Glory to God! Welcome back to the Scripture for the Week meditation page. Trust all are doing fine by the grace of God! We all can testify from our own life experience that our Lord and savior Jesus Christ has been faithful to us so far in our lives and it is His promise that He will remain faithful to us for the rest of our life. As we continue to live in Him, let us not hesitate to read/study the Scripture because it is integral to our relationship with Him. God has blessed us with a very relevant passage for the Scripture for the Week meditation this week from the prophecies of prophet Zechariah (14:5b-9, mentioned above). Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo (Zechariah 1:1), being part of the priestly family (Nehemiah 12:1-16), was called to serve as a prophet (Zechariah 1:1, 7) among the people of God in Jerusalem/Judah. Thus, we can assume that Zechariah might have served as a priest and a prophet at the same time. The name Zechariah (זכריה) simply means, Yahweh remembers. From the Scripture passages of Ezra 5:1 and 6:14, we can understand that prophet Zechariah, served along with prophet Haggai and they together inspired the Jewish leaders, including Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, who had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon after seventy years of captivity upon the decree of Cyrus king of Persia, to rebuild the Temple of God in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-11; 5:1; 6:14; Haggai 1:1; Zechariah 1:1), which had been destroyed by the Babylonians during their invasion of Jerusalem/Judah (2 Kings 25:9; 2 Chronicles 36:19; Jeremiah 21:10).

Prophet Zechariah’s ministry to the Israelites, from one perspective, can be seen as a continuation of the message they have been receiving from the time of their ancestors, as he reminded the generation of his time about the sins of their ancestors (Zechariah 1:1-6) to God’s promise of renewing His covenant with His people Israel (Zechariah 8:7-8) and to the establishment of God’s Kingdom and the reign of Christ that lasts forever (Zechariah 14:4-9). Prophet Zechariah, in fact, discussed a wide-range of topics, these are outlined below:

1. 1. 1. Prophet Zechariah begins his prophetical ministry inviting the people of Judah to repent and return to the Lord God Almighty (1:1-6)
      2. Prophet Zechariah inspired and encouraged the remnant who returned from Babylon to  carry out the stopped rebuilding activities of the temple of God in Jerusalem diligently (Ezra 5:1; 6:14)
      3. The Lord’s promise to save the remnant and gather His people like a Good Shepherd and renew His covenant with them and make them His treasured possession (Zechariah 8:7-8; 9:9-16)
      4. Above all else, prophet Zechariah spoke about the coming of Messiah: the first coming of the Messiah [as a human being]  (Zechariah 9:9 [Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7; Matthew 1:21) as well as the of the second coming of the Messiah [as the victorious King] (Zechariah 9:9-10:12; 14:4-9; Matthew 21:1-9; Revelation 1:7). The Messiah who would save the people of Israel at His due time will also save all who accept Him as the Lord of their life.
         • He will be the righteous Judge (Zechariah 5:1-11), the good shepherd (Zechariah 9:15-16), and the righteous King (Zechariah 9:9; 14:8-9):
           • The Messiah would restore the throne of David (Isaiah 9:7)
           • The Messiah would rule over all nations from Jerusalem, the Faithful City  (Zechariah 8:3a; 14:9)
           • The Messiah would proclaim to the nations that Yahweh is the One True God and there is none else (Isaiah 2:2-4)
           • The Messiah would establish peace on the Mountain of the Lord’s Temple, the Holy Mountain (Zechariah 8:3b; Micah 4:1-4)
         • As for us, the followers of Jesus Christ who live almost two thousand and four hundred years after prophet Zechariah’s prophecies, we can read in the Scripture that some of prophet Zechariah’s Messianic prophecies had already been fulfilled during the earthly life and ministry of Jesus Christ. For instance:
           • Zechariah’s Messianic prophecy that states Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey (Zechariah 9:9) had been fulfilled as Jesus rode on a donkey and entered Jerusalem, which is stated in Matthew 21:1-11.
           • Another Messianic prophecy of prophet Zechariah that was fulfilled during Jesus’ earthly ministry was I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the house of the Lord (Zechariah 11:12-13), which was fulfilled according to Matthew 27:1-10.
           • Another Messianic prophecy prophet Zechariah highlighted was noted in Zechariah 13:7, which says: Awake, sword, against my shepherd … declares the Lord Almighty. Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones, which was fulfilled during the arrest of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 26:31-35, 56 (also refer to: John 10:14-15).
           • Another Messianic prophecy prophet Zechariah prophesied was that And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son (Zechariah 12:10), which was partially fulfilled during the crucifixion of Christ (John 19:32-37) and will be fully fulfilled at His return (Revelation 1:7-8; also refer to Daniel 7:13-14).
      5. Jerusalem’s restoration is one of Zechariah’s main focuses where the Lord will establish His throne forever (Jeremiah 3:17). Although, the condition of Jerusalem currently is chaotic with disagreements and ownership issues, Jerusalem will be restored and eventually will become the center to worship God for all nations and a place where people live harmoniously (Zechariah 8:1-23; 9:9-13; 12:2-9; 14:2-3, 10-11, 16-17).

