Zechariah 4-9; Psalm 148
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There is a part of Zechariah chapter 7 that is very similar to
what we recently read in Micah chapter 6 (To review click Here). It’s a different group of people and a
different prophet, but it’s the same attitude of the people and the same
message from God. The people are
asking if they should continue fasting at a certain time as they had been
doing. God once again tells them –
I don’t care about your religious
rituals; what I care about is people, and you should too.
“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice;
show mercy and compassion to one another.
Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of
each other.” (Zechariah 7:9-10)
“These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each
other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil
against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the Lord.” (Zechariah 8:16-17)
It is such a simple thing, but I think we forget how big of a deal
the way we treat others really is.
God cares about that a lot.
God cares about all people so His followers should care about all
people. We should always be
showing love, mercy, and compassion.
We should “love truth and peace” (8:19b). Because God is all these things: loving,
merciful, compassionate, truthful, and peaceful—when we show these to others,
the hope is they will no longer see us but they will see and experience God.
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