God’s Purposes For His People Series

At the beginning of Zechariah 7 a delegation of Jews from Bethel asked whether they should continue the fasts that they had been observing in memory of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple almost 70 years ago. Since the 70-year captivity was ending and the temple was being rebuilt, perhaps it was time to discontinue those fasts.

We have been examining God’s answer to that question. The first half of the answer exposed their lack of deep repentance. The fasts were supposed to be an expression of repentance for the national sin that provoked God’s judgment. If the repentance is complete, then the fasts can be discontinued. But the first thing God does is to show them their need for repentance. While these Jews had turned from gross idolatry, their religion was shallow and superficial. The practice of injustice toward one another was still going on. They were failing to live according to the two great commandments. Rather than loving God with all their heart, they were following empty rituals. Rather than loving their neighbors as themselves, they were living selfish lives and oppressing the weak.

The stinging rebuke in Zechariah 7 could have left these people wondering if there was any hope for their future. When God shows you your sins, it can lay you low. It can leave you disappointed in yourself and wondering about your future.i In Psalm 39 David talks about such an experience. In verse 11 he said to God, “When with rebukes You correct man for iniquity, You make his beauty melt away like a moth; Surely every man is vapor [KJV says vanity]. Selah.ii” If God’s answer had ended in Zechariah 7, these Jews would have been left in a miserable state of despondency. But the answer takes a very positive turn in Zechariah 8:1.

In chapter 7 God showed Israel what they were doing, but in chapter 8 He shows them what He is doing. “Salvation is of the Lord.”iii Zechariah 8 is a lesson on grace. By the grace of God, Israel will be blessed. The passage in verses 1-8 paints a picture of what God has in mind for His people. It is a beautiful display of what He will accomplish for them. We know from chapter 7; they don’t deserve this. We know from chapter 8:2; it will come to pass because of God’s unfailing love toward those who are His.

Follow with me as we read our text in Zechariah 8:1-8. “ Again the word of the Lord of hosts came, saying.” That phrase introduces this third section of God’s answer. This section goes all the way through verse 17. Then the phrase appears again in verse 18 which introduces the fourth and final portion of God’s answer. “Again the word of the Lord of hosts came, saying.” Verse 2: “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘I am zealous for Zion with great zeal; With great fervor I am zealous for her.' 3 Thus says the Lord:'I will return to Zion, And dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, The Mountain of the Lord of hosts, The Holy Mountain.' 4 Thus says the Lord of hosts: 'Old men and old women shall again sit In the streets of Jerusalem, Each one with his staff in his hand Because of great age. 5 The streets of the city Shall be full of boys and girls Playing in its streets.' 6 "Thus says the Lord of hosts: 'If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, Will it also be marvelous in My eyes?' Says the Lord of hosts. 7 "Thus says the Lord of hosts: 'Behold, I will save My people from the land of the east And from the land of the west; 8 I will bring them back, And they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. They shall be My people And I will be their God, In truth and righteousness.'”

There are 5 brief oracles in that passage, each beginning with the phrase “Thus says the Lord.” The first is in verse 2, second in verse 3 [This is the only one that does not add “of hosts.”], third is verses 4-5, fourth is at verse 6, and the fifth oracle is verse 7-8. All of these give assurance to God’s people that His plans for them are good and not evil.iv He corrects those who are His. But He does that so that He can ultimately bless them.v

ORACLE # 1 in verse 2 gives the reason these blessings will come: “I am zealous for Zion with great zeal; With great fervor I am zealous for her.” There is no other explanation for the restoration of Israel other than His love for His people. Their shortcomings and imperfections have been exposed in the previous chapter. Why would God rescue them? Simply because He loves them.