OUT OF THE CHAOS: A study in the book of Zechariah
Covenant is a word most people don’t use in modern days. Instead, we speak of contracts, agreements, legal documentation. They all play a role in our conversation, certainly in Canberra and at the UN, but covenant? Not so much. However, considering God who deals with the Jewish people in a covenantal manner, based on what has been titled Old Covenant or New Covenant, a massive number of relationships, promises, benefits and such eventuate. Today we are going to see in Zechariah chapter 8 an unpacking of such promises and benefits for the Jewish people, as a good answer to some previously posed questions. There will be follow-up as well, which splashes over into the 3rd section of this book, but we will get there later.
If you don’t mind, please read the chapter before you come to the class live, and if you are watching YouTube, pause your playback, read chapter 8 and then re-join us. Thanks.
At the beginning of chapter 7 some folks came to the prophet with questions, specifically about Temple memorialization. Since the Temple was destroyed 70 or so years previously, and we created fast days to recall those events, AND since the Temple is being rebuilt, should we continue to fast on those days? Should we mourn?
As Zechariah seeks to answer those good questions, he calls into evidence what he has previously addressed in chapters 1 through 7 and under the banner of the word ‘covenant’, he explains and answers the fasting question. Oh, and then the concept of Gentiles being brought near finishes the chapter, and that will inform us as well.
One last overarching thought if I might. Last night I attended the AFL match between the St Kilda Saints and the Sydney Swans. It started and ended badly for the home side. Two things were happening: 1) it was Lance Franklin’s 350th AFL game which is amazing currently. So many other factors knock most players out long before reaching that milestone. 2) It was what some titled the “Pride” game. That’s a night when crossdressers and drag queens, rainbow-toting-flag-wavers and others in the alphabet soup of homosexuality got to identify, wear costumes, and parade a bit before the 30,000 in the stands. When I was a kid, even up to a couple of years ago, the month of June was a month for dads and grads in the USA. And rainbows had to do with God’s promise never to destroy the world by flood again. It was the sign of a covenant (Genesis 9.17). Clear as crystal. But now both the covenant and the sign have been supplanted by pride. Remember the proverb says, “Pride goes before a fall.” (Prov. 16.18). Today we will remind ourselves that covenants are not to be messed with. And pride is to be rejected out of hand. Let’s jump in.
Seven times in this chapter we read the phrase, “Thus says the Lord of hosts.”
כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֗וֹת
As a Bible teacher and a public speaker, one of the things I’ve been taught is to limit my use of God’s name or names to emphasize my points. Let me use prayers to explain. I find it almost silly in prayer that some folks over-repeat God’s identity to him, for instance. “Father, I want to thank you, Lord, for being, Lord, ever looking to help us, oh God. Jesus, you are so awesome and gracious, and Father, today, El Shaddai, bring your might and goodness, Father, to bear in my situation. Oh God,….dot, dot, dot…” You get it. In the same way, I don’t turn to my wife in dinner conversation and say, “Dear Patty, lover of my soul, and delight of my heart, would you please, oh Mother of my children, bring me a spoon, Patty, best Grandmother in the world, so that I might eat this soup?” A bit much. I imagine she would say, “You have my attention. You don’t need to seek to gain it again.”
And I’ve taken that less-is-more philosophy when speaking about the Almighty. And most of the time in the record of Scripture, he doesn’t need to repeat himself, so when he does, I think it’s very helpful both to notice that and to see it as a highlight and not a mistake for which his marks should be lowered as if on an exam or writing assignment.
Seven times God makes a declaration through the prophet. Those seven reflect both a reiteration of the first seven chapters and the character of God, but at the same time increase the promises listed there. I see this as a sovereign reminding his people of his covenant that he made with them. I take this personally. God is in covenant with the Jewish people (not the new covenant, not yet) and he wants us to be comforted and assured of the benefits he still intends to accomplish and produce.
1. The City of Jerusalem is rebuilt (.1-.6)
Verse one. The word of the Lord came to him. Again. This is not made up.
Verse two. Thus says the Lord of armies (Hosts). I am jealous. Three times I’m jealous. For Zion. (Reflects Zech. 1.14)
“Here the prophet proclaims the message once again that Yahweh cares deeply about his chosen city. Jealousy is an ambivalent term. It is a strong emotion expressed in an intolerance of rivals. It can be good or evil, depending on the legitimacy of the rival.” (Smith)
Sometimes when God is jealous over Zion, he lashes out in disappointment with them when they fail. (Deut. 29:20–28; Ezek. 5:13; 16:38, 42; 23:25). And at other times, like here, his jealousy provokes him to support Zion over against all the other nations of the world. Hence the “jealous with great wrath” of verse 2 against foreign powers who have captivated us.
The second great saying is in verse 3. Here we see the raising up of the city to City of Truth (or Faithful City) and the hills to Holy Mountain.
Renaming is often characteristic of covenantal action by a sovereign or a suzerain. And the promise includes Shachanti (I will dwell with), which sounds like Wilderness and Tabernacle truths. Even perhaps the glory returning. Shechinah!
