Zechariah 8:18-19 – And the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, "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."
And now the Lord finally addresses the question of fasting that was asked of the priests of Jerusalem way back in chapter 7, verse 3.
All along we have talked about the fast of the fifth month (instituted because of the destruction of Solomon's temple) and the fast of the seventh month (instituted when Gedaliah was murdered and the remaining Jews were driven from the land).
However, the Jews actually observed a total of four national days of fasting.
The tenth day of the tenth month of the year (Tebet, which is November/December) was declared a national day of mourning and fasting because it was the day Nebuchadnezzar's forces began their successful siege against Jerusalem. This occurred in the 9th year of the reign of King Zedekiah (Ezekiel 24:1-2).
The ninth day of the fourth month of the year (Tammuz, which is May/June) was also declared a day of national mourning and fasting because it was the day the city of Jerusalem was breached by the Babylonians. This occurred in the 11th year of the reign of King Zedekiah (Jeremiah 39:2).
It was appropriate for these four days to be remembered by the Jewish population, as they represented the dreadful judgment of God:
- When the city was surrounded by the men of Babylon, the Jews were suddenly aware of the impending vengeance of God for all their idolatry, unbelief and other wickedness.
- When the wall of Jerusalem was finally breached (about two years later), it became apparent to the Jews that God had turned his face away from their cries.
- When the temple went up in flames and was destroyed, no hope remained for the Jews except for the fact that the poorest among them would remain in the land under the rule of Gedaliah.
- When Gedaliah was murdered and all the remaining Jews went into exile, the Israelites realized that the favor of God had completely and utterly disappeared from their midst.
In light of these events, it was entirely appropriate for the post-exilic Jews to observe these four days of national mourning and fasting. They needed to humble themselves before the Lord and confess their sins, both personal and national. These fasts were also a good way for the Jews to teach and warn future generations to be faithful to God and his covenant with them.
And thus it was for more than 70 years.
But now a corner had been turned; a new day was dawning. God announced that his favor once again rested upon his people. The Jews had returned to Jerusalem. The sacrifices had been reinstituted and the foundation of the temple had been laid. God had BIG plans for the future of his covenant people.
If the Jews would repent and return to the Lord, cleaving to him only, there would be an end to their misery. There would be no more need for national mourning and fasting.
This was the answer to the men of Bethel (Zechariah 7:3) – and what an unexpected and glorious answer it was! They no longer needed to observe the fast of the fifth month or any other month, because the time of mourning for Israel was over!
Instead, the former days of fasting would be turned into joyous celebrations and public feasts/festivals. They would become days of rejoicing and thanksgiving to the Lord for ending their captivity. They would be days of celebration because the Lord was pouring out both temporal and spiritual showers of blessing upon his people.
The Lord then admonishes his people to love truth and peace.
Truth is not just the absence of falsehood; it also includes integrity, justice, equity, mercy and compassion. When our hearts are right before God and we live according to his commands, truth naturally manifests in our outward actions and in our relationships with our fellow man.
The blessing of peace can be understood in two ways. First, it is the absence of judgment, strife, war and agitation. It includes restoration and the concept of good relationships. Secondly, peace represents the blessing, goodness and prosperity which God showers upon his people.
But the promise was not just for the people of that day. It is for all people living in the age of grace, because truth and peace were fully manifested in the person of Jesus Christ.
It was Christ that brought us the gospel message - the words of truth and life (John 6:68, Acts 5:20). In fact, he is the way the truth and the life (John 14:6); through him we have peace with the Father:
Romans 5:1 - Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
The Jews of Zechariah's day were instructed to love truth and peace. We should do the same. The gospel is a message of peace which contains nothing but truth.
We should love it immensely because through it we are reconciled (brought into a right relationship) with God. Furthermore, in accordance with that gospel, we should seek to live in peace with our fellow man, treating them with the same justice and righteousness that we desire for ourselves.
In all generations, these are the works which truly please the Lord, as opposed to vain religious observances and fasts.
Zechariah 8:20 – "Thus says the Lord of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities."
The remainder of this chapter speaks of the Gentile nations coming to Jerusalem to participate in the aforementioned festivals and celebrations of the Jews. This is not something we would expect to literally happen.
