BIG IDEA:
THE BLESSINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FUTURE RESTORATION OF THE JEWS WILL ATTRACT THE ALLEGIANCE OF THE GENTILES
INTRODUCTION:
Only the presence of the Lord can guarantee our ultimate blessing. Here we have a tremendously encouraging passage as God points to the reality of His curses upon disobedient Israel as the guarantee that future restoration and blessing will be just as certain. Everything centers around the sovereign decree of God who alone can motivate the obedience of His people that is essential for blessing. This blessing for restored Judah will then spill over and attract the attention of the Gentiles who will flock to Jerusalem in pursuit of that same blessing.
2 MESSAGES
I. (:1-17) MESSAGE #1 – GOD GUARANTEES FUTURE RESTORATION TO ZION AS THE CENTER OF TRUTH AND PEACE IN HIS KINGDOM –
GOD’S SEVEN CONFIDENT ASSERTIONS —
Introductory Formula:
“Then the word of the Lord of hosts came, saying,”
These are things that God is going to do without fail; you can count on God.
A. (:2) Jealous for Zion – God is exceedingly jealous for Zion
Introductory Formula:
“Thus says the Lord of hosts”
1. Jealous to reconcile Zion to her privileged position of intimacy
“I am exceedingly jealous for Zion,”
2. Jealous to punish all of Zion’s enemies with great wrath
“yes, with great wrath I am jealous for her.”
Mackay: There had been times when this jealousy worked for judgment against the people because of their waywardness which God could not allow to undermine his relationship with them (Ps. 78:58). But now this jealousy is operative for their good. It will not allow anyone or anything to disrupt his desire to see them blessed (Ezk. 36:5-6; Joel 2:18; Nah. 1:2). Zechariah is assuring the disheartened people of the fundamental fact of God’s disposition towards them for good, and his determination to see all that he has promised to them come true. Nothing will be allowed to interfere with his purpose.
B. (:3) Dwelling in Zion – God will return to dwell in the midst of Zion
Introductory Formula:
“Thus says the Lord of hosts”
1. Relocation of the Presence of God
“I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem.”
2. Renaming based on the Character of God
a. City of Jerusalem — Truth
“Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth”
b. Mountain of Zion — Holiness
“and the mountain of the Lord of hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.”
C. (:4-5) Safety in Zion – God will make all people safe and secure in Zion
Introductory Formula:
“Thus says the Lord of hosts”
1. Safe for the Old Folks
“Old men and old women will again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each man with his staff in his hand because of age.”
2. Safe for the Young Children
“And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.”
D. (:6) Omnipotence (God is Able) in Zion – Don’t doubt God’s ability to pull this off. God is able! There is nothing too difficult for God.
Introductory Formula:
“Thus says the Lord of hosts”
1. Human Inability
“If it is too difficult in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days,”
2. Divine Ability
“’will it also be too difficult in My sight?’ declares the Lord of hosts.”
E. (:7-8) Restoration in Zion – God will regather His people and live in their midst in Zion.
Introductory Formula:
“Thus says the Lord of hosts”
1. Deliverance
“Behold, I am going to save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west”
2. Regathering
“and I will bring them back”
3. Establishing
“and they will live in the midst of Jerusalem;”
4. Fellowship – Enjoyment of the relationship
a. Beloved People
“and they shall be My people”
b. Loyal God
“and I will be their God.”
c. Based on the Character of God
“in truth and righteousness.”
F. (:9-13) Blessing (Prosperity) in Zion – God will turn the tables on the fortunes of His people.
Introductory Formula:
“Thus says the Lord of hosts”
1. Beginning Exhortation – Keep working Hard / Fulfill your Ministry / Persevere
“Let your hands be strong, you who are listening in these days to these words from the mouth of the prophets, those who spoke in the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, to the end that the temple might be built.”
2. The Blessed Future will be different than the Cursed Past
a. The Cursed Past
1) No Reward for Labor
“For before those days there was no wage for man or any wage for animal”
2) No Peace or Security
“and for him who went out or came in there was no peace because of his enemies”
3) No Friendship or Partnership
“and I set all men one against another.”
b. The Change in Treatment
“’But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ declares the Lord of hosts.”
c. The Blessed Future
1) (:12) Peace and Prosperity
“For there will be peace for the seed;
the vine will yield its fruit,
the land will yield its produce
and the heavens will give their dew;
and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all
these things.”
2) (:13a) Blessing to the Nations
“It will come about that just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you that you may become a blessing.”
3. (:13b) Concluding Exhortation — Do Not Fear / Persevere – Keep Working Hard
a. Take Courage
“Do not fear;”
b. Work Hard
“let your hands be strong.”
G. (:14-17) Responsibility in Zion – God will motivate the obedience that surely leads to blessing
Introductory Formula:
“For thus says the Lord of hosts”
1. (:14-15a) Sovereign Decree of the Lord – You Can Count on God’s Blessing
a. Sovereign Decree to Curse
“’Just as I purposed to do harm to you when your fathers provoked Me to wrath,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and I have not relented,’”
b. Sovereign Decree to Bless
“so I have again purposed in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.”
2. (:15b) Simple Command of Encouragement
“Do not fear!”
3. (:16-17) Streamlined List of God’s Requirements (chiastic structure ABBA)
a. (:16) What One Must Do – Love what God loves (and Do that)
“These are the things which you should do: speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgment for peace in your gates.”
b. (:17) What One Must Avoid – Hate what God hates (and Don’t do that)
“’Also let none of you devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love perjury; for all these are what I hate,’ declares the Lord.”
MacArthur: As always, the promised blessings are connected with obedience to God’s righteous standards. Such obedience can only be brought about by the power of the Spirit in the life of one who has been transformed by God’s grace through faith. These standards are reminiscent of Pss. 15:1-5; 24:4; Pr 6:20-22.
II. (:18-23) MESSAGE #2 — THE BLESSING ON THE JEWS WILL SPILL OVER TO THE GENTILES WHO SEEK GOD’S FAVOR
Introductory Formula:
“Then the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying,”
A. (:18-19) Fasting Turned Into Feasting for Judah – Pursuit of Truth and Peace
Introductory Formula:
“Thus says the Lord of hosts”
“The fast of the fourth, the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth months will become joy, gladness, and cheerful feasts for the house of Judah so love truth and peace”
B. (:20-22) Favor of God Sought by the Gentiles – Pilgrimage to Jerusalem
Introductory Formula:
“Thus says the Lord of hosts”
“It will yet be that peoples will come, even the inhabitants of many cities. The inhabitants of one will go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the Lord; and to seek the Lord of hosts; I will also go. So many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the Lord.”
C. (:23) Fellowship of Gentiles with Jews – Pathway to the blessings associated with the Presence of God
Introductory Formula:
“Thus says the Lord of hosts”
“In those days ten men from all the nations will grasp the garment of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”