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Summary

Zechariah 8:1–8 – God returns to Zion

What happens: God burns with jealousy for Zion and promises to dwell in Jerusalem. Old men and women sit in the streets and children play there. He saves His people from east and west and brings them to live in truth and righteousness.

What it means: God’s presence restores community life and safety. He is faithful to gather and to make His people truthful and holy. Hope is grounded in His covenant love.

Zechariah 8:9–13 – Strengthen your hands

What happens: God tells the builders to be strong. Before they began, there was no wage and turmoil was constant, but now He will not treat the remnant as before. They will be a blessing; vine, land, and heavens will yield.

What it means: God reverses barrenness when His people obey. He turns a remnant into a blessing. Providence and promise meet in faithful work.

Zechariah 8:14–17 – Truth, justice, and peace

What happens: As God once purposed to bring disaster, now He purposes to do good to Jerusalem. He commands truth, just judgments, peace, and the rejection of evil in the heart.

What it means: God’s purpose anchors moral renewal. Community health flows from truthful speech and just courts. Holiness starts in the heart and shapes society.

Zechariah 8:18–23 – Fasts become feasts; nations come

What happens: The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months become joyful feasts. Many peoples and strong nations seek the LORD in Jerusalem. Ten men from the nations take hold of a Jew’s garment, saying they have heard that God is with them.

What it means: God turns mourning into celebration. His presence among His people draws the world. Mission is rooted in a worshiping community where God dwells.

Application

  • Build with courage because God is with you.
  • Speak truth, judge fairly, and seek peace in every decision.
  • Let God turn past griefs into shared joy that welcomes the nations.

Bible

1Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying,

2Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.

3Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.

4Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.

5And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.

6Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts.

7Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;

8And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.

9Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.

10For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour.

11But now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts.

12For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.

13And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.

14For thus saith the LORD of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the LORD of hosts, and I repented not:

15So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.

16These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:

17And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.

18And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying,

19Thus saith 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 joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.

20Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:

21And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also.

22Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.

23Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.

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