His heart was heavy and his shoulders strained as if he were carrying a large sack filled with rocks. Prophet Zechariah felt inadequate for the many revelations and signs he carried for Yahweh. God had begun to reveal beyond Zechariah’s immediate concern which was the temple rebuilding climaxing towards the glorious future of Jerusalem. Indeed, the prophet had again placed his hope on Jerusalem where the remnants returned with a dazed vision. He would agree with his contemporary, Prophet Haggai, that the temple would be the first present vital sign of the restoration of the Israelites after seventy years in captivity. The people needed to see the temple rebuilt albeit one brick at a time. And repair their broken dreams, one vision at a time.
"Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you. The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem,” the prophet heard the declaration of God. Those words made a deep impact on Zechariah and much relieved him of the uncertainty of the times. The man of God understood that even the earth was under God’s palm let alone Jerusalem. When Zechariah and the remnant saw ruins and deep seated problems facing Jerusalem, God saw fit to raise the city to its ultimate stature. The prophet was delighted at the anointing of both Joshua the high priest and Zerubabbel, the governor. He knew that the cleansing of Joshua and the empowerment of Zerubabbel would set the stage for a revival in the city of God. God would be back with a bang! And Zechariah knelt and praised God as soon as he heard those words from the LORD Almighty, "Just as I had determined to bring disaster upon you and showed no pity when your fathers angered me, so now I have determined to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah. Do not be afraid.”
The prophet smiled as he witnessed the blessings of God not only in the rebuilding of the temple but in every area of the life of the remnant. He felt so flattered when the soothing voice of God came, “I will defend my house against marauding forces. Never again will an oppressor overrun my people, for now I am keeping watch.” Yet in all those things, Zechariah’s mind would wander beyond his time as far as God’s prophecies could carry him. He had the privilege to preview the gentle Messiah sitting on a lowly donkey yet his rule would encompass the whole earth, from the Rivers to the ends of the earth. His people would be set free and become strong but only through the blood of the covenant.
The excitement got hold of the prophet as he could sense his adrenalin rushed through his entire body like being shaken by an earthquake. Not only was Zechariah so touched by God’s mercy, he was completely mesmerised by the vision for this nation. Yes, nations might try to fight and take control of Jerusalem but the grip of God would be too strong for them to pry open. In fact, God revealed to Zechariah the final day when nations would be defeated at the hands of the God-empowered Israelites. “On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem,” the LORD thundered. And Jerusalem would become the dwelling place of the Messiah, ruling with absolute righteousness and holiness.
Zechariah stood at the entrance of the temple building, almost completed and there he remembered the prophecy of Yahweh, "Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, 'Let us go at once to entreat the LORD and seek the LORD Almighty. I myself am going.' And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD Almighty and to entreat him. In those days, ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, 'Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.'"
“Yes and Amen,” he cried with joy!
What would Prophet Zechariah say to us if he were still alive today?
1. Your future in God is fully secure.
2. Let us not despise small beginnings as God can multiply them a hundred fold.
3. When God is for you, who can be against you.
4. The Messiah is not only a Saviour but King of all kings, Ruler of the Universe.
5. Jerusalem will ultimately be the Ruling Center for Jesus Christ, King of all kings!
2. Let us not despise small beginnings as God can multiply them a hundred fold.
3. When God is for you, who can be against you.
4. The Messiah is not only a Saviour but King of all kings, Ruler of the Universe.
5. Jerusalem will ultimately be the Ruling Center for Jesus Christ, King of all kings!
No comments:
Post a Comment