In this section we see a great emphasis placed upon the word of God spoken. A phrase like thus says the Lord of hosts occurs again and again. In these thirteen verses it occurs eight times. God has spoken, and it is the duty of His people to hear Him.
In the previous chapter the Lord had rebuked the people for their pro forma repentance, and He linked their disobedience in times of distress to their disobedience in times of prosperity. But now He turns and gives a word of great consolation and encouragement. This encouragement is given to the Jews in their building of the physical Temple, but finds its final culmination and fulfillment in the New Jerusalem, itself the new temple. Out of His great jealousy for their well-being, God promises to rebuild them and establish them.
We cannot rely on a mere assertion that this has meaning beyond the experience of the Jews in Zechariah’s day. How do we know it applies to us as well? What is the New Testament apostolic teaching? In verse 8 we find the covenant promise: “They shall be My people and I will be their God.” The author of Hebrews applies the promise of a New Covenant with Israel and Judah to the Christian Church. “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people” (Heb 8:10). We are also explicitly told: “Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed'” (Acts 3:24-25).
The promises God gives to His people here are words of true comfort. God loves His people — God is zealous for Zion, and with great fervor He will bring deliverance to them (v. 2). God promises to return to Zion, and dwell in the midst of His people (v. 3; cf. Ps. 46:5). This is our security. This is a city of truth. Where God dwells, holiness reigns. Jerusalem is then renowned for her love of truth; the mountain is a holy mountain (v. 3). And signs of cultural prosperity abound. The venerable and elderly shall sit in the streets (v. 4), and the teeming little ones shall play in the streets (v. 5). Seek first the kingdom, and all these things shall be added.
Just because it seems a big thing to us does not mean that God thinks it will be too much (v. 6). God will bring back many from east and west, meaning from everywhere (v. 7). When they have been brought back, God shall reign among them in truth and righteousness (v. 8). So we must stand strong; those who hear the word must be strong (v. 9). Before this time, there was desolation and crime, brought by the hand of God (v. 10). But no longer — God is now bringing His blessing with zeal (v. 11). The earth and sky will once again bring prosperity to the people of God, and they will possess them (v. 12).
These words to Israel and Judah are words to us, their fellow heirs. Where we used to be held in contempt among the nations, God will exhibit His great salvation, and we will be a blessing (v. 13). The response must be confidence and not fear. The response must be that we strengthen our hands for the work. Let your hands be strong, precisely because we are weak and the Lord is strong.