In our study of Zechariah chapter eight, we look at the past, present, and future favor of God on his people, Israel. God called them to be his people and he has never changed his mind regarding them. In chapter seven, we saw that God's desire was for the hearts of his people to be focused on him. Now, we will see the blessings that come from such a heart and how these blessings are used as a tool for evangelism of the Gentile people.
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A message came from ADONAI-Tzva'ot:
Each name of God has a particular meaning and purpose to it and this is an unfortunate translation of the original Hebrew. In the Hebrew, the name used in this chapter is "Lord of Hosts" which means Lord of armies. The name Lord Almighty (El Shaddai) speaks of God the supplier while Lord of Hosts speaks of God the Commander (leader). This is important as the Jews of this time were looking for God to send a great military commander to restore the name and country of his people. The Jews of Yeshua's time were looking for the same thing when he rode into Jerusalem as our Savior. They rejected him because he was not what they expected.
"ADONAI-Tzva'ot says, 'I am extremely jealous on Tziyon's behalf, and I am jealous for her with great fury.'
God begins by telling his people that he loves them. We often forget that jealousy can come from love as we see in the words of the prophet Zephaniah. God loves this people but he also wants them for himself and not to be shared with all kinds of foreign gods. That is the same thing that he wants for each and every one of his children (both Jew and Gentile).
ADONAI says, 'I am returning to Tziyon, and I will live in Yerushalayim. Then Yerushalayim will be called Truth City, ADONAI-Tzva'ot's Mountain, the Mountain of the Holy One.
This verse speaks of the millennial kingdom that John spoke of in Revelation 20. This is when Yeshua returns with his armies from heaven and the devil and his influence will be removed from the earth. Yeshua Messiah will then reign in Jerusalem for a thousand years.
ADONAI-Tzva'ot says, 'Old men and old women will once again sit in the open places of Yerushalayim, each one with his cane in his hand, because of their great age. The city's open places will also be full of boys and girls playing there.'
During this thousand year reign, both the elderly and the child will live together in harmony in Jerusalem. In our society, today, it is common to put the older generation in some type of home to get them out of the way but that will not be so in Jerusalem during the millennial kingdom. This will serve as an example to those who do not know Yeshua as they see true love for people of all ages.
ADONAI-Tzva'ot says, 'This may seem amazing to the survivors in those days, but must it also seem amazing to me?' says ADONAI-Tzva'ot.
This thousand year reign will be a wonderful time but God reminds them that he has even better things for them (and us) ahead.
ADONAI-Tzva'ot says, 'I will save my people from lands east and west; I will bring them back, and they will live in Yerushalayim. They will be my people; and I will be their God, with faithfulness and justice.'
During this time, the Jews will be brought back to live with Yeshua Messiah in Jerusalem. It is interesting to note that God says "they will be my people" which implies that they are not at this time. We are in the "church age" where God's people includes both Jews and Gentiles as long as they believe in Yeshua Messiah.
"ADONAI-Tzva'ot says, 'Take courage, you who are hearing only now, in these days, these words spoken by the prophets when the foundation was being laid for rebuilding the temple, the house of ADONAI-Tzva'ot. For prior to that time, there were wages neither for people nor for animals; moreover, it was unsafe for anyone to go out or come in, because of the enemy; for I set all people each against the other. But from now on, I will not treat the remnant of this people as I did before,' says ADONAI-Tzva'ot.
God gives his people permission to rebuild his temple during this reign. He tells them (and us) that the reason it has not happened before this time is that God has prevented it because there was not peace. We see in this passage a reminder that, although something may be good and in God's will, it still must be done at the proper time.
'Now they will sow in peace, the vine will give its fruit, the ground will produce its yield, the sky will give its dew, and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. House of Y'hudah and house of Isra'el, just as you were formerly a curse among the nations, so now I will save you; and you will be a blessing. Don't be afraid, but take courage!'
During this time, Judah and Israel will return to the land that God has given them and they will be blessed. Through them, God will bless the nations even though, today, many nations curse God's people. God tells them to be strong (not afraid) during the time that the nations curse them. This is the same thing that Paul was telling the Romans when he said, 'If God is for us, who can be against us?' (see Romans 8)
"For ADONAI-Tzva'ot says, 'Just as I resolved to do you harm when your forefathers provoked me,' ADONAI-Tzva'ot says, 'and I did not relent; so now, I resolve to do good to Yerushalayim and to the house of Y'hudah. Don't be afraid!
God encourages his people by telling them that their blessing is going to be just as big as the judgment that they have been through. As we see in the book of Revelation, things are going to be pretty tough for the Jews that have not accepted Yeshua as their Messiah before this kingdom is established.
These are the things you are to do: speak the truth to each other; in your courts, administer justice that is true and conducive to peace; don't plot harm against each other; and don't love perjury; for all these are things I hate,' says ADONAI."
God tells them that this blessing will come to them if they repent of their ways. He tells them to turn from their corruption and love their neighbors.
This word of ADONAI-Tzva'ot came to me: "ADONAI-Tzva'ot says, 'The fast days of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months are to become times of joy, gladness and cheer for the house of Y'hudah. Therefore, love truth and peace.'
We see, here, that God will give them feast days and not fast days. Fast days were based on the activities of man while feast days were based on a celebration of the activities of God. This millennial reign will be a time of celebration of what God has done not an obligation for man to perform rituals. It is the same with us who are in Yeshua Messiah in that God wants us to be happy and to celebrate Yeshua not walk around all sad and burdened with obligations from the law. We are free from the law by the grace of God and we celebrate and walk in that freedom!
"ADONAI-Tzva'ot says, 'In the future, peoples and inhabitants of many cities will come; the inhabitants of one city will travel to another and say, "We must go to ask ADONAI's favor and consult ADONAI-Tzva'ot. I'll go too." Yes, many peoples and powerful nations will come to consult ADONAI-Tzva'ot in Yerushalayim and to ask ADONAI's favor.'
During this reign on the earth, everyone will know that God is in Jerusalem. They will travel there to see the Lord and his people.
ADONAI-Tzva'ot says, 'When that time comes, ten men will take hold - speaking all the languages of the nations - will grab hold of the cloak of a Jew and say, "We want to go with you, because we have heard that God is with you."'"
Throughout the Bible the number ten is associated with the earthly completion of the divine order. Here, we see that all of the earth will observe that God is with his people in this kingdom on earth. That is the purpose of the millennial reign as well as our purpose here on earth today.
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