I Have Great Plans For You!

The Coming Peace and Prosperity of Zion- Part 2.

As we noted in the previous Blog, Zechariah 8 can be divided into two messages: A message of restoration (1-17); and a message of rejoicing (18-23).  There is a recurring theme in this chapter that is hard to miss.  Twelve times God reveals His Name: LORD Sabaoth, The Lord of Heaven's Armies. Within the first section (vv1-17) we see the following messages by the LORD: Verses 1-8:  God asserts His jealousy for His people and provides a message of salvation. He then directly addresses the people His saving grace and encourages them.

The jealousy for the people is God's opening passion: “The word of the Lord Almighty came to me. This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.”” (Zechariah 8:1–2, NIV). God is not mildly passionate for His people.  His love is inflamed in righteous Divine passion.   "The Lord’s future dwelling in Zion is so certain that He speaks of it as though it were an accomplished fact." [1] His purpose is to encourage the people to continue to rebuild, for He promises a glorious future: “Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse among the nations, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong.”” (Zechariah 8:13, NIV).  And He desires a return to holy and righteous living. “These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the Lord.” (Zechariah 8:16–17, NIV)

  

This Day when God will again dwell with His people is a future eschatological day when "old and young, male and female are depicted enjoying their natural habitat. Such an idyllic picture of opposite extremes implies peace and plenty for all ages and both sexes, with images of healthful play and relaxed rest." [2]   This is speaking of a condition that is couched in covenantal terms: “This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west. I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.”” (Zechariah 8:7–8, NIV).

This time when God returns and dwells with His people will be a time of great prosperity. ““The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce its crops, and the heavens will drop their dew. I will give all these things as an inheritance to the remnant of this people. Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse among the nations, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong.”” (Zechariah 8:12–13, NIV).  

 

"The Lord’s commitment to bless them should have a twofold impact: it should free them from fear and motivate them to lives of new obedience toward one another in truth, justice, and grace." [3]

When will all this take place? "Although it may be possible to regard these historical references as stages in the progressive fulfillment of the passage, they certainly do not completely fulfill the scope of this grand prophecy as a whole. The final stage awaits the second advent of the Messiah." [4] "One should interpret the images in these passages as symbolic of the prosperity of God’s community in the era established by Jesus that culminates in his second coming." [5]  The scholarly commentary on these verses is well established.  We should view these promises relating to a time when Christ comes back and establishes His kingdom. "There has never been a day when the Jews were regathered from the whole earth and restored in righteousness and truth. Either Zechariah was mistaken, an untenable proposition, or else these blessings are yet future and revolve around the reign of the Messiah in His earthly kingdom at the conclusion of the age." [6]

But we also know Christ's Kingdom has come in a sense.  We know He has inaugurated His Kingdom presence.  And the increase of His government shall continue to the final fulfillment.  This is an encouragement for Christian readers, for it is true we have the down payment, the deposit of things to come.  The things to come a couched in language of an idyllic world where righteousness and justice abound -- and God is in the midst.  

So the message for Israel and for us is summed up well by Matthew Henry: "Leave it to God, to perform for you what he has promised, in his own way and time, but upon condition that you make conscience of your duty." [7] “This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Just as I had determined to bring disaster on you and showed no pity when your ancestors angered me,” says the Lord Almighty, “so now I have determined to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah. Do not be afraid.” (Zechariah 8:14–15, NIV).

Father the arresting and incredulous message that You give to us Your people, through the prophet is that You have great plans for Your People, the Church.  You could wish us harm.  You have every right to do that.  We are unfaithful and often unrepentant.  Yet You do not.  Your love burns with the heat of a jealous husband for his bride.  And the forecast is amazing.  Because You are LORD Sabaoth, You can accomplish what You say You will do.  Thank you Lord.   Grant the grace of no fear and unbounded zeal for You today, Father.  In the name of Your Son and my Savior, Amen!

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1. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (1818). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

2. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (1760). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

3. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (1760–1761). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

4. Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Zechariah/Exposition of Zechariah/IV. The Problem of Fasting and the Promise of the Future (7:1-8:23)/D. The Restoration of Israel to God's Favor (8:1-17), Book Version: 4.0.2

5. Boda, Mark J. (2009-05-26). Haggai, Zechariah (The NIV Application Commentary) (Kindle Locations 7582-7584). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. 

