Journal Through the Bible: Week 99 Friday

Zechariah chapter 8

Does God issue any commands?

• God commanded the people who heard the words of the prophet to be strong in building the temple because of the message of future hope.
• God told them to speak truth to their neighbor, execute the judgment of truth and peace in their gates (the place where court decisions were decided), not to imagine evil against their neighbors, and not to swear falsely. In other words, they were to follow the precepts set forth in the Ten Commandments.

Does God make any promises?

• God told Zechariah that He had returned to Jerusalem and would dwell there. He also said Jerusalem would be called the city of truth and the mountain of the holy LORD of hosts.
• God promised that the city of Jerusalem would once again be teeming with people of all ages.
• God promised to bring His people from the east and from the west to live in Jerusalem. They would be His people and He promised to be their God.
• God promised that the seed of the Jewish remnant would be prosperous.
• The Jewish nation was once a curse among the Gentiles but God promised that they would be a blessing.
• God promised that the feasts that the people had been following would have their purpose changed. They were first done in mourning but later would be done in rejoicing over the great things the LORD had done for them.
• God promised that people from many nations would come from afar to Jerusalem to seek the LORD.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• Ultimately, Jesus is the seed of the remnant (singular, see verse 12) since His ancestors came out of that period of captivity and restoration. (Their protection as found in the book of Esther shows just how determined Satan was to destroy the remnant so the promised seed could not come!)
• Although verses 20-23 might have future fulfillment, they were also fulfilled during the time of Jesus' ministry. People from many nations sought Him for healing and to hear His teachings.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Jerusalem can only be the city of truth and the mountain of the holy LORD of hosts when its King dwells there. This will be fulfilled in the Millennium reign of Christ.
• Although the promise that God gave Zechariah concerning people of all ages living in Jerusalem again was partially fulfilled in the time between Zechariah's time and the destruction in AD 70 there is a further fulfillment yet to come. One day in the Millennium men will live longer and the streets of Jerusalem will be filled with people. (See Isaiah 65:18-25)
• The prosperity promised to the remnant and their descendants will be fulfilled once and for all in the future kingdom.