“RETURN TO ME AND I WILL RETURN TO YOU.” In the 6th century BC, around this time of the year, Zechariah reminded God’s people that the Almighty’s presence was key to their restoration as His nation. The prophet assured them that God was not far away. If they would return to Him, He would return to them.

For God’s ancient chosen people, rebuilding God’s Temple, the place where He physically resided, was absolutely essential for God to “return” to them in the sense of worshipping Him. Today, Ephesians 2:12-22 gives us an astonishing picture of our current spiritual temple BEING BUILT in Christ.

“Remember that in the past you were without Christ. You were not citizens of Israel, and you did not know about the agreements with the promises that God made to his people. You had no hope, and you did not know God. Yes, at one time you were far away from God, but now in Christ Jesus, you are brought near to him. You are brought near to God through the blood sacrifice of Christ.” (verses 12-13)

“Christ is the reason we are now at peace. He made us Jews and you who are not Jews one people. We were separated by a wall of hate that stood between us, but Christ broke down that wall. By giving his own body, Christ ended the law with its many commands and rules. His purpose was to make the two groups become one in him. By doing this he would make peace. Through the cross Christ ended the hate between the two groups. And after they became one body, he wanted to bring them both back to God. He did this with his death on the cross. Christ came and brought the message of peace to you non-Jews who were far away from God. And he brought that message of peace to those who were near to God. Yes, through Christ we all have the right to come to the Father in one Spirit.” (verses 14-18)

“So now you non-Jewish people are not visitors or strangers, but you are citizens together with God’s holy people. You belong to God’s family. You believers are like a building that God owns. That building was built on the foundation that the apostles and prophets prepared. Christ Jesus himself is the most important stone in that building. The whole building is joined together in Christ, and he makes it grow and become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Christ you are being built together with his other people. You are being made into a place where God lives through the Spirit.” (verses 19-22)

It's always good to look back and see where you’ve been and learn from mistakes. That’s where our review of Zechariah’s message to our ancient ancestors becomes important. “In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah.” Zechariah 1:1

The evening of October 15 on our 2023 Gregorian calendar began the 1st day of the 8th month on God's calendar. So this lesson is perfectly timed for us Christians.

“The Lord was very angry with your ancestors. Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty. Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the LORD. Where are your ancestors now? And the prophets, do they live forever? But did not my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your ancestors? Then they repented and said ‘The LORD Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to do.’” Zechariah 1:2-6

Around 2000 BC, God had made an everlasting covenant with Abraham to bless all the nations of the earth through him, and to give him the land of Canaan forever. (Genesis 12-15) Abraham’s descendants were later sealed with the God-given name "Israel" when He renamed Jacob, grandson of Abraham.

After spending generations in Egyptian bondage, the Israelites were freed by God Almighty through the Passover Lamb, whose sacrificial blood guaranteed their deliverance and survival. The twelve tribes of the nation of Israel, with the namesakes of the sons of Jacob, traversed the desert regions for 40 years before they entered the Promised Land designated by God for His chosen people.

Led by God’s appointed judges for 350 years, the nation began its decline by placing their faith in the mindset of the world for leadership. "Make us a king to judge us like all the nations." 1 Samuel 8:5.

God gave them what they wanted. As a result, by 920 BC, Israel had split into 2 kingdoms: the North and the South. The 10 northern tribes, continuing with the namesake Israel, set up their own worship in Samaria. A remnant from the 10 northern tribes joined the 2 southern tribes, and they become known as Judah, worshipping the Lord from Jerusalem.

Soon both kingdoms were “doing their own thing”, even as they claimed to worship God. Around 720 BC, the 10 northern tribes were taken into captivity by Assyria, and scattered across the isles, never mentioned again as a nation. 150 years later, the southern kingdom of Judah was taken into captivity by the Babylonians.

Eventually, Judah was allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the destroyed city and Solomon’s Temple. Today, descendants of Israel bear the name “Jew”, because they descend from the southern tribe of Judah. Amazingly, Israel is the only nation on earth that inhabits the same land, has the same name, and speaks the same language as it did 3,000 years ago.

It was during the time of the exiles return to Jerusalem that Zechariah arrived on the scene. Zechariah, whose name means “God has remembered”, was not just a prophet for the people of Israel in the Old Testament. Zechariah’s prophecies are repeated in the New Testament 41 times. Indeed, Zechariah even foretells Christ’s coming with great accuracy. He speaks of Jesus coming in lowliness (6:12); the humanity of Christ (6:12, 13:7); His betrayal for 30 pieces of silver (11:12-13); the crucifixion of Jesus (by the "sword" of the Lord) (13:7); His priesthood (6:13) and kingship (6:13, 9:9, 14:9,16); the future return of Jesus Christ (14:4); His building the Lord's temple (6:12-13); the reign of King Jesus (9:10) the establishment of enduring peace and prosperity by Jesus Christ (3:10, 9:9-10).

The phrase “Lord Almighty” appears 5 times in this focal passage of Zechariah 1:1-6. If you look at other translations like the KJV “Lord of the hosts” and the NLT “Lord of Heavens’ Armies”, we get an idea that we are talking about a great and mighty Lord speaking here. In fact, “Lord Almighty” is used 50 more times in the book of Zechariah.

Indeed, the Book of Zechariah ends with the powerful picture of ALL people of the earth worshipping the Lord Almighty, Lord of Hosts, the Lord of Heavens’ Armies, the King of Kings, Son of God, during the Holy Days of Tabernacles.

“Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him… The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name…Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.” Zechariah 14:5,9,16. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=367800375570202&set=pb.100070207268018.-2207520000&type=3

Ancient Rabbis believed this was the month appointed for Messiah to come and begin rebuilding His temple on earth. 1 Corinthians 3:16 gives us an accurate picture of the spiritual temple accomplished through the work of Messiah Jesus. “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s spirit lives in you?”

“RETURN TO ME, AND I WILL RETURN TO YOU”