Return to God!

 Click Here to Read or Listen to One Year Bible Readings

In November of the second year of King Darius’s reign, the Lord gave this message to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah and grandson of Iddo: 2 “I, the Lord, was very angry with your ancestors. 3 Therefore, say to the people, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.’ 4 Don’t be like your ancestors who would not listen or pay attention when the earlier prophets said to them, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Turn from your evil ways, and stop all your evil practices.’ Zechariah 1:1-5

We start the book written by the prophet Zechariah during the reign of King Darius, who had called the people of Israel back to their homeland and permitted them to worship in the temple. Only about 50,000 returned home after Babylonian captivity, presumably those who were committed to the Lord and the restoration of Israel.  

Zechariah served the LORD in the years after the remnant returned from the 70-year Babylonian exile. His prophetic career began in the reign of Darius, the ruler of the Medes and Persians. His career was not marked by the reign of a king over Israel or Judah, because there was no king of Israel or Judah in this period after the exile. - Guzik

Zechariah's message was not quite as harsh as Haggai, who was his contemporary. While Haggai focused on the reason for God's judgment, Zechariah encouraged the people to return to the Lord. Importantly he says, "Return to the Lord, and He will return to you." 

Though God punished Israel and Judah for their idolatry, much like a parent disciplines a child, his desire all along was for them to return to Him. Note God doesn't make them return to Him, but He offers them the choice and the promise to be with them if they do. 

James 4:8 says something similar,

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

We are all prone to stray from God and worship other gods per se. In different ways and to differing degrees we all pursue things of this world over God. In essence this is a form of idolatry. God will often allow us to suffer the consequences of our poor choices, but always calls us to repent from our errant ways. As a New Testament Christians, it is the Holy Spirit that calls us back to the Father. If we listen to the Holy Spirit and turn from our sin, our relationship and peace with God will be restored.

Where do you need to return to God in your life? How does knowing that as you return to Him, He will return to you help you to make this choice!



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