Kingdom Keys - Zechariah Series

So maybe you’ve heard it said, ‘read your bible’ so you tried and failed. Our hope as leaders is that all of us will pick up God’s word and come to understand the true nature of God. After all, the bible is God’s Word curated over centuries detailing His nature, His will, the meaning of life and humanity’s historical interactions with Him. The Bible details the hidden keys to the Kingdom. Hence, the reason we are reviewing a new book each week.

This week we move ahead to the book of Zechariah. His name means “Yahweh remembers.” The book of Zechariah is particularly interesting if you like digging deep into symbology and deciphering the meanings of images and dreams. It is a prophetic word for the Jewish nation around 520 BC and it asks a key question many are asking again in our society

It's a natural question when a person sees the continued decay of society’s traditional morals and our willingness to accept more and more of the “isms” that affect our society. Our racism, sexism, consumerism, individualism, nationalism, classism, ageism, colonialism, capitalism, terrorism. All of which tear at the fabric of unity creating fear, disillusion and distrust of those around us.

A unity that was being challenged by the reintegration of those who were pulled into exile and those who were left behind 60 years before who were left to fend for themselves. The zeal for returning was met with the reality of humanity.

THE QUESTION “Is the messiah coming soon?”

Take a listen to Zachariah 8:1- 23

The word of the Lord Almighty came to me. 2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.”

God was letting the remnant know He is still with them. It’s interesting that the translator would use the word jealousy. Does God get jealous? When used in scripture this word does not mean: suspicious or uneasy with fear that another has withdrawn. It means: concerned for the character of. God is concerned for the people He chose to be his remnant.

3 This is what the Lord says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.”

Are they able and willing to put Him first without the reminder of the promise He made years before. In an effort to encourage them, He gives them a visual of the future if they will once again repent, submit and commit. To be faithful means to be loyal and steadfast to the original idea. In this case, it means living under and for one God and forsaking all others. The prophet then relays the future outcome if the people will re-commit. Take a listen…

4 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each of them with cane in hand because of their age. 5 The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.”

6 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to me?” declares the Lord Almighty.

7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west. 8 I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.”

What an encouraging vision of the future being offered - the city rebuilt, repopulation and reestablishment of a relationship with God and God’s favor. Good times were a promise IF…

9 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Now hear these words, ‘Let your hands be strong so that the temple may be built.’ This is also what the prophets said who were present when the foundation was laid for the house of the Lord Almighty. 10 Before that time there were no wages for people or hire for animals. No one could go about their business safely because of their enemies, since I had turned everyone against their neighbor. 11 But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as I did in the past,” declares the Lord Almighty.

It’s a straightforward command. Build the temple in remembrance of what God has done and in belief of what He will do again.

This command was before He came to earth as Jesus. It's a command for a people who had never had experienced the power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit dwelling within. Whereas the temple was then a building, today it is within you. Take a listen to these next few verses as a promise about your future as a believer.