Read Zechariah 8 – 14
Highlights:
My people (8:8; 10:6-12). Hear the prophets (8:9). Fantastic revelations of Jesus, the Messiah, hundreds of years before His birth: (9:9; 11:12-13; 12:10; 13:7). Going through tough times? Like the remnant, we too can be refined like silver (13:9). His triumphant return to earth (14:4-9).
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn (Zech. 12:10).
God has given Zechariah a profound prophecy to proclaim to Israel about the last days. This is a foretelling of what will happen between the Lord and the nation of Israel at the end of all time. It is fitting for us to look at how Israel arrives at this point.
The descendants of Abraham were chosen by God as His people. It was promised to Abraham that a great nation would rise from him. This blessing would be passed down through Isaac and then to Jacob until an entire nation was birthed. This was the nation of Israel that was born out of the seed of Abraham. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered (Gen. 13:16). And He brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and He said unto him, So shall thy seed be (Gen. 15:5).
Throughout the Old Testament, we see generation after generation establish the history of the nation of Israel. We see Moses raised up as a leader to bring them out of Egyptian bondage. We see how Joshua led the people into the Promised Land. We experience the time when Israel was led by Judges. We then come to the time of the kings in Israel; the time when Saul, David and Solomon came to power. The nation of Israel ended up dividing into two nations, Judah and Israel. Each one experienced their own pathway, but both were taken into captivity by Babylon, then Medo-Persia and finally Rome. The people of Israel ended up scattered throughout the world.
As the New Testament arrived and Christ came onto the scene, a change began to take place. The work of the Lord began to be manifested in the global Church instead of just in Israel. Though many Israelites came to Christ, there were just as many Gentiles, if not more, that found salvation. The Lord began to manifest Himself, not in a birth by human blood, but of birth by His blood. Circumcision was no longer needed to be called a child of God as it was in the Old Testament. The circumcision of the heart became important. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin (1 John 1:7). In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ (Col. 2:11).
The time we live in now is the age of the Church. However, God has promised that the time will come when His face will turn towards Israel again. Israel is and always has been God's chosen. Their part in the last days will be great.
And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel (Rev. 7:4).
Thought for Today:
Do you hate your enemies wrongfully or do you pray for them as Jesus said?
Christ Revealed:
As King and as a Servant sold for thirty pieces of silver (Zech. 9:9; 11:12). They covenanted with him (Judas) for thirty pieces of silver (Matt. 26:15).
Word Study:
8:2 was jealous . . . with great jealousy = loved with great protective love; 10:3 goats, civic and political leaders; 10:8 hiss, signal; 11:7 Beauty, and . . . Bands, two shepherd’s staffs; 14:9 His Name One, Jesus will be recognized and reign as God with no rival false god.
Prayer Suggestion: Give thanks to the God of heaven; His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever (Ps. 136:26).
Memory Verse for the Week: Psalms 145:21