6. Believer’s Study Bible. 1991 (W. A. Criswell, P. Patterson, E. R. Clendenen, D. L. Akin, M. Chamberlin, D. K. Patterson & J. Pogue, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (Zec 8:4). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

7. Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: Complete and unabridged in one volume (1582). Peabody: Hendrickson.

 

The Final Blow!

Paul now brings this letter to the Galatian churches to a close.   But in the process it would seem that he takes the pen from his amanuensis and writes the final conclusion himself.  An amanuensis was someone who wrote down what the Apostle was dictating.  They were scribes, secretaries.

We know that Paul did not physically write some of his letters. It seems like he may have dictated all of them to a scribe. The Book of Romans closes with the following statement: “I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.” (Romans 16:22, NIV).  In many letters Paul concluded the letter with his own hand (e.g. 1 Corinthians 16:2, Colossians 4:18, etc.) It was a sign of authenticity; and in this case he summarized the letter. So we read in Galatians 6:11–18 (NIV),

¹¹ See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand! ¹² Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³ Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. ¹⁴ May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵ Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. ¹⁶ Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God. ¹⁷ From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. ¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

This conclusion does several things:  One, it gives a fresh and straightforward knock-out punch; it restates the point in the clearest of terms; and it concludes with Paul's personal testimony and greeting.  First the warning:

“Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh.” (Galatians 6:12–13, NIV) 

"To this end, therefore, they teach circumcision as necessary to salvation, that they may remain in favour with them and avoid the persecution of the Cross . . . Your teachers (saith Paul) are vain heads, and not regarding the glory of Christ and your salvation, they seek only their own glory.  [1] Paul is able to cut right to the heart of the matter in those who are trying to lead the Galatians astray. They were trying to avoid persecution.  Thus they found a compromise.  But it was a compromise that robbed the Cross of its power and its significance. They also seemed to view the Galatians as a challenge, a game.  They wanted to be able to boast that they won them over to this odious doctrine. 

Then Paul makes a broader, more astounding claim: “Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh.” (Galatians 6:13, NIV).  "For he saith, that not only the false apostles, but all the nation of the Jews which were circumcised, keep not the law, yea rather that they which were circumcised, in fulfilling the law fulfil it not." [2]  Luther then writes on to make plain the issue of keeping the Law in the flesh:

"Wherefore, although they keep the law outwardly in their actions; yet in keeping it, they keep it not. For without Holy Ghost the law cannot be kept. But the Holy Ghost cannot be received without Christ; and where the Holy Ghost dwelleth not, there dwelleth an unclean spirit, that is to say, despising God, and seeking his own [gain and] glory." [2] 

If one is not born of the Spirit.  If one does not have the Spirit.  If one does not rest in the enabling work of the Spirit -- they cannot keep the Law.  Paul makes this clear in Romans 8:6–9 (NIV),

⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. ⁹ You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.

Without the Holy Spirit, the entire nation of Israel in the flesh are covenant-breakers, hostile to God. They cannot obey Him.  They need to be born-again.  They need that special work of the Spirit. More about that tomorrow.

Father, what a brilliant conclusion to this Letter.  What a challenging conclusion!  I wonder how much trouble and persecution I try to avoid but instead seek to water-down, compromise the Gospel? How easy it is to dance with the Devil.  Father, this compromise can be so easily rationalized.  These men thought they were keeping the Law.  They were filled with self-righteousness.  They hoped to win support to their new "christianity."   All they did was add one little element called circumcision to faith in Christ and they assumed everyone would be happy.  Just one little element!  No, it is Christ alone.  On Christ, the solid Rock I stand.  All else is sinking sand.  My hope alone is in You, Lord Jesus.  Nothing in my hands I bring.  Simply to the Cross I cling.  Wash my Savior or I die.  Today, Father I am refreshed in the truth that apart from the regenerating, enabling work of the Spirit, I cannot please You.  Help me Father to truly walk in the Spirit.  For the glory and beauty of Christ. Amen!

 

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1.  Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 6:12). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

2. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 6:13). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.