CRITICAL NOTES.] The fate of their fathers urged them to obedience, now the promise of future prosperity.
Zechariah 8:2. Jealous] Implying warmth of love and zeal. Fury] Indignation to enemies.
Zechariah 8:3.] Proofs of love. Returned] Jerusalem forsaken when given up to foes; now God resumes abode. Truth] or fidelity, i.e. in which truth and fidelity towards Jehovah have their abode (Isaiah 1:21; Jeremiah 17:17), fully realized under the Messiah.
Zechariah 8:4-5.] No sweeping disease among them; long life one of the greatest blessings of the theocracy; plenty of children playing securely in the streets (contrast Jeremiah 6:11; Jeremiah 9:21).
Zechariah 8:6. Marvellous] These promised blessings seem incredible to the people; but nothing impossible to God.
Zechariah 8:7. East] Lit. rising of the sun. West] Lit. the going down of the sun (cf. Isaiah 50:1). They will be gathered from every region to which they were scattered.
Zechariah 8:8.] The covenant renewed. In truth] On both sides the relation real and sincere (Hosea 2:21-22; Isaiah 48:1; 1 Kings 3:6).
HOMILETICS
THE RESTORATION OF LOST PURITY.—Zechariah 8:1-3
The prophet had rebuked the people for their formalism and set forth the results of disobedience. Now he assures them of God’s love, and describes the consequences of obedience in restored privileges and restored purity. Their purity is restored—
I. By the manifestation of God. This is the first requirement. Man has wandered from God, sinned so much that he has no disposition to return. The sun must first shine to draw the plant. Grace must first work to dispose the heart. Men can never convert themselves; they have fallen, but God alone can raise them again. “Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord, and we shall be turned.”
II. By reconciliation to God. God can never dwell with wickedness. When Jerusalem was in the hands of enemies God forsook the temple. Only when we forsake sin and return to God—when reconciled to him—do we secure the aid of his grace and Spirit to purify us. Conversion leads to renovation and holiness of character. “Do thou give us the grace of conversion and amendment,” says W. Lowth, “and then thou wilt remove thy heavy judgments, and restore us to that happiness and prosperity which we formerly enjoyed.”
III. By consecration to God. When God returned to Zion it became “a city of truth.” It became what it had been before, the city which God had “chosen to put his name there.” Hence—
1. The city was holy. “The holy mountain.” Holy as the residence of Jehovah and the object of devout veneration. True worship and spiritual blessings were restored. “The name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there.”
2. The people were truthful. Their attachment to God sincere and not hypocritical; their love to man not in word, but in deed and of a truth. The proof of real conversion is not in partial, outward reform, but in devotion to God and growth in holiness founded upon truth. As God is righteous and holy, those who enjoy his favour must partake of these qualities. “The new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
GOD’S LOVE AND ITS WONDERFUL DISPLAYS.—Zechariah 8:1-8
The Jews are encouraged in distrust by the affection of God for them. He was jealous as a husband or loving father; he loved most earnestly, most constantly, and out of free love bestowed upon them the blessings here mentioned.
I. It is revealed by the authority of his word. “Again the word of the Lord of hosts came.” In the former chapter we have reproof, in this encouragement, lest his people should despair. Times of adversity and reproof dishearten, hide the love of God, like clouds before the sun. But God repeats former messages, gives Scripture comforts, and reminds us of past deliverances. “I was jealous for her with great fury.”
II. It is displayed in the manifestation of his presence. “I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem.” Ezekiel saw the glory of God depart from the sanctuary, and pictured the consequences in the conquest, bondage, and exile of Israel. But return is the pledge of his love and the path to pre-eminence. God’s presence is heaven and its bliss; “the river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God.” “As a countenance is made beautiful by the soul’s shining through it, so the world is beautiful by the shining through it of God” [Jacobi].
III. It is proved in abundant blessings. Manifold are the blessings here promised.
1. The Jews should be restored to their own city (Zechariah 8:7). From east and west, from every nation, would they be redeemed. Their distance and weakness would be no barrier to Divine power.
2. Spiritual privileges would be regained. (a) The covenant would be renewed. God would be their God, and they would be his people. (b) God’s presence would be given. He would dwell in their midst, (c) Divine worship would be restored. Jerusalem would be holy, and idolatry and falsehood would eventually cease. The mount, the temple, the mercy-seat, and all the memorials of God’s mercy would enhance their joy and privilege.
3. Temporal prosperity would be given. When God in covenant grace takes away sin, he takes away sorrow. (a) Long life and freedom from disease. Men and women would live to an advanced age. (b) Outward peace and security. The streets would be full of children playing in fearlessness and joy. Age sat resting the weight of years on its supporting staff, yet looking fresh and happy. Youth enjoyed its cheerful sports without the stern reproof or the angry growl. The sports of childhood and the benefits of old age are contrasted with the days of sin (Jeremiah 9:21; Jeremiah 6:11) and the purpose of God. “As the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.”
GOD’S WORKS GREATER THAN MAN’S CONCEPTION OF THEM.—Zechariah 8:6
The promises just made seemed improbable, morally impossible to the Jews in their present condition. But God encourages faith by reminding them that what seemed incredible to them was possible to him. Learn—
I. Men stagger at the greatness of God’s promises. “If it be marvellous” to you, something distinct and prominent from common events. The doings of God, by reason of his infinite greatness and goodness, are beyond anticipation, past belief.
