Zechariah 8:1-23

"Restoration and Blessings: A Promise Fulfilled"

Zechariah 8:1-23

1 And the word of the Lord of hosts came, saying,

2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. 3 Thus says the Lord: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, the holy mountain.

4 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age.

5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.

6 Thus says the Lord of hosts: If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my sight, declares the Lord of hosts?

7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, 8 and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.”

9 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Let your hands be strong, you who in these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present on the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.

10 For before those days there was no wage for man or any wage for beast, neither was there any safety from the foe for him who went out or came in, for I set every man against his neighbor.

11 But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days, declares the Lord of hosts.

12 For there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.

13 And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.”

14 For thus says the Lord of hosts: “As I purposed to bring disaster to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the Lord of hosts,

15 so again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not.

16 These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace;

17 do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.”

18 And the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, 19 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: The fast of the fourth month and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace.

20 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities.

21 The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the Lord and to seek the Lord of hosts; I myself am going.’

22 Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the Lord.

23 Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

Introduction:

Imagine a small, rundown town that had seen better days.

The streets were empty, buildings were in disrepair, and the sense of hopelessness lingered in the air.

One day, a group of passionate individuals came together with a vision to restore this town to its former glory.

They worked tirelessly, facing challenges and setbacks, but their determination never wavered.

Slowly but surely, the town began to transform, and a renewed sense of hope filled the hearts of its residents.

Tonight, we look into the book of Zechariah, where God paints a vivid picture of restoration, hope, and blessings for His people.

1: God's Promise of Restoration (Zechariah 8:1-8)

Zechariah 8 begins with a powerful declaration from God: "I am zealous for Zion with great zeal."

In these verses, God promises to bring about a restoration like never before.

The once desolate city will be filled with the sounds of joy and laughter. The elderly and children will find security in its streets.

This promise reflects God's deep love and commitment to restoring His people.

Just as the passionate group transformed the rundown town, God is determined to restore and bless His people beyond their wildest imaginations.

Life Application 1: Trust in God's Timing

Sometimes, it may seem like our lives are in disrepair, and hope is a distant memory.

However, Zechariah reminds us that God's timing is perfect.

We must trust that His promise of restoration will unfold according to His divine plan, even when the road seems long and challenging.

2: God's Call to Holiness (Zechariah 8:9-17)

In verses 9-17, Zechariah emphasizes the importance of holiness and righteousness in the lives of God's people.

He calls them to speak the truth, execute justice, and show mercy and compassion to one another.

God desires a community that reflects His character, where honesty and kindness prevail.

Just as the passionate individuals in our story worked together with integrity to restore the town, God calls us to live with righteousness as we anticipate the blessings He has in store.

Life Application 2: Cultivate a Culture of Righteousness

We are called to be a community that reflects God's character.

Let us strive to cultivate a culture of righteousness, speaking the truth, practicing justice, and extending mercy and compassion to those around us.

As we live in holiness, we prepare the way for God's blessings to flow abundantly.

3: The Gathering of Nations to Jerusalem (Zechariah 8:18-23)

In the final section of Zechariah 8, we see a beautiful image of people from various nations coming to seek the Lord in Jerusalem.

God promises that in the midst of restoration, His people will become a blessing to the nations. This imagery underscores the universal scope of God's plan for redemption and the role His people play in it.

Life Application 3: Be a Blessing to Others

God's plan for restoration extends beyond individual lives to impact entire communities and nations. We are called to be a blessing to others, sharing the hope and joy we have found in God. As we live out the values of God's Kingdom, we become agents of transformation in the world around us.

Conclusion:

Just as the passionate individuals in our story transformed a rundown town into a place of hope and renewal, God promises to restore and bless His people. Let us trust in His timing, cultivate a culture of righteousness, and be a blessing to the nations. As we embrace God's promises in Zechariah 8, may we experience the fullness of His restoration and blessings in our lives and communities.

-PRAY

-INVITATION