Rather, it is an example of figurative language commonly used in the Old Testament (especially the prophets – Micah 4:2, Isaiah 2:2-3, Isaiah 45:14-17, etc). It actually depicts the eventual spread of the gospel among the Gentile nations of the world.
First, God once again favors the Jews and restores them to his covenant promises. Then, at the appointed time, that covenant was fulfilled by Jesus the Messiah (Matthew 5:17) who was a Jew according to the flesh. Once the covenant was fulfilled, he sacrificed his life to usher in the Age of Grace or the Gospel Dispensation.
As you know, the gospel was first preached by the Jews in Jerusalem, but it was destined by God to spread throughout the entire world (Acts 1:8). People of every tribe, nation and tongue (the inhabitants of many cities) would hear and respond to the gospel message, being added to the kingdom of heaven and the world-wide church of Jesus Christ.
Even today this message is still spreading to the furthest corners of the globe.
Zechariah 8:21 – "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.'"
This verse speaks of a mutual consent among the Gentile nations to unite together and seek the Lord.
At the time this revelation was given, the Jews were poor, despondent, treated with contempt and surrounded by enemies who tried (successfully) to halt their progress. Never ever, even in their wildest dreams, did they think that the Gentiles would one day willingly come to Jerusalem in order to worship the Lord.
However, in this revelation the Lord plainly states his desire that all people/nations (the Gentiles) come to know and worship him. This is big reason why he continually encourages the Jews to finish the temple. Not only is the temple the focal point of fellowship between God and the Jews in Zechariah's generation, it will one day be the place where Christ reveals the details of the new covenant, which includes the Gentiles.
Isaiah 49:6 - And he [God] said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
At the time, the Jews mistakenly thought that their efforts to rebuild the temple and the city were in vain. But they should have had more faith in God – because of him, their efforts would prevail.
Even more astonishing, the Jews would not need to force, coax or entice other nations to know the Lord. Instead, the power of Holy Spirit would convict the Gentiles of sin and cause them to sense their need for pardon and justification before God.
Once they recognized this need, the Gentiles would immediately (at once) seek the Lord. In addition, they would have a clear concern for the spiritual welfare of others, as reflected in the fact that they will travel from one city to another encouraging others to seek the Lord also. They will be anxious to embrace salvation, to learn the truths of the gospel, to know God's will and to worship him in the correct way (in spirit and in truth).
Zechariah 8:22 – "Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the Lord."
This verse is closely related to verse 21. It confirms that many nations/people, even the mighty and the great, will seek the Lord in Jerusalem. Why is Jerusalem specifically mentioned here?
Well, we must keep in mind that the Jews who received this message were operating under the Old Testament covenant. At that time, there was only one temple and God could only be properly worshiped at that location, with the prescribed sacrifices.
Therefore, it was imperative for the second temple to be built, so that it could remain the emblem of forgiveness/salvation until the coming of Christ, when God would institute a new covenant.
As we know, Jerusalem also played a pivotal role in the new covenant – it was the birthplace of the church of Jesus Christ.
Under the new covenant, the temple of God would no longer be a brick-and-mortar structure located in Jerusalem. God was going to dwell in human hearts, which made each and every child of his a temple of Holy Spirit:
1 Corinthians 3:16 - Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
2 Corinthians 6:16 - for you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
The light of the gospel first dawned over Jerusalem and it will spread far and wide until it illuminates every nation on earth.
So we find that Jerusalem is mentioned in this verse because it was the city where salvation/forgiveness could be found in both the old and new covenants. It is the city God has chosen to bear his name (I Kings 11:36), and the place where he has chosen to reveal himself.
This verse also indicates (in figurative language) that it will be necessary for the Gentiles to go to Jerusalem because the presence of God could be found there and no place else.
In a spiritual sense, this tells us that the people of every nation will search out the church, because she is the steward of the gospel message. It is the gospel message that brings the forgiveness, peace and eternal life which sinners are seeking. Only the gospel brings life; all false religions bring bondage and despair.
All those who adhere to the gospel message (Jews and Gentiles) will 'entreat the favor of the Lord' through prayer and other ordinances of the gospel.
Thankfully, the blood of Christ allows us to come directly into the presence of God, who is omniscient (knows all things). He is already acquainted with our motivations, our weaknesses, our troubles and our desires.
Hebrews 4:13 - Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Once we approach him in faith with reverence and godly fear/respect, we have the freedom to openly and honestly speak to the Lord about every aspect of our lives.
