Zechariah 1:1-6--A Call to Return to the LORD

Zechariah 1:1-6
English Standard Version

A Call to Return to the LORD
1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying, 2 “The LORD was very angry with your fathers. 3 Therefore say to them, Thus declares the LORD of hosts: Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. 4 Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried out, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.’ But they did not hear or pay attention to me, declares the LORD. 5 Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6 But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? So they repented and said, ‘As the LORD of hosts purposed to deal with us for our ways and deeds, so has he dealt with us.’”

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This again is a prophecy to the exiles that returned and is concurrent with many of the other Minor Prophets we have studied.  The LORD gives a message to Zechariah to tell the people that the LORD very angry with "your fathers" (this could mean ancestors, but probably in the context means the political and spiritual leadership of the nation and the tribal leaders over the various clans and families).  There is a call for them (starting at the top) to return to the LORD because where the leaders lead, the people will follow.  When they return the the LORD, they will find Him and His blessings there waiting for them.

They are warned not to be like their forefathers who ignored the voice of the prophets that were sent to them.  They had to learn the hard way by judgment and exile and the LORD is not afraid to use means like that again to get the attention of this generation if necessary.  Now that entire wicked generation that did not listen has been destroyed.  Even the prophets of that time do not remain alive to bring the LORD's message to this generation--the LORD raises up new prophets because the old ones have died.  Yet the LORD lives forever and is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  His word and his statutes and commands are for all generations.  His words to the previous generations are just as much for this generation as they were for the ones to whom they were spoken (let that be a lesson to us today who think about needing new and fresh revelation for a new generation or that the Bible is outdated and does not apply to us today).

The people heard the LORD's warning and they repented, however, they did not anticipate to escape judgment for their wickedness.  They accepted responsibility and the consequences that would come to them for the evil they had done.  That is what true repentance looks like as opposed to those who are simply looking to escape the wrath of God.