Zechariah 1:17 KJV
[17] Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.
We return after the Easter period to the series we were navigating regarding the Captivity. Here we come to the Book of Zechariah, a contemporary of Haggai and Malachi. The prophecy in chapter 1 specifically points to 70 years after the start of the Captivity.
It is obvious that God used Babylon to execute the discipline of the Lord but in Daniel 5 we see how far the corruption had spread. Nebuchadnezzar and his fear of Yahweh had not filtered down the generation and Belshazzar who was grandson or 2 generations down from Nebuchadnezzar had now a feast which the utensils from the Temple of Solomon were brought out mocking Israel and her God.
That very night Babylon ceased as a world power and the area became part of the Persian empire. They invaded and took possession.
It seems to me that this is reminiscent of what is going on now, in that the “utensils of the Temple” are being drank out of and God is being mocked. It seems that Europe and the West are so corrupted whilst God’s people had lost their Temple, their King, and their land.
The “comfort of Zion” means that God does not forget the places He rested, the prayers of His people. There comes a time that prophetically Jeremiah spoke of 70 years. In those 70 years spiritual manoeuvres took place to prepare for Jews’ return to their land and to Jerusalem. He rebuked the horses of chapter 1 and declares a change where there was hardness, displacement there was to be a new demonstration of compassion.
What I am amazed by is the prophetic supervision that the Captivity had. Jeremiah prophesied about an impending invasion and Captivity, Ezekiel is with the Captives in Chebar, Daniel is in the King’s palace. Zechariah and Haggai came to the fore when the captives returned to build.
This supervision covered every aspect of this process and convinces me that we also are in a kind of “Captivity ” where we are spiritually displaced from our rightful place, where we have lost our “Temple and vision of the King”. We have been warned by many voices. And the voices will continue to speak regarding that which is taking place.
It’s interesting how God was emptying Judah and it’s people of idolatry and yet Babylon falls precisely in this point.
They ascribed what belonged to God to their own gods. They mocked and ridiculed God’s people. This is idolatry defined; attributing to that which belongs to God through allegiance to human made gods. We see this today through much narcissism abroad. Much will have to be removed in favour of the return of Zion.
The return of Zion is exactly what Ezekiel 43 describes. The return of the Glory to the Temple, and God hearing the sighing of His people, bringing them back with a new heart. A new heart is needed because we have structured our lives to other priorities.
When God is about to restore His people He judges His enemies. This makes way for a change of government and of heart.
“Shall yet choose Jerusalem “
God is bringing back the Captives, to rebuild and prepare for their Messiah. For this reason God will choose Jerusalem in that period.
God is choosing Jerusalem today so that it be ready for Jesus’ return. Even Zechariah 12 speaks of a future recognition of all Jews of “the One they had pierced” and would mourn as one mourning for their firstborn “. Jerusalem will forever be “chosen” for eternal events that shape eternal destinies.
Know this, when our Captivity ends there will be judgment. He shall establish His Zion in our midst. He shall prepare us for His Coming. First our Captivity must be over, we must rebuild and we must renew our covenant to Him and with Him.
May He come with comfort and compassion so we occupy the right places physically and spiritually.
Maranatha!
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