Zacarías 8

1 Bendiciones prometidas para Jerusalén
Entonces el Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales me dio otro mensaje:
2 «El Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales dice: mi amor por el monte Sión es intenso y ferviente, ¡me consume la pasión por Jerusalén!
3 »Ahora dice el Señor
: regresaré al monte Sión y viviré en Jerusalén. Entonces Jerusalén se llamará la Ciudad Fiel; el monte del Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales se llamará Monte Santo.
4 »El Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales dice: nuevamente los ancianos y las ancianas caminarán por las calles de Jerusalén apoyados en sus bastones y se sentarán juntos en las plazas de la ciudad,
5 y las calles de la ciudad se llenarán de niños y niñas que juegan.
6 »El Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales dice: ahora todo esto puede parecerles imposible, a ustedes que son el pequeño remanente del pueblo de Dios. ¿Pero será imposible para mí?, dice el Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales.
7 »El Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales dice: pueden estar seguros de que rescataré a mi pueblo del oriente y del occidente.
8 Yo los haré regresar a casa para que vivan seguros en Jerusalén. Ellos serán mi pueblo, y como su Dios los trataré con fidelidad y justicia.
9 »El Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales dice: ¡Sean fuertes y terminen la tarea! Desde que echaron los cimientos del templo del Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales, ustedes han oído lo que los profetas han estado diciendo acerca de terminar el edificio.
10 Antes de que la obra en el templo comenzara, no había trabajo ni dinero para contratar obreros o animales. Ningún viajero estaba a salvo porque había enemigos por todos lados. Yo hice que todos estuvieran unos contra otros.
11 »Pero ahora no trataré al remanente de mi pueblo como lo hice antes, dice el Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales.
12 Pues estoy plantando semillas de paz y prosperidad entre ustedes. Las vides estarán cargadas de fruta, la tierra producirá sus cosechas y los cielos soltarán el rocío. Una vez más yo haré que el remanente de Judá y de Israel herede estas bendiciones.
13 Entre las demás naciones, Judá e Israel se convirtieron en símbolo de una nación maldita. ¡Pues ya no lo serán más! Ahora los rescataré y los haré símbolo y fuente de bendición. Así que no tengan miedo. ¡Sean fuertes y sigan con la reconstrucción del templo!
14 »Pues el Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales dice: estaba decidido a castigarlos cuando sus antepasados me hicieron enojar y no cambié de parecer, dice el Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales.
15 Sin embargo, ahora estoy decidido a bendecir a Jerusalén y al pueblo de Judá, así que no tengan miedo.
16 Pero ustedes deben hacer lo siguiente: digan la verdad unos a otros. En sus tribunales, pronuncien veredictos que sean justos y que conduzcan a la paz.
17 No tramen el mal unos contra otros. Dejen de amar el decir mentiras y jurar que son verdad. Yo odio todas esas cosas, dice el Señor
».
18 Este es otro mensaje que me dio el Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales:
19 «El Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales dice: los ayunos tradicionales y los tiempos de luto que han mantenido al principio del verano, en pleno verano, en el otoño y en el invierno
ahora han terminado. Se convertirán en festivales de alegría y celebración para el pueblo de Judá. Así que amen la verdad y la paz.
20 »El Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales dice: gente de naciones y ciudades en todo el mundo viajará a Jerusalén.
21 La gente de una ciudad dirá a la gente de otra: “Vengan con nosotros a Jerusalén para pedir que el Señor
nos bendiga. Adoremos al Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales. Yo estoy decidido a ir”.
22 Muchos pueblos y naciones poderosas irán a Jerusalén a buscar al Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales y a pedir su bendición.
23 »El Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales dice: en aquellos días, diez hombres de naciones e idiomas diferentes agarrarán por la manga a un judío y le dirán: “Por favor, permítenos acompañarte, porque hemos oído que Dios está contigo”».

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Zacarías 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.

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.

Zacarías 8 Commentaries

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