The Lord gave Zachariah a Word for them to obey the words of the former prophets. Those prophets who spoke to them when Jerusalem and the cities around it were prosperous! He summarized their words to them, saying, “Execute true justice, show mercy, and compassion everyone to his brother. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart against his brother.”
Rather than keep traditions that were useless, the Lord urged them to do what was right by showing His mercy and compassion to one another. The Lord wanted them to stop exploiting widows, orphans, foreigners, and poor people. He wanted them to stop plotting evil against one another. God told them exactly what He expected of them if they wanted to return to their homeland. Their forefathers “refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear. Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the Lord of hosts. They would not hear, so they called out and I would not listen. I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations which they had not known.” [1]
But wait! The Lord was not done with His people. He gave Zechariah another word for them, saying, “I am zealous for Zion with great zeal; with great fervor I am zealous for her. 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.” [2]
God’s people shall once again live in Jerusalem. “Behold, I will save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west; 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.” [3]
People will say, “Let us continue to go and pray before the Lord and seek the Lord of hosts. I myself will go also. Yes, many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’” [4]
God will bring about the restoration of Jerusalem to Himself. His people shall worship and serve Him there. If this transformation had depended on the Jewish people, it would have never happened, but there is hope because God is able to do it and wants to do it. Jerusalem shall become a holy city full of grace and truth. The Lord fulfills His promises.
This principle is true for our churches today as well. Unless the Lord brings about the miracle of people returning to Him, it will not happen. But praise God, He does bring them to Himself by His grace in Christ Jesus! Not by our works! He transforms us as we embrace His Son Jesus as our Messiah, our Miracle Worker, and our Deliverer. Jesus Christ is the Helper of our Joy. Praise the Lord!
[1] Zechariah 7:1-14
[2] Zechariah 8:1-3
[3] Zechariah 8:7-8
[4] Zechariah 8:21-23
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