Reading: Zechariah 8-14
For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour (Zech. 8:10). For thus saith the Lord of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the Lord of hosts, and I repented not: So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not. These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the Lord (Zech. 8:14-17).
During the time of Zechariah’s ministry, the remnant that had returned to Jerusalem under the decree of Cyrus was spiritually floundering. The rebuilding of the Temple had been eagerly begun, but rising opposition soon had work stuttering to a halt. Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia (Ezra 4:23-24). The people were at first dismayed by the interruption but soon became distracted by the tasks of day-to-day life. They rebuilt their own houses and set themselves to reclaim the land. They were busy yet strangely unprofitable. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes (Hag. 1:6).
Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them (Ezra 5:1). The people God charged Haggai andZechariah with ministering to were of a very different nature than the self-righteous, proud, closeminded individuals that had populated Jerusalem and the surrounding countryside before the exile. The current population had been humbled; their pride trampled in the dust of their shattered illusions. These people wanted to find their way back to God but were still somewhat confused and easily misled. Through Zechariah, God offered explanations for His gentle chastisement of their reluctance, along with a healthy dose of encouragement. And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong (Zech. 8:13). God believed in them. He knew they were hearing Him. He knew they would do as He asked. Through the words of His prophet, God took His people by the hand and led them in the direction they needed to go.
Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come. He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you(John 16:13-14).
Thought For TodayGod does not expect us to walk the path untended or without stumbling; He calls upon us to lean on Him and depend on His guidance.
Christ Revealed: As King and as a Servant sold for thirty pieces of silver (Zech. 9:9; 11:12). They covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver (Matt. 26:15).
Word Studies: 8:2 was jealous . . . with great jealousy = loved with great protective love; 10:3 goats = civic and political leaders; 10:8 hiss = signal; 11:7 Beauty, and . . . Bands = two shepherd’s staffs; 14:9 His Name One = Jesus will be recognized and reign as God with no rival false god.
Pray For Country: Colombia (46,245,297) South America • Major Languages: Spanish • Religious Freedom • 90% Roman Catholic; 10% Other • Prayer Suggestion: Your prayers should be lifted up with confidence in God (Ps. 56:9,11).