Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded.[1]
The blessing of God’s personal presence
Zechariah 1:1-6 CSB
In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah, son of Iddo: “The Lord was extremely angry with your ancestors. So, tell the people, This is what the Lord of Armies says: Return to me—this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies—and I will return to you, says the Lord of Armies. Do not be like your ancestors; the earlier prophets proclaimed to them: This is what the Lord of Armies says: Turn from your evil ways and your evil deeds. But they did not listen or pay attention to me—this is the Lord’s declaration. Where are your ancestors now? And do the prophets live forever? But didn’t my words and my statutes that I commanded my servants the prophets overtake your ancestors?’” So, the people repented and said, “As the Lord of Armies decided to deal with us for our ways and our deeds, so he has dealt with us.”
Matthew Henry
So long as a man continues under the law as a covenant, and seeks justification by his own obedience, he continues the slave of sin in some form. Nothing but the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, can make any sinner free from the law of sin and death. Believers are delivered from that power of the law, which condemns for the sins committed by them. And they are delivered from that power of the law which stirs up and provokes the sin that dwells in them. Understand this not of the law as a rule, but as a covenant of works. In profession and privilege, we are under a covenant of grace, and not under a covenant of works; under the gospel of Christ, not under the law of Moses.[2]
Adam Clarke
Return to me – This shows that they had power to return, if they would but use it.
And I will return to you – I will show you mercy and grant you salvation, if you will use the grace I have already given you. Men are lost, because they turn not unto God; but no man is lost because he had not power to return. God gives this, and he will require it.[3]
Hermann J. Austel
The blessing of God’s personal presence and fellowship is for those who seek him from the heart. Men, whether evildoers or prophets, are mortal. But God’s word stands forever. Whether threat or promise, that Word will surely be fulfilled. God means what he says, and he has done exactly as he has said. This forms a warning to the current generation, lest they take God’s Word lightly. It serves also as an encouragement to those who seek God: his promise will unfailingly come to pass.[4]
“To Be A Christian” Anglican Catechism[5]
Question #195
Do you sin against God’s Law?
Yes. I, together with all humankind, sin daily against God’s Law, in thought, word, and deed, both by what I do and by what I fail to do.
Question #196
What is God’s forgiveness?
God’s forgiveness is his merciful pardon of sin and removal of the guilt that results from our disobedience.
Question #198
Does God forgive your sins?
Yes. In Christ, God freely forgives the sins of all, including me, who sincerely repent and in true faith turn to him.
Almighty and most merciful Father,
We have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your grace, there is no health in us.
O Lord, have mercy upon us.
Spare all those who confess their faults.
Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.[6]
Lord, Have Mercy
You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God.[7]
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Corinthians 4.15).
[1] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Jas 4:8.
[2] Matthew Henry and Thomas Scott, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, 1997), Ro 7:1.
[3] Adam Clarke, The Holy Bible with a Commentary and Critical Notes, New Edition, vol. 4 (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife Corporation, 2014), 770–771.
[4] Hermann J. Austel, “Zechariah,” in Evangelical Commentary on the Bible, vol. 3, Baker Reference Library (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1995), 689.
[5] TO BE A CHRISTIAN: AN ANGLICAN CATECHISM Copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America
[6] Morning Prayer of Confession, Anglican Book of Common Prayer, 2019.
[7] Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2015), Ro 7:4.
