Promised incarnation: God with us

Zechariah 7:8 – 8:8 (TNIV)

⁸ And the word of the LORD came again to Zechariah: ⁹ “This is what the LORD Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. ¹⁰ Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’

¹¹ “But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and covered their ears. ¹² They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the LORD Almighty was very angry.

¹³ ” ‘When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,’ says the LORD Almighty. ¹⁴ ‘I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations, where they were strangers. The land they left behind them was so desolate that no one traveled through it. This is how they made the pleasant land desolate.’ “

¹ The word of the LORD Almighty came to me.

² This is what the LORD Almighty says: “I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.”

³ This is what the LORD says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.”

⁴ This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each of them with cane in hand because of their age. ⁵ The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.”

⁶ This is what the LORD Almighty says: “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to me?” declares the LORD Almighty.

⁷ This is what the LORD Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west. ⁸ I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.”

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This passage brings both warning and promise. God spoke through the prophets to tell the people to stop oppressing and taking advantage of others—but verses 11 and 12 tell us how well that turned out. The people ignored God and pretended not to hear, hoping to not be accountable to God’s instructions. So God’s anger is incited, and then the people cry out to God. Read verse 13 again. What does this say to you today? It reminds me that I should not take advantage of God by seeking only God’s love and not accepting God’s expectations.

In Zechariah 8, the tone shifts a bit. We hear how God longs for the restoration of Zion, God’s dwelling place amongst the people. I imagine that our separation from God causes God great sadness and angst — probably more so than it does for us on any given day. In this passage, God’s feelings are “great jealousy” and God is going to do what seems impossible and be reunited with the people. Does the idea of God coming to the people, becoming incarnate, and being born as a baby in the city of David seem impossible to you?

These verses remind me of how incredible Christmas really is. God loves us so much and is willing to come to us, even though we are rebellious and ignore God’s voice. God wants to be with you — will you let God do what seems impossible for you?

— Rev. Molly Simpson

God in Heaven, do you really love me this much? Even though I am like those people who stopped up their ears so that they could not hear you? With your love give me courage to hear your voice and act on behalf of widows, orphans and anyone who is in need. Help me to demonstrate your love and jealousy for your people by acting for justice for your people. Thanks for loving me. Amen.