Zechariah 8 Commentary
It is easier to understand symbols like Nebuchadnezzar’s huge statue than Zechariah’s “ripe old age”. Jerusalem’s streets buzzing and thriving with life is one symbol that isn’t easy to understand. The reason is simple: It is a good story for our ears. But examine the facts and you easily understand the LORD is talking about something else.
Let not the saint mistake the blessing of the LORD for physical articles – elements comparable with what our eyes see out there. Then the saint may not live life hoping for a Ferrari on a safe street!
The perfection of the LORD is such that there is never a need for another boardroom decision on anything! It is always a trip back to the Garden of Peace and Tranquility; Eden’s triad blessing of increase, prosperity, and dominion. See how Zechariah beautifully draws the picture of increase! Old men and old women sitting on benches in the city square! And countless children playing in the parks! It is the reversal of the curse of “difficulty in childbearing”.
“They will be my people, and I will be their God, ruling over them faithfully and justly” Verse 8. GNT.
Dominion doesn’t return until the LORD God begins to rule – the rule of the Son with the government on His shoulders comes to mind. We are so close to the New Testament! And how eager we are to hear the words of the Son!
“They will plant their crops in peace. Their vines will bear grapes, the earth will produce crops and there will be plenty of rain.” The “earth will produce crops”, doesn’t it sound like the reversal of the curse that the LORD produced against the ground?
The graphics used by Zechariah are powerful because they relate to what we know and have always aspired to have. The LORD uses a language that we all can understand.
“May you receive the same blessings that came to Judah and Israel!” Think of Judah the son of Jacob and the blessing that he received from Jacob. Genesis 49. Israel is the son of Isaac and so think about the blessing that came down from Abraham. Consider the Noahic blessing of Genesis 9 and finally the blessing of humanity of Genesis 1. It is the same! The Creator God hasn’t changed the script!
The LORD said to Abraham: “And through you I will bless all the nations”. In the last verse, we see ten foreigners holding on to one Jew. “We want to share in your destiny.”
Nearly all of us reading these lines are foreigners who have held on to One Jew. We want to share in His destiny.
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