Sunday Morning Podcast April 29, 2018. Bro. Dave Goble.
TEXT: ZECHARIAH 7:8-10
8 And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying,
9 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:
10 And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.
We are impressed here of both God’s judgments and compassion. Without mercy and compassion God’s Word would only be hard judgments. In this gospel day, Jesus is “the marriage” of judgments, mercy and compassion, for God’s judgments and mercy fit together, like a hand in a glove. Judgment and mercy have both gotten a “bad rap” for judgment is often seen as harsh, and love as wishy washy. Neither is representative of God by itself. For God’s judgment can not exclude His compassion or love. They are not “either or,” …they work together! It’s hard to be judged by a standard that is changing and uncertain, like the world. People making up rules as they go. If you choose to play, you know someone will change the rules. For the rules that the world sets are frustrating. Too arbitrary. But we need and want something that we can count on, and not so uncertain, but from heaven. With the world, you don’t know what’s expected. But with an honest seeking heart, you want to know “What does God expect from me?” God provides you to have a certain way of God’s law, with mercy, love and compassion. Not arbitrary, but a fair shake. Society, their worldly “rule,” always change, so uncertain, so unholy.
God’s standards are holy and real, and not fake, as the world’s religions are. “For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)” Romans 2:14,15 We are not raised up to the law of Moses today, but God rules through our conscience. We know, because it’s written on our hearts. God causes us to began to be accountable to that law. It either accuses, or excuses us. “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. ” Luke 10:27 We’re accountable to the laws God has given, showing us what is wrong, and what is right. And unless we have the mercy and compassion of God, we won’t have His power to live in His holy judgments. People started to believe they weren’t really bad, although not really good either. Arbitrary rules of the world to please whatever people want in the flesh. Arbitrary religion. But honest people don’t want uncertain religions. God’s people want to be measured by His judgments. But without love and power of God we can’t live within His holy judgments. For God’s judgments separates sin from holiness.
This is the measure of judgment of God. “He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes. 1 John 2:10,11
The Judgments of God, And How His Love Works With It….