John Calvin Commentary Zechariah 14:16

"And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, Jehovah of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles." — Zechariah 14:16 (ASV)

Zechariah here advances further: that those who will have escaped the ruin of which he had spoken will be so humbled that they would of their own accord submit to God. He said before that God would take vengeance and destroy all the enemies of His Church. But the promise here is still more valuable: that He would turn the hearts of those who escaped punishment, so that without any constraint they would become obedient. For, he says, come shall they every year to worship God in His temple.

The sum of what is said is this: God would subdue all the enemies of His Church in two ways. He would destroy some, and He would humble others, so as to make them willing servants, ready of themselves to obey His authority. It shall be then that every one who shall remain of all the nations which came against Jerusalem, shall ascend to supplicate God, or to humbly worship God.

If we inquire about the time, I answer that whenever the Prophets speak of the conversion of the nations, they usually speak in general terms. This is hyperbolic language, yet there is nothing unreasonable in this exaggeration, for surely it was a wonderful work of God when a great number from the nations became subject to Him.

We indeed know that the name of the people of Israel was universally hated, so that their religion was disliked by almost the whole world. It was then incredible when Zechariah said that people from all countries would be so changed as to worship the true God of Israel.

But we know many Churches were formed everywhere in the world, and countless people professed God’s name, undertook His yoke, and embraced that religion which they had previously despised, and which indeed they had persecuted with the greatest hatred. Therefore, it is no wonder that the Prophet would say that the remnant who escaped the sword of vengeance would at length become the willing servants of God.

But we ought to notice, as I have said, the mode of speaking commonly adopted by the Prophets. To amplify the grace of God, they speak in general terms, though what they say ought to be confined to the elect alone.

Ascend, he says, shall every one from year to year. Zechariah also speaks here according to the understanding of the people. Festivals, we know, were appointed by God; the Israelites ascended at least three times a year to the temple. But as this was too hard for the miserable exiles to do, who had been scattered throughout all countries, those influenced by zeal for religion were accustomed to descend to Jerusalem once a year.

To this custom of the law the Prophet now alludes, as if he had said, “God indeed spares some, yet they will at length come to His service without any constraint and submit to the God of Israel.” He speaks, as I have said, according to the rites of the law, and we have often reminded you of this mode of speaking. Therefore, I will pass over the subject for now, but some additional remarks will be made at the end of this chapter.

Ascend then shall every one to supplicate the King, Jehovah of hosts; that is, so that they might confess the only true God to be King. For he refers to the prophecy which we considered yesterday, when he said that the only true God would be King. So also in this place, confirming the former truth, he says that those who had previously furiously assailed the Church would become worshipers of God, because they would understand Him to be the King of the whole world. But the remainder will be deferred to another time.

Prayer:

Grant, Almighty God, that as You see that Your Church today is miserably torn by many discords, and that there are so many traitorous ministers of Satan who do not cease to disturb it; O grant that we may find by experience what You have promised by Your Prophet: that You will be the perpetual guardian of those whom You have been pleased once to choose as Your own, and whom You have received into Your own embrace, so that they may courageously proceed amidst all discords and come forth at last as conquerors. And may it please You also to put forth Your hand and to execute that vengeance which You have denounced by the same Prophet, so as to destroy and reduce to nothing not only those who openly oppose You and Your servants and children, but also those serpents who by intrigues, frauds, and by other base means, harass and torment Your Church, until we will at last attain a full victory and triumph in Your celestial kingdom, together with our Head, even Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

[Exposition continues from previous day's lecture]