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8:1 Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, 8:2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.
8:3 Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.
8:4 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.
8:5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.
8:6 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts.
8:7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; 8:8 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.
8:9 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.
8:10 For before these 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 affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour.
8:11 But now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts.
8:12 For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.
8:13 And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, 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.
8:14 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the LORD of hosts, and I repented not: 8:15 So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.
8:16 These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: 8:17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.
8:18 And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying, 8:19 Thus saith the LORD 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 the truth and peace.
8:20 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: 8:21 And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also.
8:22 Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.
8:23 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even 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.


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Everything King James Bible:Zechariah
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Zechariah
Book: Zechariah
Chapter: 8

Overview:
The restoration of Jerusalem. (1-8) The people encouraged By
promises of God's favour, and exhorted to Holiness. (9-17) The
Jews in the latter days. (18-23)

1-8 The sins of Zion were her worst enemies. God will take away
her sins, and then No other enemies shall hurt her. Those who
profess religion must adorn their profession By Godliness and
honesty. When become a City of Truth and a mountain of Holiness,
Jerusalem is peaceable and prosperous. Verses 4,5, beautifully
describe a state of great outward peace, attended with plenty,
temperance, and Contentment. The scattered Israelites shall be
brought together from all parts. God will never leave nor
forsake them in a way of Mercy, for this he has promised them;
and they shall never leave nor forsake him in a way of duty, as
they have promised him. These promises were partly fulfilled in
the Jewish Church, betwixt the Captivity and the time of
Christ's coming; and they had Fuller accomplishment in the
Gospel Church; but the full import must be as 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 So complete a change can be made; but a change thus
extensive and glorious, can be brought to pass 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 shall not be in
vain.

9-17 Those only who lay their hands to the Plough of duty,
shall have them strengthened with the promises of Mercy: those
who avoid their fathers' faults have the Curse turned into a
blessing. Those who believed the promises, were to show their
Faith By their Works, and to wait the fulfilment. 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 wherein he delights.

18-23 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,
though thereby you come short of the gains others get
dishonestly; and, as much as in you lies, live peaceably with
all men. Let the truths of God rule in your heads, and let the
peace of God rule in your hearts. Thus the ancient servants of
God drew the notice of Heathen neighbours, whose prejudices were
softened. A great increase to the Church shall be made. Hitherto
the Jews had been prone to learn the idolatries of other
nations: what 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 came to pass.
Hitherto the Prophecy has been wonderfully fulfilled, and No
doubt 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 take
our Lot with them. But let not any one think that mere zeal,
either for Jews or Gentiles, will stand in the place of personal
religion. Let us be living Epistles of Christ, known and read of
all men, 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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