ZECHARIAH CHAPTERS 7-8 

Read Zechariah 7 | Read Zechariah 8 

Focus: A little bit of context 

The Jews were observing feasts that they instituted to remember the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC.  God desires that the people not commemorate their time of sin, but move forward with proper worship and not man-made contrived fasts.  God desires spiritual worship and worship based on truth; not based on anything else.    

The people of God had been punished for sin and now the punishment was over.  Time was served.  Issues settled.  God wished to build Jerusalem and the Temple again and to have faithful people upon the earth.  He is building towards the coming Messiah.   

The One talking is the Lord of Hosts with emotions.  There is a mix of jealousy and wrath for His people (in the purest God characteristics) which are intense emotions that surround God and His people.  God has feelings.  God has feelings with New Jerusalem.  God has intense feelings for the loyal remnant that are mixed with sin like our human emotions.  There is pain in having to punish Israel.     

Focus: How does this draw us to God? 

God says over and over in this chapter that fasts and feasts and the relationship Israel would have with Him would be different.  Chapter 7 slides well into Chapter 8.  The promises in 8 are dependent upon all of the changes made in chapter 7.  God desires for Israel to be different than previous generations and efforts.  The rebuilt Jerusalem will be different.  God is behind the rebuilding so it will happen.    

God does not continue punishment for sin when salvation is available.  New Jerusalem is promised to be peaceful and prosperous and a place of gathering for those who have been dispersed by sin.  Chapter 8 contains promise after promise for the Jews, but also for those who are not Jewish (Gentiles).  8:20-23 is clear that the promises of God are for Jews but also others who seek the Lord and entreat Him.  All this happens only in the Lord. 

The 7 promises of God in Zechariah 8: 

#1 God will have zeal for Jerusalem (verses 1-2) 

#2 God will return to Jerusalem (verse 3) 

#3 God gives peace and security in Jerusalem (verses 4-5) 

#4 God promises the dispersed would gather in Jerusalem (verses 6-8) 

#5 God promises prophets will speak to the people (verses 9-13) 

#6 God will give goodness and deliverance from harsh conditions (verses 14-17) 

#7 God would make Jews prominent among all nations (verses 18-23) 

Focus: OT to the cross 

Many of the principles taught by Jesus were the eternal meaning behind the Law that the Jews had missed and buried under man-made rules.  The “traditions of the elders” is often cited by Jesus as masking the needed truth.  Jesus came that all human-centered truth be stripped away and people might come directly to God.  Jesus allows all to come into the presence of God. 

Ultimately, the Church is promised to be peaceful and prosperous and a place of gathering for those who have been dispersed by sin.  Zechariah 8 defines the ultimate outcome of what God would do on the earth.  Peace, prosperity, and Messianic language are all finished in Christ and in the Church.  Peace comes by way of Jesus.  Jesus is peace. 

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