Promising Peace

Introduction:

Zechariah shared with his contemporary Haggai the prophetic task of getting the people of Judah to rebuild their ruined Temple. Their preaching pulled the people out of self-preoccupation and got them working together as a people of God. There was a job to do, and the two prophets teamed up to make sure it got done. But Zechariah did more than that. For the people were faced with more than a ruined Temple and city. Their self-identity as the people of God was in ruins.

Stability: The people need God `s present in order to rebuild the temple.

REBUILDING THE TEMPLE

The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language Chapter 8

1–2  8 And then these Messages from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies:

A Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies:

“I am zealous for Zion—I care!

I’m angry about Zion—I’m involved

Jealous; God`s jealousy implies His right to protect His people and to be angry at those who would hurt them :

14 And the angel who was talking with me said to me, “Proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts: “⌊I am very jealous⌋ for Jerusalem and for Zion! 15 And ⌊I am extremely angry⌋ with the nations that are at ease, for while I was a little angry, they ⌊furthered disaster⌋.

Harris, W. H., III, Ritzema, E., Brannan, R., Mangum, D., Dunham, J., Reimer, J. A., & Wierenga, M. (Eds.). (2012). The Lexham English Bible (Zec 1:14–15). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

God`s Message:

Jerusalem`s New Name Is Truth. When our churches reopens ,their should be something new about our relationship with God and one another. God `s character is Truth.

The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language Chapter 8

3  “I’ve come back to Zion,

I’ve moved back to Jerusalem.

Jerusalem’s new names will be Truth City,

and Mountain of GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies,

and Mount Holiness.”

Peace in Jerusalem:

4–5  A Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies:

“Old men and old women will come back to Jerusalem, sit on benches on the streets and spin tales, move around safely with their canes—a good city to grow old in. And boys and girls will fill the public parks, laughing and playing—a good city to grow up in.”

With God all thing are possible even with a few:

6  A Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies:

“Do the problems of returning and rebuilding by just a few survivors seem too much? But is anything too much for me? Not if I have my say.”

God said he will save his people from the east and west, they will be my people and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness :

7–8  A Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies:

“I’ll collect my people from countries to the east and countries to the west. I’ll bring them back and move them into Jerusalem. They’ll be my people and I’ll be their God. I’ll stick with them and do right by them

Prosperity will return to Gods people:

11–12  “But things have changed. I’m taking the side of my core of surviving people:

Sowing and harvesting will resume,

Vines will grow grapes,

Gardens will flourish,

Dew and rain will make everything green.

The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language Chapter 8

KEEP YOUR LIVES SIMPLE AND HONEST

The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language Chapter 8

14–17  A Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies:

“In the same way that I decided to punish you when your ancestors made me angry, and didn’t pull my punches, at this time I’ve decided to bless Jerusalem and the country of Judah. Don’t be afraid. And now here’s what I want you to do: Tell the truth, the whole truth, when you speak. Do the right thing by one another, both personally and in your courts. Don’t cook up plans to take unfair advantage of others. Don’t do or say what isn’t so. I hate all that stuff. Keep your lives simple and honest.” Decree of GOD

Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (Zec 8:11–12). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.

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