Tag Archives: Zechariah

Zechariah 10- Restoration of Israel

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Those of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, And their heart shall rejoice as if with wine. Yes, their children shall see it and be glad; Their heart shall rejoice in the LORD.  I will whistle for them and gather them, For I will redeem them; And they shall increase as they once increased.  Zechariah 10:7-8

Epharaim is another name for Israel, Israel shall be like mighty men and their heart rejoices as if with wine. One of the signs or symbols of the Messiah comings is an abundance of wine. This is why it was very fitting that Jesus first miracle was changing the water into wine (John 2) This was not only a sign of His deity , but was a clear sign of Jesus being the Messiah, and preparing for the Great Wedding Feast of The Lamb (Revelation 19)

The Prophet Isaiah says this about the coming Messiah

And in this mountain The LORD of hosts will make for all people A feast of choice pieces, A feast of wines on the lees, Of fat things full of marrow, Of well-refined wines on the lees.  And He will destroy on this mountain The surface of the covering cast over all people, And the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever, And the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; The rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken.  Isaiah 25:6-8

God said “I will redeem them” by the prophet Zechariah, the God said “I will swallow up death forever” by the prophet Isaiah, this is all about the coming of Jesus Christ, who brings salvation to the world

“I will sow them among the peoples, And they shall remember Me in far countries; They shall live, together with their children, And they shall return.  I will also bring them back from the land of Egypt, And gather them from Assyria. I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon, Until no more room is found for them.  Zechariah 10:9-10

We have the prophecy of the “scattering of the Jews” across the entire world , as it states “in far countries” However God promises “They shall return” God promises to restore the nation of Israel, and they will rule and reign with Messiah, when Jesus returns during the Millennial Reign (Revelation 20:4-6)

Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.  Revelation 20:6

He shall pass through the sea with affliction, And strike the waves of the sea: All the depths of the River shall dry up. Then the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, And the scepter of Egypt shall depart.  “So I will strengthen them in the LORD, And they shall walk up and down in His name,” Says the LORD.  Zechariah 10:11-12

Just as God delivered Israel from Egypt by parting the Red Sea, God will make a way for the restoration of Israel once again. No nation or anything shall stand in the way of Israel being restored as a nation and coming to their Messiah Jesus

Notice the prophet declares “they shall walk up and down in His name” what name? The name about all names (Philippians 2) the only name which you can be saved (Acts 4:12) Jesus

And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;  Romans 11:26

Zechariah 10- The Lion of Judah

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Ask the LORD for rain In the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone.  For the idols speak delusion; The diviners envision lies, And tell false dreams; They comfort in vain. Therefore the people wend their way like sheep; They are in trouble because there is no shepherd.  Zechariah 10:1-2

Where does your hope come from? The prophet Zecheriah and telling Israel to ask God for their needs, to trust in God as their provider and not the false idols of this world. Isn’t this very relevant for even us today? What do we put our faith and trust in? Who is going to make America great again? God or our government? Who do we really put our faith in when times are tough?

As God says “They are in trouble because there is no shepherd” The good news is we have a Good Shepherd in Jesus Chris (John 10) The One that all the prophets of the Old Testament are pointing towards, put your faith in Christ and He will take care of you like a Shepherd over His flock

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.  John 10:11

My anger is kindled against the shepherds, And I will punish the goatherds. For the LORD of hosts will visit His flock, The house of Judah, And will make them as His royal horse in the battle.  From him comes the cornerstone, From him the tent peg, From him the battle bow, From him every ruler together.  Zechariah 10:3-4

Many false shepherd have come and gone, many that misled Israel (religious leaders) and many false shepherds today, but God will not be mocked! Notice the warning God have to false shepherds through the prophet Jeremiah:

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD. / Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your deeds, declares the LORD.  Jeremiah 23:1-2

But notice “From Him (Judah) comes the cornerstone” Out of Israel , God sent his only Begotten Son, the Messiah, the Good Shepherd, to save us from our sins! (Matthew 1:21) The Chief Cornerstone, Jesus Christ, is the foundation of our faith, that will never leave or forsake us, One day Israel will turn to Him for salvation!

