Festival of the Reformation of the Church
Posted on October 31, 2022 by under
Scripture: Zechariah 1:1-16 (NKJV)
1:1 In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, 2 “The Lord has been very angry with your fathers. 3 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts. 4 “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets preached, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Turn now from your evil ways and your evil deeds.”’ But they did not hear nor heed Me,” says the Lord.
5 “Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?
6 “Yet surely My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? “So they returned and said:
‘Just as the Lord of hosts determined to do to us, according to our ways and according to our deeds, so He has dealt with us.’”’”
7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet: 8 I saw by night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees in the hollow; and behind him were horses: red, sorrel, and white. 9 Then I said, “My lord, what are these?” So the angel who talked with me said to me, “I will show you what they are.”
10 And the man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, “These are the ones whom the Lord has sent to walk to and fro throughout the earth.”
11 So they answered the Angel of the Lord, who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, “We have walked to and fro throughout the earth, and behold, all the earth is resting quietly.”
12 Then the Angel of the Lord answered and said, “O Lord of hosts, how long will You not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which You were angry these seventy years?”
13 And the Lord answered the angel who talked to me, with good and comforting words. 14 So the angel who spoke with me said to me, “Proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts:
“I am zealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with great zeal.
15 “I am exceedingly angry with the nations at ease; For I was a little angry, and they helped—but with evil intent.”
16 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord:
“I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy; My house shall be built in it,” says the Lord of hosts, “And a surveyor’s line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.”’”
Devotion
The Word of the Lord came to Zechariah twice. The first time was a call to repentance. The second time the Word let Zechariah know that He (the Word) knew what was going on in Jerusalem.
Then the Word of the Lord spoke comforting words to Zechariah: “I am zealous for Jerusalem…I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy, My House shall be built in it…and a surveyor’s line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.” Jerusalem and God’s Temple
would be a place of God’s mercy and also a place of God’s justice.
Why is this a reformation text?
Because, the Creator loves His Creation. He knows when those whom He created separate themselves from Him in sin and unbelief. He gives mercy and forgiveness to sinners who repent of their sin and return to Him in faith. He reforms those whom He has formed. Is that not Reformation?
Then there is the matter of God’s justice. Christ’s Holy precious blood is just. Without faith in that blood, there is only condemnation. But God is merciful to sinners who repent and believe in His Son. That is God’s justice and mercy—that is justification.
Indulgences won’t justify. Two types of justification based on twisted words added together won’t justify. Only faith in Christ and his blood justifies. That was reformation (and justification) for Zechariah. That was reformation (and justification) for Martin Luther. And that is reformation(and justification) for us.
Prayer: Grant, we beseech Thee, Merciful Lord, to Thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve Thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Festival of the Reformation of the Church
Almighty God, merciful Father, who madest the light to shine out of darkness, we thank Thee that Thou hast shown mercy unto us and our fathers, and by means of Thy servant Martin Luther hast restored the pure light of Thy Gospel: keep us, we beseech Thee, in sound doctrine, that we may steadfastly believe and worthily follow Thy saving Word, and finally, by its holy comfort, depart in peace and joy; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
