Zechariah 6:15 (ESV)
[15] “And 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. And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.”

There is a mystery between the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of people. In Zechariah chapter 6, patrols were sent out throughout the earth. Nothing escapes God’s notice. Verse 8 indicates that God sovereignly set his “Spirit at rest in the north country.” He then explained that Joshua, the High Priest, was to be crowned (treated as a king), and that he would build the temple. Joshua is a type of Jesus (the Greek version of the name Joshua). His is crowned, making him both a priest and a king. Jesus is prophet, priest, and king. Joshua is to build the temple. Jesus is building his temple. “you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 2:5). The parallels between Joshua and Jesus are not accidental.

All of this is written in Zechariah as prophecies and promises by God. But then follows this last line in the chapter. “And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God” (Zech 6:15b). God will sovereignly accomplish his purpose, and yet there is human responsibility to cooperate with his Spirit, submit to his instructions, and get on with the work to which he was calling them. Build the temple!

This is a mystery. We cannot reason our way to an understanding of the intersection between sovereignty and responsibility. Almost every attempt to do so leads toward a misunderstanding, or even heresy. God will sovereignly accomplish his purpose. That, however, in no way diminishes our responsibility to respond in faith and obedience. It reminds me of Mordecai’s words to Esther, “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place (God’s sovereignty), but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this (personal responsibility) (Esth 4:14)”?

The sovereignty of God allows us to live in peace, trusting that God will work his purposes. Nothing escapes his hands. Nothing touches us that is outside of his sovereignty. We are under his watchful care and he will accomplish what he intends to accomplish. The responsibility piece challenges us. We are held responsible for our actions. Do we trust God enough to obey him? Do we trust him enough to step out into uncomfortable and potentially dangerous situations simply because he has called us? Are we willing to yield even if we do not feel prepared, ready, or competent? After all, our competence is found in him, not in ourselves. Do we trust the sovereign grace of God enough to yield to him in submissive obedience no matter where he calls us or what he calls us to do? That is the point where sovereignty and responsibility come together.

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