So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken.  Isaiah 28:16

They shall be like mighty men, Who tread down their enemies In the mire of the streets in the battle. They shall fight because the LORD is with them, And the riders on horses shall be put to shame  “I will strengthen the house of Judah, And I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back, Because I have mercy on them. They shall be as though I had not cast them aside; For I am the LORD their God, And I will hear them.  Zechariah 10:5-6

As we know the world is against Israel, however as the prophet states “they shall fight because The Lord is with them” God will keep His Covenant with Israel and save and restore them during the Millennial Reign of Christ. “For I AM The Lord their God, and I will hear them (Israel” Those who fight against Israel are fighting against The Lord God

When Christ first came, He came as the The Lamb of God to take away our sins (John 1:29) However when Christ returns, He will return as The Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5), to rule and reign with a rod of iron

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.  Revelation 19:11

Zechariah 9- God our Shepherd

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“As for you also, Because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.  Return to the stronghold, You prisoners of hope. Even today I declare That I will restore double to you.  For I have bent Judah, My bow, Fitted the bow with Ephraim, And raised up your sons, O Zion, Against your sons, O Greece, And made you like the sword of a mighty man.”  Zechariah 9:11-13

As we continue through this Chapter, the last section God revealed Jesus Is The Messiah, The King, the fulfillment of the prophecy riding through Jerusalem on a donkey (v9) But now God through the prophet Zechariah reveals more what that means for us all!

Because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free! Because of what Christ has accomplished for us on the cross, Jesus has set us free from the curse and penalty of our sins, 

This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins  Matthew 26:28

Then the LORD will be seen over them, And His arrow will go forth like lightning. The Lord GOD will blow the trumpet, And go with whirlwinds from the south. The LORD of hosts will defend them; They shall devour and subdue with slingstones. They shall drink and roar as if with wine; They shall be filled with blood like basins, Like the corners of the altar.  V14-15

God has promised to save Israel and his people, as He has done throughout time. This will trigger the physical return of Christ, when all the world comes against Israel to destroy them, but the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the Son of God will come back on the Mt of Olives and save them

This is also foretold by the Apostle Paul in Romans 11:, the Deliverer , the Messiah Jesus will come out of Zion (Jerusalem, and turn away the ungodliness of Jacob (Israel). All of Isreal, God elect will be saved by Christ!

And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;  Romans 11:26

The LORD their God will save them in that day, As the flock of His people. For they shall be like the jewels of a crown, Lifted like a banner over His land—  For how great is its goodness And how great its beauty! Grain shall make the young men thrive, And new wine the young women.  V16-17

How will Israel be saved? The same way the world will be saved through Jesus Christ, the only way to salvation! (John 14:6) Some translations say “As a Shepherd (the flock) of His people” What did Jesus reveal to us, that Christ is The Good Shepherd who lays down his life for His Sheep! Amen!

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.  John 10:11

Zechariah 9 – Messiah Has Come!

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“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim And the horse from Jerusalem; The battle bow shall be cut off. He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth.’ Zechariah 9:9-10

Israel has long awaited for their Messiah, He was prophesied since the beginning in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:15) He was foretold by Moses in the Law (Deuteronomy 18:18) He has been foretold by the Prophets like Isaiah, Daniel, including here Zechariah. 

The prophet Zechariah, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gives us exactly the event that will happen when the Messiah will be proclaimed to the world. We as Christians know this day as Palm Sunday, which Jesus fulfilled this prophecy, among over 300 other Messianic prophecies.

