When Zechariah told the people that God was zealous for them, he was saying that God has a profound and fervent intensity of commitment towards them.
God’s zealous or jealous attitude is not just an emotional response, but it’s tied to concrete actions and outcomes that demonstrate his powerful and active love for his people.
God’s love encompasses dedication, commitment, and a protective stance towards His people.
The word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying: “Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am zealous for Zion with great zeal, and I am zealous for her with great wrath (Zechariah 8.1-2).
The Hebrew and Christian faith presents a unique view of God’s personal nature, setting it apart from other world religions. The attributes of God, such as His zeal, jealousy, and love for people, underline His status as a personal being.
These qualities enable a meaningful connection between God and His followers, emphasizing His relatable and engaged presence in their lives.
Both the Bible and church history are filled with instances showing how He interacts with individuals, turning them into His friends, transforming their lives, and engaging them in His work throughout the world.
We, too, are part of this ongoing narrative, and we can praise God for His inherent nature and character.
A New Name
The sin of Jerusalem during Isaiah’s time was so profound that the prophet associated them by name with two of the most sinful cities on Earth.
Hear the word of the Lord,
you rulers of Sodom!
Listen to the teaching of our God,
you people of Gomorrah! Isaiah 1.10
In the period of exile, God extended forgiveness for the sins of His people and purified them, thereby opening a pathway to bestow upon them new identities.
Thus says the Lord: I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts shall be called the holy mountain (Zechariah 8.3).
The people of God, with God present in their midst, were to be transformed into God’s character. Two of his distinct character traits would identify them. They would be both faithful and holy.
Think about Simon, who was unstable, but he had a name change through Jesus and became Peter the Rock. Saul, who was the persecutor of the church, received a name change and became Paul, the faithful apostle.
The Measure of Greatness
Should the greatness of a city be measured by the prominence of the powerful men and women who live there? Or, instead, should a city’s greatness be gauged by the ability of its elderly, women, and children to freely participate in play and activities within its bounds?
The faithful and holy city of God will be characterized by the freedom and joy that the most vulnerable experience within its boundaries.
Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age.
And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets (Zechariah 8.4-5).
We live in a time when the nightly news is filled with another shooting or a child abduction. God’s vision of a city full of His faithfulness and holiness, where children and the elderly are free to enjoy life to the fullest, is a welcome gift from God.
This vision is something we can earnestly pray for and actively strive to achieve.
God of the Impossible
Someone reading the thoughts I’ve outlined in my article today may say, “Well, this is a great idea, but I don’t think it will ever happen.”
That was the same thing that people faced as they were coming back from exile in Babylon, and yet God reminded them that He is the God of the impossible. He takes what’s impossible and brings it about.
Thus says the Lord of hosts: Even though it seems impossible to the remnant of this people in these days, should it also seem impossible to me, says the Lord of hosts?
Thus says the Lord of hosts: I will save my people from the east country and from the west country,
And I will bring them to live in Jerusalem. They shall be my people and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness (Zechariah 8.6-8).
When God declares His intention to act, our response can take two forms. First, we can approach the situation with hope, understanding that it’s not solely dependent on human actions but involves God’s active presence.
Second, we can turn to prayer, appealing to God with His own words, asking, “God, this is Your promise. Please fulfill it?”
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It can be found on the Bob Spradling YouTube channel.
Real Voices 