ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 8:1 God is renewing his presence with his people. He is reaffirming his purpose to bless the nations through them. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 8:3 The somber word of judgment on the former generation is not the end of the story. God has RETURNED TO ZION AND WILL DWELL IN THE MIDST OF JERUSALEM. In the days ahead, Jerusalem will become a FAITHFUL CITY (compare Isaiah 1:26) and Zion will again be the HOLY MOUNTAIN... [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 8:4 OLD and young, male and female are portrayed as enjoying their new home. This ideal picture implies peace and plenty for everyone. It also contrasts dramatically with the slave labor and poverty that had marked Jerusalem in the recent past. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = documen... [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 8:6 Such a transformation may seem a MARVELOUS miracle to Zechariah’s hearers, but it is the sort of miracle that the Creator God does routinely (SHOULD IT ALSO BE MARVELOUS IN MY SIGHT?). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.... [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 8:7 The Lord uses opposite extremes to emphasize the completeness of his salvation. He will save his people from the EAST COUNTRY and the WEST COUNTRY and thus from everywhere in between. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.l... [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 8:8 When the Lord returns to Jerusalem, he will cause his covenant people to live together IN FAITHFULNESS AND IN RIGHTEOUSNESS. The covenant promise AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE, AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD also occurs in Jeremiah 31:33 and Ezekiel 37:27. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 8:12 With the temple reestablished, the Lord’s attitude toward his people changes. The temple’s reconstruction results in a SOWING OF PEACE, which is the blessings of agricultural prosperity and national security promised in Leviticus 26:4. The REMNANT OF THIS PEOPLE from... [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 8:15 GOOD. The Lord’s commitment to bless this new generation should free them from FEAR. It should motivate them to a new obedience characterized by truth, justice, and grace. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img;... [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 8:19 Formerly, the people fasted in the FOURTH MONTH, when their enemies had entered Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:3; Jeremiah 39:2; Jeremiah 52:6); in the FIFTH, when the city fell (Jeremiah 52:12); in the SEVENTH, when Gedaliah was assassinated ... [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 8:20 This blessing extends beyond Israel to include the Gentiles: MANY PEOPLES AND STRONG NATIONS SHALL COME. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 8:23 TEN MEN represents a complete group FROM THE NATIONS OF EVERY TONGUE who come to Jerusalem because they recognize that God is with his people. This prophecy was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); fo... [ Continue Reading ]