As in Chapter 1.16, the promise is for physical return to the Land. And not only for Jewish people, but also for God to return. Which sounds like he left and thus must return to be with us.
The third declaration and promise is found in verses 4 and 5. The promise of returning and living in gladness in Jerusalem. Remember that the Temple is currently being rebuilt in Zechariah’s days and most of the Jewish people are not yet living there. And here it’s both the old, both the men and women, and the children, both boys and girls. No one is left out. All of them often depicted as set-aside-folks, now being able to play in the streets together. Safely. And with a reflection of chapter 2 verse 4.
What do I mean about young and old as being set aside? When the exiles began to return, it was the middle group, the able and strong-bodied, the military who returned first. They had to rebuild. We didn’t send old folks to rebuild the Temple. Or to fix up the highways or the farms. Society often measures itself on the status of those who run businesses and the other city dwellers. Children and aged—often overlooked—will be seen here in this Jerusalem as sporting life.
Smith said, “Long life and children were thought of in the OT as blessings from God (Prov. 3:2; 9:10–11; Ps. 127:3; 128:3–4).”
Promise or saying #4 is found in verse 6. It’s a reflection of nothing else in previous chapters!
“Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘If it is too difficult in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, will it also be too difficult in My sight?’ declares the LORD of hosts.
I hear this as a pause in the reminding statements to declare something greater, something that underscores this entire review. God is able. Nothing is too difficult for him. Nothing, absolutely nothing, can stop him. He is Pela.
יִפָּלֵ֗א Wonderful. The same word of miracles. The same word used in Isaiah of the Son to be given to us from a virgin. You want to see God work? Nothing is too difficult for him. (Jer. 32.17, .27) This is a grand word of assurance, even reassurance.
Calvin said, “Nothing is more preposterous than to seek to measure God’s power by our own understanding”.
2. People of Israel are regathering (.7)
The 5th saying covers two verses. 7 and 8. And as before is a rehearsal of the earlier promise found in 2.6-7. God will save and restore his people. Save from the land of the east and the land of the west. The Hebrew uses the words for sunrise (Mizrach) and the setting of the sun, and we take it to mean ‘all nations.’ In chapter 2 it referenced the ‘land of the north.’ Here I don’t read this as a specific nation east or west of Zechariah. Rather this is a merism.
3. The relationship between Israel and God is being restored. (.8)
A merism is a rhetorical device (or figure of speech) in which a combination of two contrasting parts of the whole refer to the whole. For example, to say that someone "searched everywhere", we say the merism "searched high and low". The Psalmist said, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (Ps. 103.12)
‘The whole’ is in view in Zechariah’s words.
4. The land of Israel is being refreshed. (.9-13)
Verse 9 is saying #6 and is much longer. Verse 9 to 13. It reminds the people that prosperity is coming so keep to the task of Temple building. Strong hands (v. 9 and .13) is a call to duty and perseverance. It’s a flashback to chapter 3.10 and chapter 4.6-10. I like that God uses the word ‘peace’ for assurance. Think about who is rebuilding the Temple. Yes, there would be 20-year-olds who never saw the land and the building in its day. They were born in Babylon and only heard stories of Jerusalem past.
Now they are back. They have ideas about what it should look like and what the fields and the villages around should be. What should be planted and who should be doing what with whom. If you’ve ever been involved in leadership decisions in areas where blueprints were not exactly forthcoming, you will know what I’m addressing. Peace is the last thing that rules the roost. Often, it’s the loudest or the strongest, almost the bulliest that gets his or her way.
Have you watched any television shows like Survivor or the recently telecast series in Australia called “The Summit?” People had to accomplish various goals over and over, and no one was presented as the leader. Each episode is filled with the complications that arose. The missing word is ‘peace’ and rightly did God say so here.
5. The covenant standards will be renewed. (Verses 14 to 19)
Finally, the 7th statement, again with the Ko omar Adonai Ts’vaot introduction is found in verse 14 to 17. It’s a rehearsal of chapter 7.8-14, and again goes beyond the original. Here God says that in the same measure, the same proportion of harm he intended to bring on the Jewish people 70 years previously, now he intends goodness and blessing on the children and grandchildren. Oh, may it be in my family and in yours!
And in verse 16, we hear his commands, his expectation, the reversal of the behaviour that caused the Exile in the first place. Live right. Judge right. Speak right. And all will be right.
Look, when things are bad, and you know they shouldn’t be bad, and you were part of the cause of the turn of events, you are more inclined to listen to the way out of the trouble.
Have you ever led a team on a scavenger hunt? Or in an escape room? Or some kids around the block to a cool fire you ‘just have to see?’ If you are the leader of a pack, and you hit a brick wall, you are more inclined to say, “oops, where is the way out?”
Here in Zechariah, if you know your guilt, and you have heard the words from the grandparents and parents, and now from heaven and God’s representative prophet, you will listen more intently. Think of Aaron, in Acharei Mot, after the death of his two older sons, Aaron is going to listen more closely, because of his losses. (Lev. 16.1ff)
Israel’s history was replete with prophets who spoke good words and those who spoke bad words. And the ‘former prophets’ clearly were the ones who spoke words of warnings and Israel disregarded those fellows. Statement 7 is both a warning and a charge to keep, to live right and you will live securely in the land of promise.
