ORACLES OF RESTORATION.
Zechariah 8:1-8.
The Apostle Paul tells us that ‘All Scripture is given by inspiration of God’ (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Apostle Peter tells us that ‘the word of the LORD endures forever’ (cf. 1 Peter 1:25).
So when we find the expression “Thus saith the LORD” repeated throughout our current passage, it should make us sit up and listen. He is the “LORD of hosts” (ZECHARIAH 8:1), the God of the armies of heaven, and not to be trifled with.
(i). At the end of the previous chapter the LORD had scattered His people among the nations, and the ‘pleasant land’ was laid desolate by their enemies (cf. Zechariah 7:14). Now the LORD is offering comfort into that situation. He begins by speaking of His “great jealousy” for Zion (ZECHARIAH 8:2; cf. Zechariah 1:14).
It is certainly comforting to us to know the intensity of God’s “jealousy” on our behalf. His jealousy is not like man’s selfish jealousy, whereby we might covet something that someone else has. His jealousy is quite the opposite: it is a jealous care of the other (cf. Zechariah 1:16-17). Such jealousy arises from the love wherewith He has ‘loved us with an everlasting love’ (cf. Jeremiah 31:3).
(ii). ZECHARIAH 8:3. The manifestation of this love is seen in the fact that the LORD has “returned unto Zion” (a present reality), and would “dwell in the midst of Jerusalem” in an even more special way when the Temple would be completed (cf. Exodus 25:8; Zechariah 4:9).
A further fulfilment of this prophecy was seen when ‘the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us’ (cf. John 1:14), and Jesus, who is ‘the Truth’ (cf. John 14:6) taught His truths in the “city of truth.” And when the Spirit came upon His church at Pentecost, introducing the Gospel era, “the mountain of the LORD of hosts, the holy mountain” was ‘exalted,’ and (in a figure of speech) ‘all nations flowed to it’ (cf. Isaiah 2:2).
We await another fulfilment when Jesus shall return with power and great glory (cf. Matthew 24:30), and all His angels (the angelic “host”) with Him (cf. Matthew 25:31).
The fullest fulfilment of the prophecy of this verse comes with the descent of the new Jerusalem (cf. Revelation 21:2-3).
(iii). There follows a picture of Jerusalem as a healthy, happy community. Men and women living into old age, and if they carry a staff it is not because of sickness, but because of “very age” (ZECHARIAH 8:4; cf. Isaiah 65:20). Children are safe and carefree, “playing in the streets thereof” (ZECHARIAH 8:5).
This is also a picture of the Church, with some who have been Christians a long time, and others just beginning in the faith: all continuing to ‘grow into the stature of the fulness of Christ’ (cf. Ephesians 4:13).
(iv). ZECHARIAH 8:6 is a question expecting the answer ‘no.’ There is no doubt that what the LORD is doing is “marvellous” or ‘wondrous’ in our eyes (cf. Exodus 15:11; Psalm 118:23). But nothing is impossible with God (cf. Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37)!
(v). The LORD was already in process of bringing His people back from Babylon, which lay to the north; but now He speaks of “saving” His people from the east and the west (ZECHARIAH 8:7). Recent history has certainly shown us an Israel repopulated with Jews, from the east and from the west. But this might also speak of the ongoing ministry of the apostles to the Gentiles, from Pentecost onwards (cf. Malachi 1:11).
“And I will bring them” (ZECHARIAH 8:8). Jew and Gentile believers are citizens together of the heavenly Jerusalem (cf. Hebrews 12:22). With Christ as our cornerstone (cf. 1 Peter 2:6) we who in times past were not a people are now the people of God (cf. 1 Peter 2:10.
“and I will be their God in truth and in righteousness” (ZECHARIAH 8:8). Jesus is the truth (cf. John 14:6), and we are made righteous in His righteousness (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21). We are thus enabled to worship God in spirit and in truth (cf. John 4:24). Amen.
