Zechariah 8:1-13
1 And the word of the LORD of hosts came, saying, 2 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. 3 Thus says the LORD: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts, the holy mountain. 4 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 great age. 5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. 6 Thus says the LORD of hosts: If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my sight, declares the LORD of hosts? 7 Thus says the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, 8 and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.”
9 Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Let your hands be strong, you who in these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present on the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built. 10 For before those days there was no wage for man or any wage for beast, neither was there any safety from the foe for him who went out or came in, for I set every man against his neighbor. 11 But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days, declares the LORD of hosts. 12 For there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. 13 And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.”
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Zec 8:1–13). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
The LORD is going to return to his city. He is going to come back for justice. These people know that God left his City before the city was destroyed and the temple with it. But God will return. He will come with jealousy and wrath. Jesus Christ comes with jealousy for the way people have treated his father's house. Jesus has also come with wrath placed upon his shoulders.
But here may be the other turn. God is going to set neighbor against neighbor. God is going to have nation rise against nation. There is going to be great distress for the people of God. They will face times of trouble and struggle.
But you also have the part about Old men and Young children. They play in the street and enjoy life. These people do not seem like when God comes to the city with wrath they are distressed. Well God reminds us he will always preserve for himself a remnant. Just as Zechariah proclaims a return to the land of Israel and rebuilding of the temple, so those who face the wrath of God will also find a remnant.
God will have his people return to the land and be happy for a while, but when their hearts become hardened again and turn away, he will come with wrath. God comes to his people to save them. But those who do not believe will find themselves in a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth. Jesus Christ has made the sacrifice for the forgiveness of the sins of those who believe in him. There will be a remnant for God to live forever in Peace with God.
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