We can pour our hearts out to him with boldness and confidence, knowing that he both hears and answers prayer.
Zechariah 8:23 – "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.'"
The picture presented here is that of a Jew journeying to Jerusalem from some distant country in order to participate in one of the Jewish festivals (probably Passover). As he walks along the road, he has a number of Gentiles crowding around him, asking permission to accompany him on his journey. They wish to do so because they have learned how good the Lord has been to the Jews.
The question is, what is the meaning of this image? Let's break it down:
The Lord of Hosts: The first thing to notice is that before delivering this message, God once again stresses that he is the Lord of Hosts – the omnipotent God who possess all power. This means that no matter how impossible this prophesy seems, it was going to come to pass.
In those days: Next we see the time frame for the fulfillment of this word – 'in those days'. There is no doubt that the events of the last part of chapter 8 occur during the Age of Grace or what is known as the Gospel Dispensation. In other words, this prophesy began to be fulfilled just after the birth of the church, and it is still being fulfilled today.
Ten men of every tongue: Men of 'every tongue' refers to Gentiles. In scripture, the number 10 is the number of perfection and it is used to signify a vast number. So this phrase is interpreted to mean vast numbers of Gentiles.
Robe of a Jew: The Jews wore robes that had tassels at the four corners, which made their clothing distinctively different from that of the Gentiles:
Numbers 15:38 - Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them tassels in the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the tassel of the corners a thread of blue:
Back in the day, everyone could identify a Jew by their clothing. This was how the woman at the well knew Jesus was a Jew and not a Samaritan (John 4:7-9).
Taking hold: Taking hold of someone's clothing gives us a picture of a small child who grabs or clings to the clothing of his parents for protection, support, guidance, etc.
Let us go with you for we have heard that God is with you: These Gentiles heard and were touched by the gospel message. They are convinced that the God of Israel is the one true God. They understand that they are sinners in need of the grace that only comes through the gospel message.
A Jew: The only place in this verse where we find differences of opinion is in regards to the identity of the Jew. Here are the main theories:
- The Jew represents Jesus himself, our Messiah, Mediator and King.
- The Jew represents one of (or all) twelve apostles who first spread the gospel message.
- The Jew represents the apostle Paul, who was specifically called to be the apostle to the Gentiles.
- The Jew represents any Christian (pastor or lay person) who leads people to Christ during the Age of Grace.
Regardless of the identity of the Jew (if there is one), the overall meaning of this prophesy is that a day will come when vast numbers of Gentiles from every nation of the world will hear the gospel message and seek out those who can lead them to salvation, which came into the world through Jesus (the Jewish line).
Aren't you glad Gentiles were included too?
Let me offer you some encouragement:
Once Jesus had risen from the dead, the Gentiles heard the preaching of the gospel and Holy Spirit convicted them of their sin. This led to godly sorrow, which in turn led to repentance and salvation through Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 7:10 - For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be regretted: but the sorrow of the world works death.
The key here is that someone has to share the gospel with the lost. God wants to use YOU to share the message of hope with the sinners around you who are searching for the love and truth of Christ.
I encourage you to be strong and courageous and share what the Lord has done for you when the opportunity arises.
Let me offer you some relief:
It doesn't have to be a struggle to share the gospel message.
As you walk through your daily life, remember that the Lord is always with you. His presence goes before you and behind you. Holy Spirit dwells within your heart. He is your comforter and guide, who can lead you into all truth. In addition, Jesus is your Friend, Mediator, Protector and King.
In the morning, before you begin your day, why not ask the Lord to help you be more aware of his presence in your life? Ask him to lead you to at least one person with whom you can share all the good things that God has done for you.
Don't be surprised if that person expresses an earnest desire to know the Lord!
Let me offer you some strength:
In today's text, the Lord admonished his people to love truth and peace.
As Christians, we not only speak the truth, it manifests in the actions and attitudes of our daily life. It includes things like:
- Doing business with honesty and integrity.
- Showing mercy and extending forgiveness to those who have wronged us.
- Demonstrating compassion to those who have let us down.
- Displaying personal holiness no matter what we are doing.
- Having an attitude of thankfulness/not complaining about everything.
- Standing up for what is right.
As we honor God by exemplifying his truth to those around us, he shower us with his peace and blessings.