Despite Jesus fulfilling these foretold events, exactly as it was prophesied, many still denied him then, while shouting Hosanna at the beginning, by the end of the week shouting Crucify Him! Why? Because Jesus is not the Messiah, the King, Israel wanted. The Son of God didn’t come with military force, He came to die for our sins on the cross (Isaiah 53, Daniel 9) Jesus defeated Sin, Death, Satan, and Hell on Calvary and rose again the 3rd day to give us eternal life 

What is the sign of the Messiah? “Behold Your King is coming to You, riding on a donkey” Do you not remember this was fulfilled by Jesus of Nazareth? Listen to what the Apostle Matthew documented:

This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: / “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey Matthew 21:4-5

But why a Donkey? Why would the Messiah ride in Jerusalem on a colt? Because it was foretold since the beginning, in the Torah, in the book of Genesis:

Judah is a lion’s whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people. Binding his donkey to the vine, And his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, He washed his garments in wine, And his clothes in the blood of grapes. Genesis 49:9-11

The scepter, the Messiah, the King, The Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5) has been prophesied to come on a donkey, a sign of royalty and meekness. There was nothing accidental that happened on Palm Sunday, it was the Messiah being revealed to the world

Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Hosanna in the highest!” Matthew 21:9

The Jewish crowds in Jerusalem recognized these signs, they shouted Hosanna (Save Us) from Psalm 118, They called him The Son of David, which is another title for Messiah, Blessed Is He who comes in the name of Yahweh, they knew Jesus is the Messiah, all the signs were there, all the prophecies are fulfilled, so why did they reject him? Same reason why do you reject him?

Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” Matthew 27:22

What shall we do with Jesus who is called The Messiah? Will you submit to the Messiah? The King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Or will you be a child of the devil, and partake in the murder of the Son of God? 

Messiah has Come! Repent and believe the gospel

Zechariah 9- Judgement Coming

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The burden of the word of the LORD Against the land of Hadrach, And Damascus its resting place (For the eyes of men And all the tribes of Israel Are on the LORD); Also against Hamath, which borders on it, And against Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise.  Zechariah 9:1-2

Regardless of how much the world hates Israel and wants to destroy them, God has a plan and divine providence over them. This has been demonstrated in the past, and this will be demonstrated in the future, as Christ will return to save Israel (Romans 11)

What is really interesting, most believe these prophetic words are about the Greek conquer Alexander the Great, however its also a foreshadow of Christ!

Notice this Word of The Lord are a burden, this is the judgement of God on all the nations who have come against and persecuted Israel, the wrath of God will be poured out upon them, we see this happening even today!

And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be— “The LORD is one,” And His name one. Zechariah 14:9

For Tyre built herself a tower, Heaped up silver like the dust, And gold like the mire of the streets. Behold, the Lord will cast her out; He will destroy her power in the sea, And she will be devoured by fire. Zechariah 9:3-4

As nation rise against nation, as Jesus prophesied, understand God is in complete control. Many great empires and militaries have come and gone, God allowed them as instruments of judgement and to fulfill His plan for salvation and The Kingdom that will reign forever and ever. 

Notice it says “The Lord will cast her out and destroy her power” God is in complete control

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places Matthew 24:7

Ashkelon shall see it and fear; Gaza also shall be very sorrowful; And Ekron, for He dried up her expectation. The king shall perish from Gaza, And Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. “A mixed race shall settle in Ashdod, And I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. Zechariah 9:5-6

The Philistines, which we most remember from Goliath, were a powerful empire for many years, however God cut them down, just as He did before with a little shepherd boy named David and a stone. Don’t think any nation or empire is too mighty and strong to fall to the power of our Lord, the King of King and Lord of Lords

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. 1 Samuel 17:50

I will take away the blood from his mouth, And the abominations from between his teeth. But he who remains, even he shall be for our God, And shall be like a leader in Judah, And Ekron like a Jebusite. I will camp around My house Because of the army, Because of him who passes by and him who returns. No more shall an oppressor pass through them, For now I have seen with My eyes Zechariah 9:7-8

