| Date | Version | Reading Plan |
|---|---|---|
| @December 20, 2023 | ESV (2016) | ESV Prophets Plan 2023 |
Pericopes
- The Coming Peace and Prosperity of Zion
Notes/Application
Zechariah receives a word from the Lord that He is jealous for Zion with “great wrath” (Zech. 8:2). He had returned to Zion to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem and there would be a peace among His people. Old men and women would sit in the streets with their staffs and young boys and girls would play. God will save His people from all the nations of the earth to “dwell in the midst of Jerusalem” (Zech. 8:7). They will be His people and He will be their God, a sentiment echoed by other prophets and harkening back to Exod. 6:7. God calls the people to “be strong”, those who heard the words from the prophets that were present at the laying of the foundation of the Lord’s house. God will no longer deal with the remnant “as in the former days” (Zech. 8:11), but will initiate a campaign of peace. God gives them several directives on proper conduct and institutes fasts and feasts to be held on certain months. People of other nations will flock to Jerusalem to seek the Lord of hosts.
Several times in this chapter, the Lord through Zechariah tells the people to “be strong” and “fear not” because a shift toward restoration was upon them. God makes clear that blessing will come by His hand and that He will “cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.” (Zech. 8:12). Where once they were a “byword” and “cursing”, they shall now be a “blessing” (Zech. 8:13). Having experienced a period of difficult dispersion and exile, this message must have been immensely reassuring.
Those who put their faith in Christ also share in these heartening words. As with the remnant of Israel, we are to let our “hands be strong”, proceeding forward with boldness and courage. As we abide in Him, we have a peace that surpasses all understanding, sustaining us through every trial. He has purposed to bring good to those who trust in Him, to have seasons of joy and gladness as we look forward to being with our Lord in the heavenly places.
Scripture Journal Notes
Commentaries & Resources Used
- ESV Study Bible. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008)
- Faithlife Study Bible (Lexham Press, 2016)
- Believer’s Bible Commentary (Thomas Nelson, 2016)
- CSB Study Bible Notes (Holman Bible Publishers, 2017)
- Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible (Guardian Press, 1976)
- The Bible: A Reader’s Guide (Sterling Publishing, 2011)
- The Infographic Bible (Zondervan, 2018)
- ESV Digital Scripture Journal (Crossway, 2019)