Zechariah 8
-There is a coming peace, truth, and prosperity to Jerusalem
once again. This is the overriding theme of chapter 8 as the prophet receives
more encouraging words from the LORD for His Jewish remnant. Yahweh is
exceeding jealous for Zion with great wrath when they turn away from Him. Yet,
His mercy and promises stay faithful to overhaul and redeem the mess that had
become of the earthly Davidic Kingdom. God promises to return to Zion and dwell
in the midst of Jerusalem, the place that will be called “the City of Truth”
and “the Holy Mountain (Zechariah 8:1-3).” Old men and women will again sit in
the streets and children will play with joy. These things are not too for the
LORD. He will save His people and bring them back from the lands of the east
and west. They will live in Jerusalem and be His people, and He will again be
their God in truth and righteousness (Zechariah 8:4-8). God tells them then to let
their “hands be strong” as they listen to the words of the prophets who spoke
in the day that the Temple foundation was laid until it was completed. Before
that time, God “had set all men one against another.” Now however, he will treat
the remnant with a spirit of unity. There will be “peace for the seed: the vine
will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce and the heavens will give
their dew; and I (the LORD) will cause the remnant of this people to inherit
all these things (Zechariah 8:9-12).” The nation viewed as a curse and taunt of
God will rebound and be saved by Him so that they become a blessing. Therefore,
the LORD says, “Do not fear; let your hands be strong (Zechariah 8:13).” We see
the complexity of God here as He describes His purposeful-unrelenting wrath and
harm upon His disobedient and provoking people for a season. Yet, He takes pity
and purposes to in “these days” do good to Jerusalem and Judah in general.
Therefore, He states again, “Do not fear (Zechariah 8:14-15)!”
-Then God gives His people some things that they should do.
They should speak the truth to each other. They should judge with truth and
judgment for peace in the gates. They should never devise evil in their hearts
for one another. They should not love perjury (the voluntary
violation of an oath or vow either by swearing to what is untrue or by omission
to do what has been promised under oath : false swearing- from Merriam-Webster
Dictionary, 2015). These are all things that the LORD hates (Zechariah
8:16-17). Then the LORD tells his prophet to relay the information that His
people are to celebrate their fasts with joy, gladness, and cheerful feasts at
the end of their time of fasting for the purpose of loving truth and peace. God
promises that the days are coming when peoples from all over the world will
come to entreat the favor of the LORD and seek Him in Jerusalem because they
observe and know that God is truly with them (Zechariah 8:18-23).
-*Application* God loves His chosen people and we should
too. These days are the fulfillment of what Zechariah wrote. It happened in
part in the time of Zechariah with the return to the land and the coming of
Messiah Jesus, but it will be completely fulfilled in these days as the Jews
return and tourism increases with Christians of faith coming and seeing the
work of God in this land. It is happening; I’ve been there and seen it with my
own eyes! God is with Israel for the long haul. He will never permanently
forsake them. His Word is true and nothing will subvert it.
Verses to Memorize:
Zechariah 8:8, 15
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