Stepping Out Of The Shadows

What's Next?

Introduction

There is a plaque on a church building in England that reads like this: "In the year 1653, when all things sacred throughout the land were either demolished or profaned, Sir Robert Shirley built this church. His singular praise is this: To have done the best of things in the worst of times." In 17th century England it was the worst of times. King Charles I had been tried for treason and been beheaded. Injustice was reigning throughout the land. The churches were harassed and many were closed. It was a dark time. But Sir Robert Shirley used the things God had given him and he built a church. He invested in the Kingdom, he did the best of things in the worst of times. What are we doing with our things? It’s a dark time in many respects for us right now: War, aids, abortion, divorce, child abuse, pornography.. "everything sacred being profaned." The question still must come back to each of us- When the Master returns for the final accounting, what will He realize from His investment in us? Are we doing the best of things, in the worst of times?

There is a figure in Scripture who faced a great opportunity and a great challenge during one of the most difficult moments in ancient Israel's history. His story is found in a vision in Zechariah 3.

Text: Zechariah 3 ESV

Introduction:

God chose the Israelite nation for a special purpose. They were given the sacred Scriptures which they preserved (Rom 3:2). They were adopted as the children of God. They experienced the glory of God at Sanai and in Solomon's temple. They received God's law through Moses. They were given the symbols of the temple worship and sacrifices. And it was from them that Christ was born (Romans 9:5).

The Psalmist said it poetically:

Psalm 147:19-20 NKJV

19 He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and His judgments to Israel.20 He has not dealt thus with any nation; And as for His judgments, they have not known them.

This knowledge of God is powerful.

But, as Peter Parker's Uncle Ben famously said, "With great power comes great responsibility."

As you read through the OT you find the ancient nation of Israel going from struggle to struggle and never measuring up altogether to the responsibility that God gave them. They progressively got worse until finally the nation of Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar came and besieged Jerusalem and eventually carried away the Jews to Babylon where they lived for seventy years.

Seventy years they lived with the consequences of decisions that others had made. Young people married and had children. They kept their culture to a degree. But, they did not offer sacrifices in the temple. There was no temple. They learned to live in a place they had to, but it was not their place. There are times in our lives when we must just do the best we can.

The prophet Jeremiah told them early on to plant gardens, get married, have kids, and just live (Jeremiah 29). But, he also gave them a promise that one day after the seventy years was over God would visit them and bring them back to Jerusalem. There are times when we just have to ride out the season. There is nothing else to do, but do the best of things in the worst of times.

Eventually, the Babylonian empire was toppled and Cyrus the great would issue a decree that allowed those nations who had been taken captive and transplanted to Babylon to return to their own homelands. The Jews were able to return to their place. Only a small group chose to return. There was a rebuilding project that took place. The rebuilt their place of worship, the temple. Eventually they would rebuild the protective walls around Jerusalem. Their were struggles and ups and downs along the way political and spiritual battles.

There will always be battles when you begin to rebuild. Don't let anyone fool you about life. When we decide to have children, start a business, finish a degree, you fill in the blank... there will be battles along the way.

Comments on Text:

1. Zechariah 3:1, 3 ESV

"Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him... 3 Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments."

In our text is a young man named Joshua. He was born in Babylon to a family that belonged to those God had chosen to participate in the temple duties. In fact, he was a descendent of Aaron the high priest and as the heir it was his responsibility to fulfill the duties of leading the entire nation in worship to God.