“These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgements that are true and make for peace, do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for these are things I hate, says the Lord.” (NRSV Zechariah 8:16-17)
In Advent, as Christians prepare for the celebration of the birthday of Jesus Messiah, we turn to the prophets in the Bible. The history of the Jewish people included judgement and dispersion to lands that conquered Israel and Judah. God didn’t keep secrets about their future and the prophets guided by God’s Holy Spirit shared some of the plans God has for them as a community. Zechariah was tasked with encouraging the Jews who after 70 years in exile were allowed to go back and rebuild Jerusalem. The time here is 500 B.C.E.
Well, if you are not a history buff, take heart! This prophet shared some basic precepts about how humans could successfully live in community with each other. Zechariah was all about community building from God’s perspective. This is a list of imperative items that builds community:
1. Speak the truth to one another. We could ask what is truth? However, that is a philosophical question and not a social one. To build a community, the people must all be on the same page about goals and desires. The Jews of the dispora wanted to return to Jerusalem to rebuild their nation. Today we are Americans in a deeply divided country. That is an undeniable truth. Can we speak the truth in love to one another?
2. Render judgements that are true and make for peace. To have a judgement that makes for peace you need something which conflict resolution principles calls consensus. Consensus requires time and a safe place for all the stakeholders to discuss their ideas, beliefs and desires and negotiate a path or action plan that all agree upon. Time is a gift from God. So is forgiveness and maybe even patience with fellow citizens, church members, classmates and coworkers. Negotiating towards consensus is a specific skill that really needs to be taught and role modeled in our society.
3. Do not devise evil in your hearts against one another. WOW! God seems to require soul searching about our motives. How do we intentionally devise evil against each other? Notice that this is a choice we make! This is a “You Shall Not…” Good to have this guidance from God. I try to remember that everyone I meet is someone for whom my Lord died so that eternal life with God would be possible for them even when I may not like that. I think God can help us see a wider purpose through God’s eyes. We always have choices so don’t make the wrong choice!
4. Love no false oath. What do we swear by? To whom do you give an oath of allegiance? To Jews in the Old Testament their covenant relationship was with God. The First Commandment and the Shema were the true oath they swore by: You will love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and your neighbor as yourself. Words to live by. To us today, many voices want our allegience. Some can have our attention for a time, but only One is ultimately worthy. For Christians, our basic identity with God comes from our Baptism–our true oath to be with God and the promise that God is with us.
Christians also hope in the second coming of Christ. Some other religions might think we are delusional to trust this promise. We are encouraged to always be readly for this possibility while we live each day in the great here and now. How are you preparing to spend eternity with God? Zachariah gives us some guiding principles as we wait to celebrate the birth of Jesus and anticipate His coming again whenever that may be.
For your consideration:
1. Which of these precepts from Zacharia is your strongest? Weakest?
2. Have you ever been involved in a community where an issue was negotiated toward consensus rather than just the majority winning the vote?
3. Have you ever encouraged a group to work toward consensus instead of following Robert’s Rules of Order?
4. Pray for someone with whom you disagree that the the Shema would be the oath they live by: May “name of person” live by the oath that he/she loves God with all her/his heart, mind, soul and strength and their neighbors as themself.