Future Blessing to Be yet Accomplished
But while the prophet shows how Jehovah had scattered the people (Zech. 7:1414But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate. (Zechariah 7:14)), spite of the ritual observances, and that consequently having recourse to them was in no way the true remedy for a low or evil condition—although they might have their place along with the weightier matters—he fully predicts the blessing in store for Jerusalem. “Thus saith Jehovah of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. Thus saith Jehovah; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem” (vss. 2-3). He does not say that He was, but that He would be. “And Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of Jehovah of hosts the holy mountain. Thus saith Jehovah of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age” (vss. 3-4). Mark, “every man:” he is looking onward to the day when death should not be, as we are told in Isaiah. “Every man with his staff in his hand for very age” (vs. 4)—not that there should not be the young, but that the old should not vanish away. It is the reversal of all past history— “and he died,” “and he died.” Under Messiah, men will go on living and last out the whole millennial reign. “And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof” (vs. 5).
“Thus saith Jehovah of hosts; If it be marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvelous in Mine eyes? saith Jehovah of hosts” (vs. 6). Not so; God is always waiting for that day. “Thus saith Jehovah of hosts; Behold, I will save My people from the east country, and from the west country; and I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be My people” (vss. 7-8). Thus the sentence will be taken off from them. “They shall be My people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness” (vs. 8). Then all the degradation to which they had been so righteously condemned would be completely effaced in the day of renewed and better and enduring glory for Israel.
This accordingly is turned to present practical profit in what follows. The chapter ends with showing that fasts should be changed into feasts, and sorrow into gladness. (Compare the inverse in Matthew 9 in answer to the complaining disciples of John). And not only should this blessedness be for Israel, but “in those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you” (vs. 23). Such will be the complete change of the day of Jehovah.