Zachariah 1:1-6 – Self-awareness and repentance

Both Zachariah and Haggai, as fellow prophets and companions, were entrusted with the urgent and significant task of delivering God’s message to the Jewish community in Jerusalem during the post-exilic period. Their role was pivotal, and the message they carried was of utmost importance to the Jews who had returned from exile.  

Their primary mission was to motivate and encourage the Jews to act on their self-centered complacency and return to undertake the monumental task of rebuilding the temple. However, Zechariah also imparted significant teachings on a wide array of subjects, equipping God’s people for the future age of the Messiah.

According to Haggai 1:1, when Zechariah delivered his first message, Haggai had already been preaching for about two months. In Haggai’s first two recorded messages, he asserted that all of Israel’s difficulties were due to the people’s selfishness and disobedience in failing to rebuild the temple. Haggai’s powerful preaching motivated the people who immediately resumed construction.

In Zechariah 1:1-6, he delivered a message urging the people to deeply reflect on their ancestors’ predicament, repent, and take heed of the words of the prophets. He emphasized that these actions are not only crucial but also transformative in their journey towards spiritual renewal. 

Zachariah’s call was not only for them to return to rebuild the temple but also to recognize their wrongdoings, embrace God's discipline, turn away from disobedience, and embark on a new path of devotion to God. This acknowledgment and acceptance are vital stages in their journey towards repentance and transformation.

This passage shows us the importance of self-awareness because the first step to change is self-awareness. Without it, a person won’t know where to begin to change. The recalling of Israel’s past was to make them aware of where they were wrong and what they needed to repent from.

Similarly, we need to make appropriate alignments to live right with God. How can we start to align unless we are aware of our flaws? How can we be mindful of our flaws if we don't make time for introspection? Let us take time to reflect on our lives and actions.