Zechariah 8

Obedience and Feasting

1 The word of the Lord of Hosts came:

2 "The Lord of Hosts says this: I am extremely jealous^[a] for Zion; I am jealous for her with great wrath."

3 The Lord says this: "I will return to Zion and live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City,^[b] the mountain of the Lord of Hosts, and the Holy Mountain."

4 The Lord of Hosts says this: "Old men and women will again sit along the streets of Jerusalem, each with a staff in hand because of advanced age.

5 The streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in them."

6 The Lord of Hosts says this: "Though it may seem incredible to the remnant of this people in those days, should it also seem incredible to Me?"-the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.

7 The Lord of Hosts says this: "I will save My people from the land of the east and the land of the west.

8 I will bring them [back]^[c] to live in Jerusalem. They will be My people, and I will be their faithful and righteous God."^[d]

9 The Lord of Hosts says this: "Let your hands be strong, you who now hear these words that the prophets spoke when the foundations were laid for the rebuilding of the temple, the house of the Lord of Hosts.

10 For prior to those days neither man nor beast had wages. There was no safety from the enemy for anyone who came or went, for I turned everyone against his neighbor.

11 But now, I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days"-the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.

12 "For they will sow in peace: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce, and the skies will yield their dew. I will give the remnant of this people all these things as an inheritance.^[e]

13 As you have been a curse among the nations,^[f] house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing.^[g] Don't be afraid; let your hands be strong."

14 For the Lord of Hosts says this: "As I resolved to treat you badly when your fathers provoked Me to anger, and would not relent," says the Lord of Hosts,

15 "so I have resolved again in these days to do what is good to Jerusalem and the house of Judah.^[h] Don't be afraid.

16 These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another; render honest and peaceful judgments in your gates.

17 Do not plot evil^[i] in your hearts against your neighbor,^[j] and do not love perjury,^[k] for I hate all this"- the Lord's declaration.

18 Then the word of the Lord of Hosts came to me:

19 "The Lord of Hosts says this: The fast of the fourth [month],^[l] the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth^[m] will become times of joy, gladness, and cheerful festivals for the house of Judah. Therefore, love truth and peace."

20 The Lord of Hosts says this: "Peoples will yet come, the residents of many cities;

21 the residents of one city will go to another, saying: Let's go at once to plead for the Lord's favor and to seek the Lord of Hosts. I am also going.

22 Many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the Lord of Hosts in Jerusalem and to plead for the Lord's favor."^[n]

23 The Lord of Hosts says this: "In those days, 10 men from nations of every language will grab the robe of a Jewish man tightly, urging: Let us go with you,^[o] for we have heard that God is with you."

Zechariah 8 Commentary

Chapter 8

The restoration of Jerusalem. (1-8) The people encouraged by promises of God's favour, and exhorted to holiness. (9-17) The Jews in the latter days. (18-23)

Verses 1-8 The sins of Zion were her worst enemies. God will take away her sins, and then no other enemies shall hurt her. Those who profess religion must adorn their profession by godliness and honesty. When become a city of truth and a mountain of holiness, ( zechariah 8:4-5 ) describe a state of great outward peace, attended with plenty, temperance, and contentment. The scattered Israelites shall be brought together from all parts. God will never leave nor forsake them in a way of mercy, for this he has promised them; and they shall never leave nor forsake him in a way of duty, as they have promised him. These promises were partly fulfilled in the Jewish church, betwixt the captivity and the time of Christ's coming; and they had fuller accomplishment in the gospel church; but the full import must be as to the future times of the Christian church, or the future restoration of the Jews. With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible; so far are God's thoughts and ways above ours. In the present low state of vital godliness, we can hardly conceive that so complete a change can be made; but a change thus extensive and glorious, can be brought to pass by the almighty power of the new-creating Spirit, in less time than he was pleased to employ in creating the world. Let the hands of all who labour in the cause of the gospel be strong, serving the Lord in true holiness, assured that their labour shall not be in vain.

