Zechariah 08
Zechariah 08:1 Then the word of the Lord who rules over all came to me as follows:
Jehovah is sovereign over all history. He gave another prophetic message to Zechariah.
2 “The Lord who rules over all says, ‘I am very much concerned for Zion; indeed, I am so concerned for her that my rage will fall on those who hurt her.’
Zion is Israel. Jehovah loves Israel very much. If anyone attempts to hurt Israel, then Jehovah will turn his rage on that nation. This is a warning for any nations or people today who are anti-Semitic.
3 The Lord says, ‘I have returned to Zion and will live within Jerusalem. Now Jerusalem will be called “truthful city,” “mountain of the Lord who rules over all,” “holy mountain.” ’
During the Millennial Kingdom, Jehovah will return to Israel. He will physically live in Jerusalem in the bodily form of Jesus the Messiah. During the Millennial Kingdom, Jerusalem will be called “the truthful city,” “the mountain of the Lord who rules all,” and the “holy mountain.”
4 Moreover, the Lord who rules over all says, ‘Old men and women will once more live in the plazas of Jerusalem, each one leaning on a cane because of advanced age.
During the Millennial Kingdom, believers will live to ages over 1000 years.
5 And the streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing.
During the Millennial Kingdom, there will be a population explosion.
6 And,’ says the Lord who rules over all, ‘though such a thing may seem to be difficult in the opinion of the small community of those days, will it also appear difficult to me?’ asks the Lord who rules over all.
The Hebrew word for “difficult” is פָּלָא (pala), meaning wonderful miracles that only God can do. During the Millennial Kingdom, Jesus will do miracles that only God can do.
7 “The Lord who rules over all asserts, ‘I am about to save my people from the lands of the east and the west.
During the Millennial Kingdom, God will take the Jews who are scattered all over the world and move them into Israel to inherit the land which was promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
8 And I will bring them to settle within Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and righteousness.’
During the Millennial Kingdom, all of Israel who survives the Great Tribulation will be saved. Jesus the Messiah will settle them within the city of Jerusalem.
9 “The Lord who rules over all also says, ‘Gather strength, you who are listening to these words today from the mouths of the prophets who were there at the founding of the house of the Lord who rules over all, so that the temple might be built.
In verses 9-17, Jehovah speaks to Zechariah’s own generation. He reminds them that He is sovereign over all of history. He encourages them by commanding them to gather strength from the words of Zechariah and Haggai. He encourages them to rebuild the temple. The temple sacrifices all point to Christ, so Jehovah desires for the temple to be rebuilt.
10 Before that time there was no compensation for man or animal, nor was there any relief from adversity for those who came and went, because I had pitted everybody—each one—against everyone else.
Jehovah reminded Zechariah’s generation of the situation of Israel before their return. There was unemployment, external enemies, and internal enemies.
11 But I will be different now to this remnant of my people from the way I was in those days,’ says the Lord who rules over all,
In verses 11-13, Jehovah promised that He will be different to Zechariah’s generation.
12 ‘for there will be a peaceful time of sowing, the vine will produce its fruit and the ground its yield, and the skies will rain down dew. Then I will allow the remnant of my people to possess all these things.
Jehovah promises this current generation that they will have peace and prosperity. This current generation will prosper agriculturally. They will be able to eat and sell their own produce, because there will be peace in the land.
13 And it will come about that just as you (both Judah and Israel) were a curse to the nations, so I will save you and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid! Instead, be strong!’
Israel was cursed for disobeying the Mosaic Covenant. Jehovah will remove the curse from Israel.
14 “For the Lord who rules over all says, ‘As I had planned to hurt you when your fathers made me angry,’ says the Lord who rules over all, ‘and I was not sorry,
Jehovah reminds Israel that He is sovereign over all of history. He is in control of all things. When Israel fell into idolatry, Jehovah did not feel sorry for hurting Israel.
15 so, to the contrary, I have planned in these days to do good to Jerusalem and Judah—do not fear!
Jehovah has better plans for this current generation. He is going to do good things for them.
16 These are the things you must do: Speak the truth, each of you, to one another. Practice true and righteous judgment in your courts.
Jehovah commanded the current generation to do four things. First, they were to speak the truth. Second, they were to execute righteous judgment in the judicial courts.
17 Do not plan evil in your hearts against one another. Do not favor a false oath—these are all things that I hate,’ says the Lord.”
Third, they were not to plan evil against one another. Fourth, they were not to make false oaths. Jehovah hates all of these things.
18 The word of the Lord who rules over all came to me as follows:
In verses 18-23, Jehovah will answer the question about keeping the fasts.
19 “The Lord who rules over all says, ‘The fast of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will become joyful and happy, pleasant feasts for the house of Judah, so love truth and peace.’
Judaism had created four fasts. These fasts were not created by Jehovah, but by Judaism. They asked Jehovah if they were to still keep these fasts, since Israel had returned to the land. The fast of the fourth month commemorated the day that Jerusalem was taken. The fast of the fifth month commemorated the day when the city of Jerusalem was destroyed. The fast of the seventh moment commemorated the day in which the Governor Gedaliah was killed. The fast of the tenth month commemorated the day that the city of Jerusalem was first besieged. God’s answer was that He would turn these man-made fasts of Judaism into divine feasts. Instead of mourning on these days, they would celebrate.
20 The Lord who rules over all says, ‘It will someday come to pass that people—residents of many cities—will come.
In verses 20-24, Jehovah returned His attention to the future of Jerusalem during the Millennial Kingdom. He predicted that during the Millennial Kingdom, many Gentiles would travel to Jerusalem.
21 The inhabitants of one will go to another and say, “Let’s go up at once to ask the favor of the Lord, to seek the Lord who rules over all. Indeed, I’ll go with you.” ’
During the Millennial Kingdom, the Gentiles will want to travel to Jerusalem so that they can seek Jehovah in the city. Jesus the Messiah will be ruling from Jerusalem with a rod of iron.
22 Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord who rules over all and to ask his favor.
Many Gentiles will make pilgrimages to Jerusalem to seek the visible Messiah.
23 The Lord who rules over all says, ‘In those days ten people from all languages and nations will grasp hold of—indeed, grab—the robe of one Jew and say, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” ’ ”
During the Millennial Kingdom, there will be no more anti-Semitism. Gentiles will eagerly grab Jews by the robe and desire to be instructed by the Jews.