_I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem _ THE BLESSED COMMUNITY OF MEN YET TO APPEAR ON THE EARTH I. Here is a community specially interesting to the great God. “Again the Word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; I was jealous for Zion w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Old men and old women,.. .boys and girls _ INHABITANTS OF THE HOLY CITY What a lovely civic picture, what a charming representation! Dear old travellers, sweet old mothers, each with a staff in hand and leaning upon it for very age, and these making their way through groups of romping boys and gi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Should it also be marvellous in Mine eyes?_ saith the Lord of hosts THE LIMITS OF THE MARVELLOUS Here is a prophetic picture of a time of peace and prosperity. To the man of his time the prophet’s picture seemed wholly incredible. They were not prepared for such an optimistic view of things. The... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will save My people from the East country, and from the West country _ A TWO-FOLD DIVINE RESTORATION I. A Divine temporal restoration. The reference here is to those Jews who had been scattered abroad over various countries through the Babylonian Captivity and other disastrous causes. The point... [ Continue Reading ]
_For before these days there was no hire for man _ SOCIETY BEFORE THE TEMPLE WAS BUILT A neglected temple always means a ruined society. These words are not to be applied locally or parochially; they express an eternal and unchangeable principle: a neglected God is a frowning heaven, a frowning he... [ Continue Reading ]
_But now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days _ THE DANGER OF RESISTANCE TO THE DIVINE MESSAGES It is a decisive evidence of sound wisdom to profit by the faults, the errors, and the calamities of other men. Two sources from whence we ordinarily obtain knowledge and... [ Continue Reading ]
_So I will save you _ MAN’S NEED AND GOD’S PROVISION I. Man in the natural and fallen state. “As ye were a curse among the heathen.” Sinners are under the curse of God. Mankind in general, as transgressors, all whose sins are unpardoned, are under the curse of God. Those who are in their natural a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour _ TRUTH Concisely stated, the doctrine of the text is, think truth, love truth, speak truth, and do truth--live in its atmosphere, make it your ruling principle. Let the clear light which it sheds out throw a radiance on your course, so that your lif... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore love the truth and peace _ THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH This solemn admonition may seem to derive additional weight from the consideration that it is almost the concluding message which the prophet Zechariah delivered to his countrymen. (Probably only the first eight Chapter s were written by... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord _ NATIONS MEETING FOR PRAYER A scene like this has never yet been witnessed upon the earth. The prophecy was partially fulfilled when, from the time of the rebuilding of the temple to the coming of the Saviour, a more than usual number of Gentile prosel... [ Continue Reading ]
_We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you _ A WISE AND GOOD RESOLUTION The kingdom of God was to be no longer confined to one nation or people; but multitudes in different climates, and the most distant parts of the earth, should submit to Christ as their ruler, and trust Him as... [ Continue Reading ]