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Zechariah

Zechariah 8

Jerusalem; Holy City of the Future

The question was asked about fasting, the answer so far was given as a question for all the people, aimed at searching their heart and purpose.  It is there they would find the answer.  The people were likened to their forefathers who had disregarded God's call to repentance and obedience.

 

What would obedience look like for these people?  What if they turned from all their wicked ways, quit their empty religion and formed a relationship with God?  This is what Zechariah offers them in chapter eight.

 

Zechariah 8:1-5

God is jealous of His people; people and things that harm them move him to intense anger.  Even the actions of the people themselves move Him to anger as they damage the very relationship and reject the jealous love He has for them. Yahweh promises to return and dwell in their midst.  This is the near promise of His presence in the temple but we can also see the far promise of the day God the Son will reign from His throne in Jerusalem.  All the world will recognize Jerusalem as the dwelling place, the Holy Mountain and city of truth.

 

The streets will no longer be a scary place, but a safe place where the older men and women can see their heritage in the youth playing.  In that day, fear will be distant; comfort and provision from God will be the norm.

 

See also Isaiah 2:2–3; Psa 48:1

 

Zechariah 8:6

Some of the folks at that time may have thought, 'What a fanciful vision this was; but so far from reality.'  After all the streets were filled with destruction and rubble of destruction.  There was no population to speak of.  They were likely skeptical.  Zechariah essential says, if this sounds amazing, it would also be amazing in the eyes of God.  While it seemed incredible to them, it was not impossible for Yahweh.

 

Zechariah 8:7-8

God refers to them as 'My people'; they had been redeemed from the bondage of Egypt.  For a time, they were not His people, but now they would be again.  Hosea 2:23 offers the same idea; that the people would be gathered again and be His people.  Yahweh would be their God in 'truth and righteousness'.  This can be seen as a contrast to Isiah 48:1 when the same words were used showing the people once opposed His reign of truth and righteousness.

 

Zechariah 8:9-13

This passage is bracketed by the phrase 'your hands' in verses 9 and 13.  This is a call to obedience to the primary prophetic objective of Zechariah and Haggai.  This was a call to obedience to God, for these people, that was completing the temple. Ceasing construction brought economic hard times and persecution from enemies.  The people themselves had turned against each other.  The hard times of the previous years were linked directly to their disobedience.

 

Now that construction had resumed, things were changing.  God promised:

  • prosperity in their fields & crops
  • properity in their vineyards & orchards

 

As they were once a curse, they will now be a blessing.  As the nations once looked upon them as a disgrace, cursed, forlorn and conquered; they would now look at them as blessed, a source of hope and salvation, a victorious people.

 

Zechariah 8:14-17

With the same determination God had in punishing them, God would be equally determined to do good for them.  They failed to believe God would punish them and found out the hard way.  They could trust God's promise of good things.  Here is how these would play out in their life:

  • Sound moral judgments from their courts at the gate; characterized by truth, justice and peace
  • Godly ethic toward their neighbor; characterized by trust, truth and kindness.

 

Zechariah 8:18-1

The fasts were instituted by men and probably should have been ended by men.  But God used their question to show them relationship instead of religion.  This relationship looked like God the Father loving on his obedient children.  Therefore, the fasting and affliction were to be replaced by joy and feasting.  The truth and peace of this relationship was a great contrast to meaningless fasts that didn't reflect a heart of repentance.  If repentance is due; fast, weep, repent, return to God and enjoy Him as He enjoys you. 

 

A new day had dawned.  It was to be a day of new beginnings, with new attitude, new hopes.  It was a fresh start with the Lord God.  Jeremiah prophesied of this day:

10         "Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,

And declare it in the isles afar off, and say,

'He who scattered Israel will gather him,

And keep him as a shepherd does his flock.'

11         For the Lord has redeemed Jacob,

And ransomed him from the hand of one stronger than he.

12         Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion,

Streaming to the goodness of the Lord

For wheat and new wine and oil,

For the young of the flock and the herd;

Their souls shall be like a well-watered garden,

And they shall sorrow no more at all.

 The New King James Version. (1982). (Je 31:10–12). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

 

The king eventually responded to Tattenai:

Moreover I issue a decree as to what you shall do for the elders of these Jews, for the building of this house of God: Let the cost be paid at the king's expense from taxes on the region beyond the River; this is to be given immediately to these men, so that they are not hindered. And whatever they need—young bulls, rams, and lambs for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the request of the priests who are in Jerusalem—let it be given them day by day without fail, 10 that they may offer sacrifices of sweet aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and his sons.

 

11   Also I issue a decree that whoever alters this edict, let a timber be pulled from his house and erected, and let him be hanged on it; and let his house be made a refuse heap because of this. 12 And may the God who causes His name to dwell there destroy any king or people who put their hand to alter it, or to destroy this house of God which is in Jerusalem. I Darius issue a decree; let it be done diligently.

 The New King James Version. (1982). (Ezr 6:8–12). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

 

God's hand was indeed upon this work.  He provided the blessing of the king, He would fund the project and in time provide the animals for sacrifice. All the fears, concerns and excuses that kept the temple from being built seemed to simply require the faith of the people.  God responded faithfully to all that he promised.

 

© 2017 Doug Ford