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Zechariah 8
THIS chapter sets out that day of Israel’s glory which is yet to be, of which many of the prophets have been given to tell. Here we again see God’s unalterable purpose to bless His earthly people, after He shall have dealt with them because of their grievous, yea terrible, sins.
In verse 2, we should read “am” far “was”, in both instances: “I am jealous for Zion . . . and I am jealous for her with great fury.” It is not uncommon to find, as in verses 2 and 3, in the prophetic Scriptures reference to a wholly future action as though it were already occurrent. While the student of Scripture may learn much front the study of prophecy, it is plain that such portions of the Word of God have been provided, principally, for the help of those who pass through the very circumstances mentioned, and to such the “I am jealous for Zion . . . I am returned to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem,” will be most comforting when the time is at hand, as indicating that God’s purposes are ever before Him, and are about to be executed.
Apart from the power and the purposes of God in grace, what future would lie before the Jews? Surely nothing of what this chapter tells! A scattered and homeless nation for many centuries, they have long been under the rod of God, particularly because of the rejection of their Messiah (See Matthew 27:22And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. (Matthew 27:2); Acts 7:51-6051Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 52Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 53Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. 54When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 57Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. 59And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:51‑60); Romans 11:26, 2726And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. (Romans 11:26‑27)).
As indicated by the marginal note, “marvelous”, occurring twice in verse 6, should be read “hard”, or “difficult.” In verse 11, “the residue of this people,” refers to the remnant which is to be brought through the inflictions of the last days. In that time of happiness on earth, exceeding anything the world has ever known, Judah (the Jews), and Israel (the lost ten tribes), will have the preeminent place—the reverse of what they have experienced. They have tasted deeply of Deuteronomy 28:64-68,64And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone. 65And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: 66And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life: 67In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see. 68And the Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you. (Deuteronomy 28:64‑68) but shall, through yet heavier chastening, be brought into Deuteronomy 30:3-93That then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee. 4If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee: 5And the Lord thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. 6And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. 7And the Lord thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee. 8And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the Lord, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day. 9And the Lord thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the Lord will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers: (Deuteronomy 30:3‑9).
The fasts mentioned in verse 19 appear to have all been times of mourning in connection with the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar; these occasions are, in the Millennium, to be remembered, but no longer with grief; instead, the recollection will bring joy and gladness, because of the good hand of God upon them.
ML 09/05/1937