Homilist Zechariah 8:16-17 These are the things that you shall do; Speak you every man the truth to his neighbor… I. THE ESSENTIAL PREREQUISITES. Four prerequisites or preparatories for an universal revival of genuine religion. 1. There must be truthfulness in speech. "These are the things which ye shall do, Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour." Truthful speech is somewhat rare in all social Circles, and in all departments of life. Fallacious statements abound in markets, senates, courts, and even families. Truthful speaking involves two things — (1) Sincerity. To speak a true thing insincerely is not to speak truthfully. A man must conscientiously believe that what he speaks is true, before he can be credited with veracity. Truthful speaking involves — (2) Accuracy. A man may speak with sincerity, and yet from ignorance or mistake may not speak according to fact; and unless he speaks according to fact he can scarcely be said to speak truthfully. His speech unintentionally conveys falsehood. Hence truthful speaking requires a strong sense of right, and an adequate acquaintance with the subjects of the speech. 2. There must be rectitude in conduct. "Execute the Judgment of truth and peace in your gates." In the East the courts of justice were held at the gates of the city; and perhaps the primary reference here is to the pronouncing of judgment on cases that were righteous and tended to peace. But rectitude of life is even more important and urgent than rectitude in judg ment. 3. There must be benevolence in feeling. "Let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour." We must not only keep our hands from evil, but we must watch over our hearts, that they imagine not any evil against our neighbor. 4. There must be abhorrence of falsehood. "Love no false oath." II. The signal manifestations. It is suggested that where these prerequisites are found, i.e. where a revival takes place, three things are manifest. 1. An increased pleasure in religious ordinances. "Thus saith the Lord of hosts; the fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth , and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts." "The fast of the fourth month was on account of the taking of Jerusalem" (Jeremiah 39:2; Jeremiah 52:5-7); that of the tenth was in commemoration of the commencement of the siege (Jeremiah 52:4). The Jews are distinctly informed that these fasts should be turned into festivals of joy." — Henderson. The first sign of a true revival of religion in an individual or a community is a new and happy interest in the ordinances of religion. Another sign is — 2. A deep practical concern for the spiritual interests of the race. "Thus saith the Lord of hosts; It shall yet come to pass that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: and the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also." There will be a mutual excitation amongst the people to seek the one true and living God. "Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord." "Speedily," there is no time to be lost; religion is for all, and for all an urgent duty. Another sign is — 3. An universal "desire" to be identified with the people of God. "In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men — a definite number for an indefinite multitude, indicating many rather than a few — shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a JEW." Conclusion — When will this universal revival of religion take place? The signs are scarcely visible anywhere. We can only hasten it by attending to the prerequisites. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: |
    |