Zechariah 8:14-17

 Speak the truth but in love and be doers of the Word not just hearers. Pride and arrogance God hates.

Zechariah 7:10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart against his brother.’

Be fair

Be forgiving

Be humble

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain in to joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done. Franciscan Benediction  

Zechariah 8:14-17

14 “For thus says the Lord of hosts:

‘Just as I determined to punish you

When your fathers provoked Me to wrath,’

Says the Lord of hosts,

‘And I would not relent,

15 So again in these days

I am determined to do good

To Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.

Do not fear.

16 These are the things you shall do:

Speak each man the truth to his neighbor;

Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace;

17 Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor;

And do not love a false oath.

For all these are things that I hate,’

Says the Lord.”

This contrasts with the disaster that God brought in judgment. After restoration, Yahweh desires to provide blessing, not judgment. Yahweh desires righteous moral behavior over external ritual obedience. Elders commonly held court at a city’s gates. Wise decisions made by the elders of a city were made for the good of all the inhabitants. Faithlife Bible.

Zechariah set forth the ethical obligations of a life of faith. He upheld the positive values of truth and justice and condemned evil plans and false oaths. The words speak each man the truth are quoted by Paul in Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. NKJ Bible.

Those who believed the promises, were to show their faith by their works, and to wait the fulfilment. When God is displeased, he can cause trade to decay, and set every man against his neighbour; but when he returns in mercy, all is happy and prosperous. Surely believers in Christ must not trifle with the exhortation to put away lying, and to speak every man peace with his neighbour, to hate what the Lord hates, and to love that wherein he delights. Matthew Henry.

Numbers 30:2 If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

Deuteronomy 10:12 “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,