Verses 13 and 15 remind us not to fear. If you are in God’s heart and in God’s hands, you have no reason to fear. Amen?
I want you to note, and I agree with Bishop Stead here, that the covenant renewal of verses 18 to 23 are a renewal of the Old Covenant, not the new one promised in Jeremiah. (Stead, page 130)
Verses 18 and 19 are the final answer to the question posed in chapter 7 by the emissaries. Should we keep fasting? The answer is yes and no. As I said last week, when foreign nations are still ruling you, with severity, yes, keep all those fasts. When foreign nations are ruling you, but without severity, you may keep fasting as a reminder, but it’s not obligatory. When you are in your own land, with a Temple, sovereignly self-ruling, you should turn those fasts into feasts!
6. The Gentiles can be redeemed (.20-23)
Verses 20-23 give us a glimpse once again of the role of Israel viz the nations. We are to welcome them, and to teach them. We are to allow them to grab hold of our tzitzit and enable their finding the living God.
Let me share with you the outline from Warren Weirsbe, if you want to package these sayings into an outline that might be easier to remember. Weirsbe says verses 1 to 6 are about the city of Jerusalem being rebuilt. Verse 7 is about the people of Israel regathering. Verse 8 is the relationship between Israel and God being restored. Verses 9 to 13 is the land of Israel being refreshed. Verses 14 to 19 show the covenant standards will be renewed and finally, verses 20-23 indicate the Gentiles will be redeemed.
Sometimes Weirsbe’s alliterations are forced, but I think you might like the flow of these sections or lines.
No matter how you break this chapter down, it’s about promises for Israel and by clear hint, promises for the nations. Even those who were earlier in the prophecy labelled as ‘in trouble.’
Maybe you have felt that way, perplexed about the uncertainties of this life, distressed about things not working out the way you planned them to work out. Listen, God wants the best for you. For those who love God he works everything for good. If you want God’s best, you have to give your life to him, and submit to his lordship. He wants us to be the City of Truth and the Holy Mountain. Are you ready? Willing? Able? If so, please pray and ask God to be your Saviour and Lord.
Yeshua is God’s eternal answer, the Temple not made with hands, the place of worship and connection with God. God’s covenant is extended to us as First Receivers and then to the nations, one by one, and individuals, one by one, who take a new Sovereign as Lord of their lives. That’s how this religion works!
Remember, you who are watching today, if you are not yet a follower of Yeshua, and see his love for you, his kindness extended, his offer of forgiveness available, right where you are, submit to him, to his lordship, to his care, and your life will take on new meaning, new substance, and you will have mates on this call, and in your neighbourhood and wherever you travel… the Kingdom is advancing under the King. Chaos is subjugated, life is available.
Would you like that? Pray with me just now. (Prayer Sample)
Shabbat shalom!
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Resource on video
To see a fun video overview of the book of Zechariah see this from Bible Project:
https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/zechariah/
Bibliography:
Ryken, Leland (and others), Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, 1998.
Smith, Ralph, Micah to Malachi: Word Biblical Commentary (Volume 32), Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 1984.
Stead, Michael, Zechariah: The Lord Returns, Aquila Press, Sydney, 2015.
Webb, Barry, The Message of Zechariah: Your Kingdom Come, Intervarsity Press, Nottingham, 2003.
Wiersbe, Warren, Be Heroic: Demonstrating Bravery by your Walk, David C. Cook Press, Colorado Springs, 1997.
ACTUAL TEXT
Zech. 8:1 Then the word of the LORD of hosts came, saying, 2 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘I am exceedingly jealous for Zion, yes, with great wrath I am jealous for her.’ 3 “Thus says the LORD, ‘I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.’ 4 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Old men and old women will again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each man with his staff in his hand because of age. 5 ‘And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.’ 6 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘If it is too difficult in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, will it also be too difficult in My sight?’ declares the LORD of hosts. 7 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Behold, I am going to save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west; 8 and I will bring them back and they will live in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God in truth and righteousness.’
Zech. 8:9 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘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. 10 ‘For before those days there was no wage for man or any wage for animal; and for him who went out or came in there was no peace because of his enemies, and I set all men one against another. 11 ‘But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ declares the LORD of hosts. 12 ‘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. 13 ‘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. Do not fear; let your hands be strong.’
Zech. 8:14 “For thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘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, 15 so I have again purposed in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not fear! 16 ‘These are the things which you should do: speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgment for peace in your gates. 17 ‘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.”
Zech. 8:18 Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, 19 “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.’
Zech. 8:20 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘It will yet be that peoples will come, even the inhabitants of many cities. 21 ‘The inhabitants of one will go to another, saying, “Let us go at once to entreat the favour of the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts; I will also go.” 22 ‘So many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favour of the LORD.’ 23 “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.”’”
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