Zacarías 8

1 Y FUÉ á mí palabra de Jehová de los ejércitos, diciendo:

2 Así ha dicho Jehová de los ejércitos: Yo he celado á Sión con grande celo, y con grande ira la celé.

3 Así dice Jehová: Yo he restituído á Sión, y moraré en medio de Jerusalem: y Jerusalem se llamará Ciudad de Verdad, y el monte de Jehová de los ejércitos, Monte de Santidad.

4 Así ha dicho Jehová de los ejércitos: Aun han de morar viejos y viejas en las plazas de Jerusalem, y cada cual con bordón en su mano por la multitud de los días.

5 Y las calles de la ciudad serán llenas de muchachos y muchachas, que jugarán en las calles.

6 Así dice Jehová de los ejércitos: Si esto parecerá dificultoso á los ojos del resto de este pueblo en aquellos días, ¿también será dificultoso delante de mis ojos? dice Jehová de los ejércitos.

7 Asi ha dicho Jehová de los ejércitos: He aquí, yo salvo mi pueblo de la tierra del oriente, y de la tierra donde se pone el sol;

8 Y traerélos, y habitarán en medio de Jerusalem; y me serán por pueblo, y yo seré á ellos por Dios con verdad y con justicia.

9 Asi ha dicho Jehová de los ejércitos: Esfuércense vuestras manos, de vosotros los que oís en estos días estas palabras de la boca de los profetas, desde el día que se echó el cimiento á la casa de Jehová de los ejércitos, para edificar el templo.

10 Porque antes de estos días no ha habido paga de hombre, ni paga de bestia, ni hubo paz alguna para entrante ni para saliente, á causa del enemigo: y yo dejé todos los hombres, cada cual contra su compañero.

11 Mas ahora no lo haré con el resto de este pueblo como en aquellos días pasados, dice Jehová de los ejércitos.

12 Porque habrá simiente de paz; la vid dará su fruto, y dará su producto la tierra, y los cielos darán su rocío; y haré que el resto de este pueblo posea todo esto.

13 Y será que como fuisteis maldición entre las gentes, oh casa de Judá y casa de Israel, así os salvaré, y seréis bendición. No temáis, mas esfuércense vuestras manos.

14 Porque así ha dicho Jehová de los ejércitos: Como pensé haceros mal cuando vuestros padres me provocaron á ira, dice Jehová de los ejércitos, y no me arrepentí;

15 Así tornando he pensado de hacer bien á Jerusalem y á la casa de Judá en estos días: no temáis.

16 Estas son las cosas que habéis de hacer: Hablad verdad cada cual con su prójimo; juzgad en vuestras puertas verdad y juicio de paz:

17 Y ninguno de vosotros piense mal en su corazón contra su prójimo, ni améis juramento falso: porque todas estas son cosas que aborrezco, dice Jehová

18 Y fué á mí palabra de Jehová de los ejércitos, diciendo:

19 Así ha dicho Jehová de los ejércitos: El ayuno del cuarto mes, y el ayuno del quinto, y el ayuno del séptimo, y el ayuno del décimo, se tornarán á la casa de Judá en gozo y alegría, y en festivas solemnidades. Amad pues verdad y paz.

20 Así ha dicho Jehová de los ejércitos: Aun vendrán pueblos, y moradores de muchas ciudades;

21 Y vendrán los moradores de la una á la otra, y dirán: Vamos á implorar el favor de Jehová, y á buscar á Jehová de los ejércitos. Yo también iré.

22 Y vendrán muchos pueblos y fuertes naciones á buscar á Jehová de los ejércitos en Jerusalem, y á implorar el favor de Jehová.

23 Así ha dicho Jehová de los ejércitos: En aquellos días acontecerá que diez hombres de todas las lenguas de las gentes, trabarán de la falda de un Judío, diciendo: Iremos con vosotros, porque hemos oído que Dios está con vosotros.

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.