It is common to read the statement, “The word of the Lord came to me” (Zechariah 6.9), without fully appreciating the awesome gift humans receive when God speaks to them.
The fact that God speaks to humans says something about God, and it also says something about us. What it says about God is that He is personal. He is not a force or a feeling. He is a true Being who interacts with people on a personal basis.
Some popular teachers propose that God can be found within the human heart. We somehow discover God’s being within us, as He is within all other creatures in the world. While this may sound attractive, it is not accurate.
God is a distinct being who interacts with people in a personal way. Yes, His Spirit will come and dwell within us, but that is different from the idea that God dwells within everyone.
People like Dallas Willard and Henry Blackaby emphasize the personal nature of God. They teach that God will relate to us and can be known by us in a very real and personal way.
Our relationship with Him involves both speaking to Him and hearing His voice in our lives. We can say like Zechariah and the other prophets, “The Word of the Lord came to me.”
Blackaby highlights numerous biblical examples, stating that when God’s Word reaches humans, He often presents them with a God-sized task. In these moments, they are called to place their trust in God and act according to His direction.
Why don’t you pause reading for a moment and reflect on times when you believe God gave you a word that was specifically for you? What was going on when that happened? How did you respond?
God’s Temple
God’s word to Zechariah was to tell the government and religious leaders that they were to rebuild the temple.
“Those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the Lord, and you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God” (Zechariah 6.15).
The temple was important because within it was the Holy of Holies, the place where heaven and earth met.
Temple Within: Heart and Spirit
The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus plus the gift of the Holy Spirit enable humans to have the temple of God within themselves.
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own?
For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body (1 Corinthians 6.19-20).
We don’t need a special building or the aid of priests to enter into the presence of God. All we have to do is provide space for God to do the very thing He wants to do, and that is relate to us in a very real and personal way.
Both Zechariah and Paul stress the importance of obedience. Zechariah conveyed that following God’s directives would lead to the fulfillment of His promises in the lives of the people.
In 1 Corinthians, Paul urged the church to model their lives after the attitudes and actions inspired by the Holy Spirit.
In each case, obedience is crucial for recognizing God’s presence within us and being a temple for His presence.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 