pure hearts for God. By the time we reach chapter 7, the prophet no longer is revealing visions or giving object lessons. He is confronting the people with straight prose.
Hard Hearts Don’t Listen to God
Zechariah 7:4-7, 11-14
God’s name Lord Almighty occurs many times in Zechariah. It means “Lord Sabbaoth” or “Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” The power of God, evident in his name, should have been enough to cause his people to listen to him. This powerful Lord, through the prophet, called out the people concerning their presumptuous fasting. They had the wrong attitude and motivation for serving him. They were filled with empty formalism. In fact, they may have been fasting for King Gedaliah instead of the Lord (fifth month). This hypocritical fasting is addressed in many texts (Isaiah 1:11-17; Hosea 6:6; Amos 5:21-24).
Their fasting was for show and selfishness. They went through the religious motions to receive things from God. Zechariah reminded them that this was what pre-exilic Israel did. Even in the previous good times, when things were at rest (inhabited) and prosperous (at ease or peace), Israel was not really listening to God and obeying him (Deuteronomy 15:7-11; 24:14-15, 19-21; 26:12-13). In fact, the people turned their backs (shoulders) on God and covered their ears to God. Their hearts were as hard as flint (as hard as diamonds), and they would not listen to him. God was angry for such things, of course, and scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations. The beautiful land became desolate.
Thoughtful Hearts Listen to God
Zechariah 7:8-10; 8:16-19
Through Zechariah, God called his people to have thoughtful hearts. This would not just be something they would feel or think about. It was more than mere intellectual ascent. It would show up in tangible ways. They would administer (render) true justice. They would show mercy (chesed, God’s loyal love) and compassion (empathy felt in the womb or bowels). They would not take undue advantage of the widow or the fatherless (orphan). Neither would they oppress the foreigner or the poor. They would not plot evil against each other.
In contrast to the above, they would speak the truth to each other (Ephesians 4:15). They would render true and sound judgment in their courts. They would refuse to swear falsely to anyone. Their fasting and feasting in their festivals would be acceptable to God because they would love truth and peace. Post-exilic Israel was quickly falling prey to the same things as pre-exilic Israel. Thoughtlessness was perhaps one of the greatest sins. A thoughtful heart always listens to God.
Repentant Hearts Experience God
Malachi 4:5-6
The final post-exilic prophet is Malachi. He overlapped with Haggai and Zechariah, but he also followed them. He followed some of the same themes as those shared by Haggai and Zechariah. In addition, he addressed themes related to the leaders of Israel. Some of those leaders were acting hypocritically—even in their families. He also addressed the rebellion and selfishness of the people.
But the lesson text happens to be the final two verses of the canonical Old Testament. Malachi pictured a time when Elijah (John the Baptist) would come and turn the hearts of the children to their fathers and the hearts of the fathers to the children. When people repent, harmony and peace have a much greater chance of succeeding. God always welcomes repentance. But the flip side is also true. If the people do not experience the heart of God through repentance, then God will come and strike the land with total destruction. Do not harden your hearts (Hebrews 3:8).
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