Restoration Of Peace In Zion Foretold (Zechariah 8:1-17, Revelation 21:1-7)
Rev. William L. Barron, April 23, 2023Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
God describes Himself as jealous. We understand this to mean that He is zealous for His attributes such as holiness, purity and uniqueness. He is also zealous for right worship of Him only, excluding worship of all idols. He is also zealous for His people. By remnant in this passage, He does not imply that they are a little group, and the Jerusalem they populate is the faithful city. The streets are full--of old people, children and people from all nations living in gracious peace. What about today? God is building His church with people He has sanctified, made holy, by the Word of God. An example of this is Geneva, which was a wicked city. John Calvin preached the Word of God, and people began to change. Geneva became a model city characterized by increasing holiness, and this revival spread--all resulting from the preaching of the Word of God. In Chapter 8, Zechariah's sermon was being fulfilled. The people were authorized to have only one fast, the Day of Atonement, but they had added up to 4 more while in exile. At the time of the restoration, they asked, "Do we continue the new fasts?" Zechariah preached that they should be obedient in the little things. If they didn't, they would be setting themselves up for big failures. Jesus taught the same lesson in Matthew 21 in the parable of the tenants, that those faithful in a few things would be placed over many things and enjoy the joy of their Lord. If we read the Word, speak truth, trust in His promises and be faithful to live for Christ, God will bless us from His lovingkindness. God builds His church by professions of faith lived out. The golden thread in the establishment of the church is Jesus; all scripture points to Him. Verses 16-17 are reminiscent of Micah 6, where the people are commanded to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. This is also the lesson in Romans 12: 9, letting our love be genuine. This is how we are to live, showing genuine love for one another. God's arm is not too short; nothing is too difficult for Him (Jer. 32). We are to trust God instead of ourselves.
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| « True Spirituality | None | The People Of The Lord Of Hosts » |
Zechariah 8:1–17 (Listen)
8:1 And the word of the LORD of hosts came, saying, 2 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. 3 Thus says the LORD: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts, the holy mountain. 4 Thus says the LORD of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age. 5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. 6 Thus says the LORD of hosts: If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my sight, declares the LORD of hosts? 7 Thus says the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, 8 and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.”
9 Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Let your hands be strong, you who in these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present on the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built. 10 For before those days there was no wage for man or any wage for beast, neither was there any safety from the foe for him who went out or came in, for I set every man against his neighbor. 11 But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days, declares the LORD of hosts. 12 For there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. 13 And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.”
14 For thus says the LORD of hosts: “As I purposed to bring disaster to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the LORD of hosts, 15 so again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not. 16 These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; 17 do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD.”
(ESV)
Revelation 21:1–7 (Listen)
21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
(ESV)