Zacarías 8:1-10

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.

Zacarías 8:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

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.