seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Zechariah 8:1 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.”
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.”
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.”
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.
12 “The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce its crops, and the heavens will drop their dew. I will give all these things as an inheritance to the remnant of this people. 13 Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse[a] among the nations, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing.[b] Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong.”
14 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Just as I had determined to bring disaster on you and showed no pity when your ancestors angered me,” says the Lord Almighty, 15 “so now I have determined to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah. Do not be afraid. 16 These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; 17 do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the Lord.
18 The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.
19 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.”
20 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, 21 and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the Lord and seek the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.’ 22 And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him.”
23 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’”
a. Zechariah 8:13 That is, your name has been used in cursing (see Jer. 29:22); or, you have been regarded as under a curse.
b. Zechariah 8:13 Or and your name will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or and you will be seen as blessed
I am using enduringword.com this morning.
Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem: Because of the difficulty and hardship of returning to Jerusalem, there were probably few old people in the city, and their absence was felt. But the LORD promised that all that would change one day and young and old together would enjoy the city in safety. This was a significant promise because in Zechariah’s time Jerusalem’s walls were ruined and the city was not safe and secure for old men and old women or for boys and girls playing in its streets.
The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets: Dr. J. Vernon McGee took this as meaning that there would be no cars in the millennial Jerusalem
Let your hands be strong: This encouraging command was for those who had heard the words of the prophets in the day the foundation was laid for the house of the LORD of hosts. The foundation was set more than fifteen years before. Though they faced lack of resources (no wages for man) and opposition (no peace from the enemy), God wanted them to find strength for the work (let your hands be strong) in His promise.
I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days: God allowed a period of difficulty but would not allow it to last forever. He would bring prosperity and blessing to the once afflicted nation.
You shall be a blessing. Do not fear, let your hands be strong: Though their present state was lowly, God wanted Israel to trust in His promise of blessing, and let the promise encourage them to diligent, strong service.
Ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man: This same word grasp is used for grabbing a snake by the tail (Exodus 4:4) or for grabbing a lion by its beard (1 Samuel 17:35). It means to grasp something that you must not let go of.
I keep thinking of a child in time out when I read about God talking about how it will be. Consider this.... a little boy playing with legos...... and fighting with his sister..... because she keeps touching him with her finger..... it's a real "Mom she's touching me".... and finally he gets so upset with her that he slings his whole box of legos at her.... and they go everywhere... and mom walks in and steps on a lego...... In my house.... someone would get time out while I cooled down and got my foot to stop stinging..... then they would pick up every single lego with a smile on their face.... or else......I am taken with the idea that God created the earth and God controls time. I wonder.... if God created the earth, the moon, the stars and the sun..... then God can certainly destroy them just as easily. God controls time.... He knows how the story ends because He can go to the last page of the book..... so I wonder.... why hasn't He obliterated the earth?
This chapter of Zechariah answered that question. He didn't destroy the earth because He does know that His Son will rule and stupid humans everywhere will really enjoy living in the Kingdom of God's Son. People will want to live in Jerusalem, Judah again. Old people will enjoy sitting on the front porch again.... kids will play in the street again.....
One of the commentaries said that "ten" stands for governments..... so all the surrounding governments will look up the Theocracy that God is going to set back in place. This time there will be no human on the throne to mess things up..... this time God's Son will sit on the throne.... and He thinks just like His Dad.
Those men who were wondering about the fasting in the last chapter..... well they got an earful in this chapter..... God says "you should be happy to fast for me..... it shouldn't have to be planned..... it shouldn't be a chore..... the gentiles won't think it's a chore.....
Everyone is looking for the 144,000..... it's the ten that intrigue me..... the 144,000 is all made up of descendants of Jacob [Israel] but the ten.... that's the gentile stupid humans.... the ones who follow Jesus Christ and think of God as their father who adopted them.
