Promising Peace

May 10, 2020 Background Scripture: Zechariah 8 Lesson Passage: Zechariah 8:1 – 8, 11 – 17 You know you’re getting older when things that used to seem simple—or even foolish to you, make a whole lot of sense today. The topic of this lesson would not have made much sense to me as a young adult. I would have suggested, quite flippantly, that each person determines their own peace. I would have defended my opinion by saying, "No one should allow another person to determine their personal experience of a peaceful life.” Fast-forward a few decades and an innumerable list of life experiences and my conversation about personal peace is quite different. Today, I am quite attuned to any suggestion that implies a promise of peace. Certainly, this would have been the case for Israel at the time they received this message from the prophet. The prophecy opens by reminding the people about what led to the situation they were living in. Israel was once a very proud nation. They were “God’s people” and they had the documents passed down from their ancestors to prove it. Under King David’s reign, for forty years, they were the greatest nation on earth. Their history was rich, and it was recorded on scrolls and taught to their children. However, generation after generation, they continuously turned from following God. God punished them by allowing them to be destroyed as a nation and taken into captivity to serve the Gentiles as slaves. The time of their captivity was ending, and God began to allow some of them to return to the promised land of Canaan. They were not returning to the splendor and glory of the kingdom they once knew or had heard about. They were returning to the ruins that were stark reminders of how the nation had been brutally assaulted and destroyed by the Babylonians. Perhaps there was no national pride for those returning—just an opportunity to escape enslavement in a foreign land. Some of the returners had started the construction of a new temple but abandoned it and focused more on building houses for themselves. Jerusalem, the city of Zion, was once the national attraction. In fact, it was an international attraction during King Solomon’s reign and foreigners traveled for miles just to see it. Now, it was just a wasteland. Knowing the devastation that occurred in Jerusalem just seven decades earlier, how could they sleep there peacefully at night? Anyone who has lived through a trauma or was born within a few years of a regional or national trauma, has witnessed the effects it left on that society. The Great Depression, the World Wars, the Civil Rights movement, the 911 Suicide Bombers, etc., all left indelible marks on American society. Trauma interrupts peace. The people of Israel were traumatized, but God sent them a promise. God, Himself, was going to come and live in Zion, among His people! People would again grow old in Zion, and their children would grow up enjoying life. God was going to guarantee peace in Jerusalem. He was not going to allow their enemy to come in and assault them and carry them away as slaves. This was great news to the remnant that was returning. They would not be at the mercy of their enemies around them. God would again demonstrate that He would be a blessing to His people. They were traumatized, but God was promising them that they would live in peace. Robert C. Hudson May 1, 2020

Prophesying Restoration

May 3, 2020 Background Scripture: Zephaniah 3 Lesson Passage: Zephaniah 3:14 – 20 Zephaniah descended from a noble lineage of Israel. He was from the line of kings that included King Hezekiah. King Hezekiah is considered historically to be one of Israel’s best kings. Zephaniah is said to have prophesied during the reign of Josiah over Judah. Josiah is also considered one of the best kings of Israel—who incidentally also descended from King Hezekiah. I note Zephaniah’s relationship to two of Israel’s best kings because of the content of his prophetic message. Zephaniah’s prophecy starts out with a very stern warning concerning God’s punishment of the people of the earth. God declared that He is going to remove all living creatures from the earth—mankind, animals, and fish. It would be the day of vengeance of God. The day of the Lord will bring swift punishment upon idol worshipers and those who are indifferent towards Him (atheists and agnostics). People who have trusted in themselves and their wealth will be consumed by the Lord’s anger. Zephaniah called for God-fearing people to seek God so that they may be hidden in the day of His vengeance. Josiah’s reign started when he was eight years old. In his eighteenth year, a copy of the Law was discovered in the temple. The reading of the Law provoked a much-needed reform in Judah. It is likely that Zephaniah’s call for the people of God to repent and seek God came during the early years of Josiah’s rule. Josiah’s two predecessors did evil in the sight of God and led the people astray. Both were idol worshipers and even placed idols in the temple that was constructed during Solomon’s reign. This led to the downward spiral of the spiritual condition of Judah. Josiah began to reign at the age of eight following those two evil kings. There is little wonder why Zephaniah’s prophecy was so stern against the people of God. God will not always turn away from evil without judging it. And if the covenant people of God were warned about the coming judgment, the Gentile nations were in for a greater judgment. All nations, to the west, east, south, and north, would be punished. Zephaniah called the major nations out by name. Then the prophecy turned again to the people of Zion. They would be judged according to their rebellion against God, lack of trust in the Lord, injustice towards others, and general lawlessness. And when the storm of God’s vengeance has passed, then He will send forth blessings. The Lord will gather in the scattered Gentiles who have worshiped Him, and He will purify their lips for praise. The humble will rejoice in the Lord’s presence because he will reign in their midst. The remnant of the Jews will be gathered to celebrate God’s triumph over all their enemies and the end of His wrath towards His people. After the day of vengeance, God is going to restore His people. There will be shouting and rejoicing; for peace will prevail in the land. The reproach of the people of God will be removed and replaced with fame and praise in the earth. Like most prophecy, Zephaniah’s message had an immediate meaning for the recipients of the prophecy as well as a long-term meaning for the end times. Whether it is immediate or long-term, God will judge sin. But along with the prophecy of judgment, God also sends the promise of hope. After judgment, God would bring restoration to His people. Robert C. Hudson April 22, 2020