The pagan practices and idolatry performed by the Philistines will be judged by God, wake up Church! The reference to “blood from his mouth” is reference to the pagan practice of drinking blood, a ritual still practiced by the evil and elite of this world. “Abominations from his teeth” the eating of sacrifices to idols and demons, all of this evil will be judged by The Lord 

In the end God promises His divine protection to Israel “no more shall an oppressor pass through them” 

In that day the LORD will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the LORD before them. Zechariah 12:8

Zechariah 8- The Reign of Christ

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Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying,“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘The fast of the fourth month, The fast of the fifth, The fast of the seventh, And the fast of the tenth, Shall be joy and gladness and cheerful feasts For the house of Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.’ Zechariah 8:18-19

God is revealing and acknowledging, that these fasts , which are literal and historic, are coming to full completion, that God is going restore Israel and Jerusalem

Fast of 4th Month- Breaching of Jerusalem’s walls (2 King 25:3-4)

Fast of 5th Month- Destruction of The Temple (2 Kings 25:8-9)

Fast of 7th Month- assasination of Gedaliah (2 Kings 25:25)

Fast of 10th Month- Beginning of Nebuchadnezzar’s siege (2 Kings 25:1)

These fasting of mourning have been turned into joy because of Gods great promise and restoration, this should give us all hope, as this is also pointing to the Millennial Reign of Christ (Revelation 20)

“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Peoples shall yet come, Inhabitants of many cities; The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, “Let us continue to go and pray before the LORD, And seek the LORD of hosts. I myself will go also.” Zechariah 8:20-21

Not only will Jerusalem be restored for Israel, but for the entire world. “People shall yet come” this is not just reference to the Jewish people, but for the Gentiles also. Everyone will come to Jerusalem to seek The Lord Jesus Christ! This was also foretold by the prophet Isaiah:

In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. / And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. Isaiah 2:2-3

Yes, many peoples and strong nations Shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, And to pray before the LORD.’ “Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” ’ ” Zechariah 8:22-23

Many people, including strong nations shall come to seek Jesus Christ, the King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords (Phillipians 2) People from every language (all nations) Let us Go with you! God is with You!

This is not just a prophecy for the Jewish people, but for the entire world, this is the New Covenant instituted by Christ (Luke 22) this is the Millennial Reign of Christ, Jesus is sitting on the throne in Jerusalem and will rule with a rod of iron, Amen!

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Revelation 7:9-10

Zechariah 8- The Millennial Kingdom

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But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘For the seed shall be prosperous, The vine shall give its fruit, The ground shall give her increase, And the heavens shall give their dew— I will cause the remnant of this people To possess all these. And it shall come to pass That just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, So I will save you, and you shall be a blessing. Do not fear, Let your hands be strong.’ Zechariah 8:11-13

Now we are seeing a shift in Gods dealing with Israel, “I (God) will not treat the remnant (The True Israel) of these people in the former days. This appears to be a promise of the Millennial Reign of Christ (Revelation 20:1-6) When Jesus returns , defends and restores the remnant, the elected nation of Israel (Romans 11)

So I (God) will save You, Israel can’t save itself, just as nobody can save themselves. Only Christ can save Israel, just as only Christ can save us. The promise of God , he will save and restore Israel once again is echoed throughout the entire Bible

And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has promised, among the remnant called by the LORD. Joel 2:32

“For thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Just as I determined to punish you When your fathers provoked Me to wrath,’ Says the LORD of hosts, ‘And I would not relent, So again in these days I am determined to do good To Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not fear. Zechariah 8:14-15

What a prophetic message, even today! God loves those he disciplines (Hebrews 12:6) Just as God punished Israel for its wickedness and rebellion, God will also save and restore them, because Israel is the “Apple of His eyes” (Zechariah 2:8) 

God has determined to do good to Jerusalem and the house of Judah (Israel) Do not fear! While the world lives in hopelessness and despair, God is in complete control, and everything that is happening right now is part of His divine plan to restore Israel

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor; Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace; Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; And do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate,’ Says the LORD.” Zechariah 8:16-17

Jesus said “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15) If Israel truly loves The Lord God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5) Then they must obey and love The Son, Jesus Christ (John 14:6)

When Israel is truly restored in Christ, you will see the fruits of Israel that love God and love their Neighbor!

Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. Psalm 2:11-12

Zechariah 8- The Temple of God

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“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Behold, I will save My people from the land of the east And from the land of the west; I will bring them back, And they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. They shall be My people And I will be their God, In truth and righteousness.’ Zechariah 8:7-8

Wow, what a prophetic message for today! While this scattering and gathering of Israel has historically happened before, as the prophet Zechariah is calling the Jews back to rebuild the Temple of God, this is also a future message, as God is not done with Israel yet! (Romans 9-11)

Notice God promises to “save My people” this is a promise of divine protection, while Israel has been punished for its past sins and disobedience, God has not cast them away yet! The Lord will gather His elect and destroy His enemies at the final battle of Armegeddon, is the stage set for our time period?

And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. Revelation 16:16

“I (God) will save My People (Israel) from the land of the east and the land of the west, I will bring them (Jews) back” While the gathering has been fulfilled in some sense, the final gathering has not been completed yet!,  When have the Jews been dispersed across the entire world? The prophetic gathering has begun in 1948 , when Israel once again became a nation in one day (Isaiah 66:8) 

They (Israel) shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, God is bringing back His remnant of Jews to Israel, specifically Jerusalem, the same place our Lord and Savior will physically return to save Israel (Zechariah 12-14)

And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south. Zechariah 14:4

You say , “this is all coincidence, the world just happens to hate and want to destroy Israel, there are no such thing as coincidences, the prophecy and will of God will be done, regardless if you believe it or not. As Jesus said to Satan in the wilderness “It Is Written, It Is Written, It Is Written! (Matthew 4)

“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Let your hands be strong, You who have been hearing in these days These words by the mouth of the prophets, Who spoke in the day the foundation was laid For the house of the LORD of hosts, That the temple might be built. For before these days There were no wages for man nor any hire for beast; There was no peace from the enemy for whoever went out or came in; For I set all men, everyone, against his neighbor.Zechariah 8:9-10

Once again God is calling back His remnant, to listen to the words of the prophets, including Zechariah and Daniel, to come back to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. While the Temple as rebuilt a second time, it was utterly rejected by Christ 

And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ” Matthew 21:13

Israel will need to learn the one they crucified is The Lord, He is the Living Temple of God, Christ is the ultimate sacrifice of sin (John 1:39) our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16) The Word that became Flesh (John 1:14) Once the spiritual blindness to Israel is removed, they will understand and receive him as Lord and King

“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. Zechariah 12:10

For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. Romans 11:25

But after the spiritual blindness is removed, they will understand Jesus Christ is the true Temple, the Messiah, our Lord and God, Amen!

Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” John 2:19

Zechariah 7- The Scattering

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Then the word of the LORD came to Zechariah, saying, “Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Execute true justice, Show mercy and compassion Everyone to his brother. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, The alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart Against his brother.’ Zechariah 7:8-10

As we continue through this chapter of the prophet Zechariah, this is a continuation of Gods rebuke of Israel’s false religion and worship. As in my previous article, the people were asking the prophet Zechariah , what is the bare minimum they have to do to be “OK with God” (Zechariah 7:3)

This is exposing the heart of the people, they honor God with their lips but their heart is far from him” (Isaiah 29:13) This is the false religious system being exposed by God. And its still the same today, the majority of “self-professed Christians”, rely upon a works based salvational system rather than truly loving God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5) and being saved by grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2)