Verses 9-17 Those only who lay their hands to the plough of duty, shall have them strengthened with the promises of mercy: those who avoid their fathers' faults have the curse turned into a blessing. Those who believed the promises, were to show their faith by their works, and to wait the fulfilment. When God is displeased, he can cause trade to decay, and set every man against his neighbour; but when he returns in mercy, all is happy and prosperous. Surely believers in Christ must not trifle with the exhortation to put away lying, and to speak every man peace with his neighbour, to hate what the Lord hates, and to love that wherein he delights.

Verses 18-23 When God comes towards us in ways of mercy, we must meet him with joy and thankfulness. Therefore be faithful and honest in all your dealings; and let it be a pleasure to you to be so, though thereby you come short of the gains others get dishonestly; and, as much as in you lies, live peaceably with all men. Let the truths of God rule in your heads, and let the peace of God rule in your hearts. Thus the ancient servants of God drew the notice of heathen neighbours, whose prejudices were softened. A great increase to the church shall be made. Hitherto the Jews had been prone to learn the idolatries of other nations: what more unlikely than that they should teach religion to their conquerors, and to all the principal nations of the earth! Yet this is expressly foretold, and it came to pass. Hitherto the prophecy has been wonderfully fulfilled, and no doubt future events will explain it further. It is good to be with those who have God with them; if we take God for our God, we must take his people for our people, and be willing to take our lot with them. But let not any one think that mere zeal, either for Jews or Gentiles, will stand in the place of personal religion. Let us be living epistles of Christ, known and read of all men, so that others may wish to go with us, and to have their portion with us in the realms of bliss.

Footnotes

• [a]. Zch 1:14
• [b]. Isa 1:26
• [c]. Isa 11:11-12; Mc 2:12-13
• [d]. Gn 17:7-8; Dt 26:17-18; Rv 21:3
• [e]. Dt 31:7; Jos 1:6; Isa 49:8
• [f]. Dt 21:23; 2 Kg 22:19
• [g]. Gn 12:2-3
• [h]. Dt 8:16; Jr 32:40-41; Ezk 36:11
• [i]. Mc 2:1
• [j]. Dt 10:12-22; Mt 22:39
• [k]. Lv 5:4; Nm 30:2; Jr 5:2
• [l]. 2 Kg 25:3-4; Jr 39:2
• [m]. 2 Kg 25:1; Jr 39:1
• [n]. Isa 2:2-3; Mc 4:1-3; Jr 16:19
• [o]. Isa 4:1

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 8

This chapter contains promises of various blessings to the people of the Jews; and exhortations to each of the duties incumbent on them; and is concluded with a prophecy of the calling of the Gentiles. The cause of all the blessings promised is the love of God to them, signified by zeal, or jealousy for them, Zec 8:1,2. The blessings promised are the Lord's return to dwell in Jerusalem, and the integrity and holiness of that city, Zec 8:3. The long life of the inhabitants of it, and the plenty of children that should be born in it, Zec 8:4,5 and, however wonderful and incredible this might seem to some, it was not to the Lord, who was determined to bring his people that were in various distant countries to Jerusalem, and settle them there; and renew and reestablish his covenant with them, Zec 8:6-8 wherefore the Lord encourages them to go on in rebuilding the temple, Zec 8:9 and promises them that things would be better with them than in times past; that whereas there had been nothing but penury, affliction, and distress, now there should be great affluence and prosperity, Zec 8:10-12 and though before they were a curse among the nations, now they should be a blessing; and though their fathers were punished, they should be dealt well with, Zec 8:13-15 and then they are exhorted to the discharge of several duties mentioned, to which they are induced by the Lord's hatred of that which is evil, and by his turning their fasts into cheerful feasts. Zec 8:16-19 to which is added a prophecy of the calling and conversion of the Gentiles, which would make for the glory of the Jewish church; who are described by their numbers, being many people, and the inhabitants of many cities; by their association together, to pray to the Lord, and worship him; by their coming up to Jerusalem for that purpose; and by their junction with the Jews, to which they will be encouraged by having heard that God is with them, Zec 8:20-23.