No inclusiveness without exclusiveness

No inclusiveness without exclusiveness

No inclusiveness without exclusiveness
https://www.esv.org/Zech3:6—10
Week 12: 17/03/2023. Fri

Zechariah 3:10 In that day, declares the LORD of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come under his vine and under his fig tree.” (ESV)

God's people hoped for blessings, prosperity and peace during Zechariah's time. Most right minded citizenry would look forward to the same. Is the LORD "all inclusive" for people to come to Him, without any condition or evaluation of eligibility, such that all human beings would eventually come to Him, even when they chose not to? No.

Grace does not eliminate justice or righteousness. In fact, justice and righteousness must continue to exist somewhere else in order for "grace" to exist here.

The LORD gave Joshua conditions—"... If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here..." (3:7, ESV).

Zechariah was repeating Moses' requirement in Deuteronomy 30:19—20, that obedience would bring life and long residence in the land, while disobedience would exclude them from the land and attract curses.

APPLICATION: Embrace the LORD. Reject anything that would have the hint of compromising our commitment to the LORD. Hold on to the moral requirements required by the LORD, in the letter and spirit of them.