9.30 Zechariah 7-8

Kaylie Niedzwiecki

9.30.2020

Zechariah 7-8

Summarize what you read in one paragraph:
In Chapter 7, God is calling out the hypocrisy within Israel in regards to their faith, specifically fasting and how it was used for self indulgence rather than sacrificing for God. In Chapter 8, God re-emphasizes the blessings that he is willing to bestow onto his people, and how marvelous their lives can be. He foreshadows in verses 19-22, how the good news will spread and how everyone will be wanting to go to seek the Lord Almighty and will be bringing along others to go. 

What is one key verse?

One key verse in these chapters is Chapter 8:14-17.

How does what you read change your vision of God? 

This changes my vision of God because it reminds me that when we are in sin and when we feel the craving of self-indulgence and the urge to have a pity-party, God is just waiting for us to repent and run back to Him where he can bless us and help us get back on the path to righteousness. He is jealous for us when we are away from him and the love he has for us cannot be compared.

How does what you read change your vision of yourself or others?

 These chapters remind me that it wasn’t too late for the Isrealites to repent and it won’t be too late for us either. God will send us warnings, it will be obvious when we are living to serve ourselves rather than our God but He will also always provide a way to repent and try again. And He’s excited about it! You can hear his enthusiasm in chapter 8 as he describes what can and what will be.

How will you Go With God because of this reading? (What is an action step?)

I will continue with God with eagerness. Reading these chapters has reminded me that I should constantly be looking at what I am doing and asking why I am doing them. Is it truly for God or is it secretly for myself? God’s way is filled with promises and blessing while my way is filled with hypocrisy and self-indulgence and sin. 

Where did you see Jesus in these chapters? (What made you think about Jesus?)

In the key verse (Chapter 8:23), God speaks of the future when the people are in obedience and will gather from all nations just to see one Jew, to take a firm hold of one specific Jew and say that they will follow him. Another foreshadow of God sending his Son to save Israel.