Our life, our schedule, and everything else are dictated by the immediate. By the urgent. That’s what we worry about. That’s what we focus on. On the immediate and on the thing that is happening right now, at this instant. Today, we see the prophet Zechariah remind us of God’s call in the past to return to Him, and this reminder is that His word is constant and true. His word is eternal. We should remember that. We should not be driven by the immediate, but we should stay rooted and firm in God’s constancy and goodness. We should keep our feet planted in the light of eternity.

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Good morning! It’s great to be with you on this Wednesday morning as we begin a new book in the Minor Prophets. Today, we’re starting Zechariah. Yesterday, we finished Haggai. Zechariah, like Haggai, is a post-exilic prophet. Just to review, the nation of Israel split after Solomon’s reign into the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom. The Northern Kingdom was defeated by Assyria, and the Southern Kingdom by Babylon. When Babylon defeated the Southern Kingdom, the Jews were taken into exile. Eventually, they were freed by Cyrus, the king of Persia, after Persia defeated Babylon.

Zechariah prophesies during the time of Darius, a later king of Persia. Darius is mentioned at the beginning of the book, setting the context for the Jews’ return from exile. The Jews were allowed to return home, and as we discussed with Haggai, Zerubbabel and others were rebuilding the temple, while Nehemiah focused on the wall, and Ezra on the spiritual renewal.

Today, we’ll read the first part of Zechariah, chapter 1, verses 1-6. Zechariah begins with a call to repentance and a reflection on the consequences of past disobedience.

In these verses, Zechariah delivers a familiar refrain from the prophets: “Return to me, and I will return to you.” This call to repentance emphasizes God’s desire for redemption and reconciliation. It’s crucial to remember that God’s discipline is always corrective, aiming to bring His people back into a right relationship with Him.

Zechariah reminds the people not to be like their ancestors who ignored the prophets’ warnings. The questions he poses—”Where are your ancestors now?” and “Do the prophets live forever?”—highlight the transient nature of human life compared to the enduring word of the Lord. God’s words and decrees are constant and unchanging, outlasting generations.

This passage challenges us to live in light of eternity rather than being consumed by the immediate moment. Our present struggles, while significant, are temporary. They often seem overwhelming, but in the grand scheme of eternity, they are fleeting. We should focus on what is eternal—God’s truth, love, and law.

I recently realized how my own attention span has been shortened by the constant stream of videos and online content. To counteract this, I started reading more books, both on my Kindle and good old-fashioned paperbacks. Initially, it was challenging, but I soon remembered how much I enjoy reading and how it enriches my mind. This experience reminded me of the importance of stepping back from the immediacy of digital distractions and focusing on more enduring pursuits.

Let’s not be overwhelmed by the urgency of the moment. Instead, let’s focus on the eternal. As the hymn goes, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

Tomorrow, we’ll continue with Zechariah’s first vision, reading verses 7-17. Have a great day, and I’ll see you in the morning!