Matthew Henry Commentary Zechariah 8
Matthew Henry Commentary
Zechariah 8
Matthew Henry Commentary
Zechariah 8
"And the word of Jehovah of hosts came [to me], saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. Thus saith Jehovah: I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called The city of truth; and the mountain of Jehovah of hosts, The holy mountain. Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, every man with his staff in his hand for very age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith Jehovah of hosts. Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; and 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." — Zechariah 8:1-8 (ASV)
The sins of Zion were her worst enemies. God will take away her sins, and then no other enemies will hurt her. Those who profess religion must adorn their profession by godliness and honesty. When Jerusalem becomes a city of truth and a mountain of holiness, it is peaceable and prosperous. Verses 4 and 5 beautifully describe a state of great outward peace, attended with plenty, temperance, and contentment.
The scattered Israelites will be brought together from all parts. God will never leave nor forsake them in His mercy, for this He has promised them; and they will never leave nor forsake Him in their duty, as they have promised Him. These promises were partly fulfilled in the Jewish church, between the captivity and the time of Christ's coming, and they had fuller accomplishment in the gospel church. However, their full import must relate to the future times of the Christian church, or the future restoration of the Jews.
With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible; so far are God's thoughts and ways above ours. In the present low state of vital godliness, we can hardly conceive that such a complete change can be made. However, a change so extensive and glorious can be brought about by the almighty power of the new-creating Spirit, in less time than He was pleased to employ in creating the world. Let the hands of all who labour in the cause of the gospel be strong, serving the Lord in true holiness, assured that their labour will not be in vain.
"Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words from the mouth of the prophets that were in the day that the foundation of the house of Jehovah of hosts was laid, even the temple, that it might be built. For before those 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 adversary: for I set all men every one against his neighbor. But now I will not be unto the remnant of this people as in the former days, saith Jehovah of hosts. For [there shall be] the seed of peace; the vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things. And it shall come to pass that, as ye were a curse among the nations, 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. For thus saith Jehovah of hosts: As I thought to do evil unto you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I repented not; so again have I thought in these days to do good unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not. These are the things that ye shall do: speak ye every man the truth with his neighbor; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates; and let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith Jehovah." — Zechariah 8:9-17 (ASV)
Only those who lay their hands to the plough of duty will have them strengthened with the promises of mercy: those who avoid their fathers' faults will have the curse turned into a blessing. Those who believed the promises were to show their faith by their works and await the fulfillment.
When God is displeased, he can cause trade to decay and set every man against his neighbour; but when he returns in mercy, all is happy and prosperous.
Surely believers in Christ must not trifle with the exhortation to put away lying, and to speak every man peace with his neighbour, to hate what the Lord hates, and to love that in which he delights.
"And the word of Jehovah of hosts came unto me, saying, Thus saith Jehovah 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 truth and peace. Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: [It shall] yet [come to pass], that there shall come peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities; and the inhabitants of one [city] shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to entreat the favor of Jehovah, and to seek Jehovah of hosts: I will go also. Yea, many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek Jehovah of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of Jehovah. Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: In those days [it shall come to pass], that ten men shall take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, they 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." — Zechariah 8:18-23 (ASV)
When God comes towards us in ways of mercy, we must meet Him with joy and thankfulness. Therefore, be faithful and honest in all your dealings; and let it be a pleasure to you to be so, even though by doing so you may fall short of the gains others get dishonestly. And, as much as it is in your power, live peaceably with all people. Let the truths of God rule in your minds, and let the peace of God rule in your hearts.
In this way, the ancient servants of God attracted the attention of their pagan neighbors, whose prejudices were softened. A great increase to the church will be made. Previously, the Jews had been inclined to learn the idolatries of other nations. What could be more unlikely than that they should teach religion to their conquerors and to all the principal nations of the earth? Yet this is expressly foretold, and it happened.
Until now, the prophecy has been wonderfully fulfilled, and undoubtedly future events will explain it further. It is good to be with those who have God with them; if we take God for our God, we must take His people for our people and be willing to cast our lot with them. But let no one think that mere zeal, whether for Jews or Gentiles, will substitute for personal religion.
Let us be living epistles of Christ, known and read by all people, so that others may wish to go with us and to have their portion with us in the realms of bliss.
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