1. His people are few. “A remnant” of what was once a great nation. Will he interfere on their behalf?
2. The times seem unlikely. “In these days” of infidelity, oppression, and sorrow.
3. We doubt his word. “These things are too good to be true.” They can never be realized in our experience.
4. We measure God by ourselves. We cannot act, therefore God cannot perform his promises. They appear against the course of nature and the laws of worldly policy. Thus do we sin against God and wrong ourselves by measuring his power and purpose by human standards. Be “fully persuaded that what God had promised he was able also to perform.”
II. God’s promises are not too great for him to perform. “Should it also be marvellous in mine eyes, saith the Lord of hosts?”
1. His love indicates this. It is unchangeable and never offers what he will not give. He forgives, and forgives abundantly. In daily life and Christian experience he works far more exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think.
2. His power proves it. “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Many things with man are impossible, but “with God all things are possible.” Beware of profanity and unbelief (2 Kings 7:2). Look to God in all things to increase faith and secure comfort. “I know that thou canst do everything” (Job 42:2).
HOMILETIC HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Zechariah 8:1. The word came. The first (Zechariah 8:1-17) declaring the reversal of the former judgments, and the complete though conditional restoration of God’s favour; the second (Zechariah 8:18-23) containing the answer to the original question as to those facts in the declaration of the joy and the spread of the gospel. The first has, again, a sevenfold, the second a threefold, subordinate division, marked by the beginning, Thus saith the Lord of hosts [Pusey].
Zechariah 8:2. Divine jealousy.
1. Its nature. “Great jealousy” to love men and hate their sins.
2. Its object. “Jealous for Zion.” Though he punishes yet he loves. “The Lord will be jealous for his land, and pity his people.”
Zechariah 8:3. Returned. The departure of God a curse, and the return of God a blessing to a people. God’s presence in ordinances and God’s favour in providences.
Zechariah 8:4-5. A delightful scene.
1. Boys and girls playing in the streets.
2. Aged men and women watching them. “The sports of childhood—innocent sports in their own nature, of course—are the very instincts of that period of life; and they have here the sanction of a benevolent God, being a part of his promised blessing to his favoured city. Who would like to be the man or the woman the sight of whom frightened such a group?” [Wardlaw]. Great blessings.
1. Longevity.
2. Peace and security.
3. Real enjoyments. “Thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel.”
Zechariah 8:6. Marvellous.
1. A great salvation.
2. Accomplished with (a) ease and (b) certainty, yet—
3. Doubted by an incredulous people. “Strange that, among a people who had amongst them the records of all the ‘mighty deeds’ done for them by the finger of Jehovah in the days of their fathers, there should have existed the slightest surmise of impossibility, or even of difficulty, in regard to any assurance of good coming from him. On many occasions was the incredulity, both of individuals in what regarded themselves, and of the community in what regarded the public interests, met with a similar rebuke” [Wardlaw].
Zechariah 8:7-8. Israel’s restoration.
1. They shall be gathered together into the kingdom of God. “Not to the earthly Jerusalem, that not large enough for Jews scattered throughout all the world, but to the open and enlarged Jerusalem in ch. Zechariah 2:8, i.e. the Messianic kingdom of God” [Keil].
2. They shall become God’s people, and God will again become their God.
3. This new relation shall not be as the past; a new feature is given by which the future will be distinguished “in truth and righteousness.” A father may chastise a son for disobedience, put him into temporary seclusion and disgrace, and then restore him. God will never disown his relation to Israel, but eventually bless them more than ever in Christ.
ILLUSTRATIONS TO CHAPTER 8
Zechariah 8:1-2. Jealous. Love often re-illumines his extinguished flame at the torch of jealousy [Lady Blessington]. Jealousy is always born with love, but does not always die with it [Rochefoucauld].
Zechariah 8:3. City of truth. Justice is the idea of God, the ideal of man, the rule of conduct writ in the nature of mankind [Theodore Parker]. Great is truth and mighty above all things (Esd. 4:51).
Zechariah 8:4-5. Here is a fine picture. The scene is the streets of Jerusalem. For it is clear that in this connexion, the word rendered “dwell” is decidedly to be understood as meaning “sit.” Longevity, when in any country it is found on a more than ordinary average, is a proof of a healthful and prosperous condition of society; and although I am satisfied that some passages of Scripture which have been interpreted of personal longevity have reference rather to the long-continued national possession of the land of promise; yet that longevity is included amongst the promises of temporal blessing and well-being, there can be little doubt. “Thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel,” is one of not a few similar assurances. The state described is one of peace and tranquil security [Wardlaw].
Zechariah 8:6. Marvellous. The man who cannot wonder, who does not habitually wonder and worship, were he president of innumerable royal societies, is but a pair of spectacles behind which there is no eye [Carlyle].
“Wonder is involuntary praise” [Young].
Zechariah 8:8. In truth. God’s relation sustained from the time of having chosen them had been always thus characterized. Not so theirs. They called God their God, and themselves his people; while too often it was neither “in truth” nor “in righteousness;” but when their hearts and lives gave the lie to their lips; when they flagrantly played the hypocrite, and defrauded him of his due, both in inward devotion and in outward service. Let us see that our professions are sincere—that our hearts are steadfast [Wardlaw].