God is telling the prophet Zechariah what true religion looks like , to love God and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39) “Execute true justice, show mercy and compassion, don’t oppress the lowly person, and don’t carry evil in your heart”! Many of these principle Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)

But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear. Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 7:11-12

Even after the Israelites came back from exile, their hearts were still hard, they still refused to listen to Gods word, The Law sent by His Spirit (The Holy Spirit) This has been the continual history of Israel, including the crucifying of our Lord, the Messiah

“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Acts 7:51

This is why we need to be Born Again in Christ (John 3:3) This is why we need to be regenerated, Born from Above, with a New Heart, a New Mind, the Spirit of God put within us! (Ezekeil 36)

Therefore it happened, that just as He proclaimed and they would not hear, so they called out and I would not listen,” says the LORD of hosts. “But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations which they had not known. Thus the land became desolate after them, so that no one passed through or returned; for they made the pleasant land desolate.” Zechariah 7:13-14

Because of Israels continual disobedience and hardness of hearts, God gave them over to their sins (Romans 1:24-28) They would not listen to God, so God stopped listening to them and once again they will be scattered

“This the land became desolate after them” The land of Israel became desolate after the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD, as Christ fulfilled the Old Covenant and religious system. However Israel had become reborn in One day as prophesied in 1948 (Isaiah 66:8) Christ has pointed his attention to the Church at this present time, however as the prophet Zechariah will reveal later, Christ will come back to save Israel (Zechariah 14, Romans 11) Christ will not lose any of His Sheep (John 10) Amen!

Zechariah 7- False Worship

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Now in the fourth year of King Darius it came to pass that the word of the LORD came to Zechariah, on the fourth day of the ninth month, Chislev, when the people sent Sherezer, with Regem-Melech and his men, to the house of God, to pray before the LORD, and to ask the priests who were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and the prophets, saying, “Should I weep in the fifth month and fast as I have done for so many years?” Zechariah 7:1-3

All throughout history false religion has been practiced , especially in Israel. Here is just another prime example of Israel just “going through the motions” doing religious practices, not from the heart, but as some magical formula that would gain Gods favor

The names of the men , Sherezer and Regem-Melech, are representations of Israel’s idolatry with Babylon from the exile. These are not Jewish names but Babylonian. They basically are asking the prophet Zechariah, “should we bother doing these fasts like we have done so many years”? They were just going to weep and fast as a religious practice and not worship God in Spirit and Truth. (John 4:24)

One thing God hates is false religion, false worship,  religious practices over obedience, as seen throughout the history of Israel

Although they may fast, I will not listen to their cry; although they may offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will finish them off by sword and famine and plague.” Jeremiah 14:12 

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6

Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, “Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests: ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me—for Me? When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves? Should you not have obeyed the words which the LORD proclaimed through the former prophets when Jerusalem and the cities around it were inhabited and prosperous, and the South and the Lowland were inhabited?’ ” Zechariah 7:4-7

God responded with the question “When you fasted and mourned, did you really fast for Me?” This is the root of the problem, why were they fasting and mourning? Because they wanted to be seen? Because it was a religious practice and requirement? God is not impressed and doesn’t want anyone’s false offering

“To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” Says the LORD. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, Or of lambs or goats. Isaiah 1:11

Lets turn our focus on the Church for a moment, recently we just had “Ash Wednesday” where millions of Christians marked their foreheads and then posted selfies of themselves all over the Internet, including celebrities. What was the root of this practice? Was it to bring attention and glory to God or themselves? This was the same idolatry Israel fell into. Look at the words of our Lord who refuted this practice

“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. Matthew 6:16

Disfiguring your face with ashes, was exactly the opposite thing God told you do! So why do millions of people do it? For religious practices, for self glorification, because they think its a magical formula to gain God’s favor. This is exactly what Israel was doing!

I will end with the words of The Lord Jesus about false religion

He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ Mark 7:6-7