Zechariah chapters 7 and 8 are a complete unit dealing with the hearts of the people toward their God. The historical setting of these chapters takes place in the 4th year of King Darius. The 2nd temple-rebuilding project is nearly complete. Those that returned to the region from Babylon had placed a priority on rebuilding the temple and reestablishing the cult as close as possible to the Davidic system. Nehemiah had the walls rebuilt, so the next great task was to rebuild the temple system and its rituals with symbols that would rekindle these people so God would be among them.
The symbols of the temple, the kosher diet, and the Sabbath were mainstream to their religious culture. Their theology was closely connected to how all these symbols helped them reestablish their cult practice. Although religious symbols, as tutors, are helpful in developing a theological framework, they become divisive and destructive when they become idols. They Forgot Where They Came From Zechariah receives a visit from representatives to seek advice whether they were to continue mourning and fasting after the temple is complete (7:3) .
Zechariah points out to these visitors that they still don’t see themselves any different than their ancestors. He tells them that fasting and lamenting on the on the 5th and 7th months would not have happened if they had obeyed God . Zechariah rebukes these men and their attachment to ritual and symbols because they have only had their interests in mind, not God’s, for the last seventy years (7:5). Seventy-years of exile seems to have accomplished nothing from Zechariah’s discourse with these people that have come to inquire of ceremony.
Their question exposes the way they still hold on to ceremony and ritual rather than an understanding of God. The soon to be completed temple and all its trappings of religious form is still nothing more than an empty shell filled with air. It seems they have forgotten why they were in exile in a foreign country. They don’t remember that they rejected the Lord’s teaching, and as a result, suffered the destruction of their culture and the symbols of religion. The truth is that they ask because nothing has changed in their minds. They still want God to be part of their culture.
They try in vain to get back to a place where they felt God, but they are still trapped by their institutions and rituals. Zechariah tells them that their interests are their own idols, not God’s (7:6). The prophets had warned them of pending judgment, urging them to turn from their apostasy of serving the gods of the land, and humble themselves before God. They had moved so far away from where God wanted them to be as His people. The prophets could see how their religious idols were affecting their society. Where They Need to Be
Zechariah then takes them to where God wants them to what should characterize their society. “Render true Judgments”(7:9). This teaching is the cornerstone for how all other ethical considerations should be evaluated. It should teach us that God is more concerned about the righteousness of a society than religious symbols and rituals. Justice begins by developing honesty in the fabric of society. The priests were the responsible agents to teach this fundamental cornerstone in accordance to the law of God. They failed. The symbols became more important than the practice of justice.
When families are practicing the practical application of justice within the home, then children will learn to properly evaluate other ethical considerations within their social structure. The ripple effect will permeate into all segments of society. Zechariah’s noting this first admonition should tell the reader that this was a major deficiency in the ethical fabric of their society. We are being led to believe that the major concern within our society is to ‘Make America Great Again’. We are being told that comes from the reestablishment of a strong military, the neglect of the vulnerable within the world, and a strong economy.
People don’t care that the leader of this parade is a pathological liar. He has been married three times, and has left a carnage of bankrupt businesses costing many families their jobs, their homes, and their way of life. This rhetoric is coming from a leader that is morally bankrupt, but it seems that our society doesn’t care. Even those within our strongest conservative evangelical churches are winking at his follies because he can get results. The media is being blamed, the former president is being blamed, and the corrupt political system within Washington is being blamed, except the person leading our society down a scary path.
Zechariah also points out the fact that their society must ‘show kindness and mercy to one another’ (7:9). This is a social dynamic that comes from a society that learns to practice justice. In contrast, the anger and hatred seen on our streets in the US is indicative of a much deeper-seated issue in the fabric of our society. People groups are intentionally being subjugated to profiling and harassment because those in law enforcement deem them dangerous to society. The resulting effect has fueled more anger and hatred across all people of color against those that oppress them.
Zechariah also points out that this society must take care of the ‘widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, and the poor’ (7:10). Those in leadership must not take advantage of those that are most vulnerable in society. In Zechariah’s admonishment, the strong are to take care of the weak. They are not to be manipulated and ignored, but valued and given consideration. This was a major issue in their society before they were exiled. The prophet’s harshest words came to those in leadership that abused the poor and vulnerable within their society.
Those that should have cared for them within their religious system failed to represent them and give them a voice to help them. They were not concerned with segment of society because often the poor are consumers. They are needy and they take time. For those consumed with the temple and traditions, the poor would have taken away them away from their agenda. Hope Visualized Zechariah’s hope for this society is seen in the street watching children play and old men and women sitting (8:4,5). The children are doing what children should do-play.
Those that are old and cannot physically handle the toils of work are at rest. This is a sign of a society that values the healthy aspect of children growing up and enjoying life. They will carry the burden of society when they are older, but for now they play. The elderly are enjoying life at a time when they recognize their value in society will come more with their words, than their back. Zechariah is speaking of a society that is healthy because those in their leadership have set the guidelines for how their society will be organized.
When people are valued ore than religious ritual, you will have space in your social construct for children playing and the elderly enjoying the fruit of their lives. It is the society that presses for production, wealth, and status that makes no consideration for the children and elderly because they are of no benefit to their agenda. Conclusion Zechariah’s hope should be more than a hope; it should be a reality for those that believe God and practice His law. The myth that failed Israel and Judah was that they held that because they were God’s chosen people that they would not need to be accountable to His teaching.
They considered that there nation state to be strong because they believed that God would protect them because of the religious affiliation with the symbols connected to Yahweh. They were wrong and suffered terrible destruction. God was not silent. He sent many good men to warn them and plead with them to come back to Him. They could not see their ways because the trappings of religious institution, wealth, power, and military made them think they were invincible. Our society has some dark days looming ahead of us if we fail to see the signposts like the prophets have warned us.