In addition to the rebuke on Israel’s rebellion against the God of Israel and His invitation to return to Him with a repented heart (Zechariah 1:1-6), God revealed His future plans by means of visions, messages, and prophecies through prophet Zechariah who in turn proclaimed them to the children of Israel (His chosen people), particularly those who lived in Jerusalem/Judah. Some of those visions, messages, and prophecies are mentioned below for our reference:

• The visions prophet Zechariah received:
  • The First vision was about the Man among the Myrtle trees  (Zechariah 1:7-17)
  • The Second vision was about the Four Horns and Four Craftsmen (Zechariah 1:18-21)
  • The Third vision was about a Man with a measuring line (Zechariah 2:1-13)
  • The Fourth vision was about the Clean Garments for the High Priest (Zechariah 3:1-10)
  • The Fifth vision was about the Gold Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees (Zechariah 4:1-14)
  • The Sixth vision was about the Flying Scroll (Zechariah 5:1-4)
  • The Seventh vision was about the Woman in a Basket (Zechariah 5:5-11)
  • The Eighth vision was about the Four Chariots (Zechariah 6:1-8)
• The messages prophet Zechariah received:
  • The First message prophet Zechariah received was to boost the rebuilding activities of the Temple of God in Jerusalem (Zechariah 6:9-15)
  • The Second message prophet Zechariah received was regarding justice and mercy, not fasting (Zechariah 7:1-14)
  • The Third message prophet Zechariah received was about the promises of the Lord to Bless Jerusalem (Zechariah 8:1-17)
  • The Fourth message prophet Zechariah received was about the joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah (Zechariah 8:18-24)
• The prophecies prophet Zechariah received:
  • The First set of Prophecies:
    • Prophecies regarding Lord’s Judgment on Israel’s Enemies (9:1-8)
    • Prophecies regarding the Coming of Zion’s King (Zechariah 9:9-13)
    • Prophecies regarding the appearance of the Lord (Zechariah 9:14-17)
    • Prophecies regarding the Lord’s promise to care for Judah (Zechariah 10:1-11:3)
    • Prophecies regarding two shepherds (Zechariah 11:4-17)
  • The Second set of prophecies: The word of the Lord concerning Israel
    • Prophecies regarding gathering and destroying Israel’s enemies at Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:1-9)
    • Prophecies concerning Israel’s mourning for the One they pierced (Zechariah 12:10-14)
    • Prophecies concerning cleansing from sin (Zechariah 13:1-6)
    • Prophecies concerning striking the Shepherd and scattering the sheep (Zechariah 13:7-9)
    • The prophecies concerning the coming of the Lord and His reign (Zechariah 14:1-21)

All of the above-mentioned visions, messages, and prophecies that prophet Zechariah received are connected with the eternal plan God has of rebuilding the temple of God in Jerusalem (Zechariah 6:9-15) and establishing the throne of God in Jerusalem (Zechariah 1:16; 2:10-11; 8:3) and the future reign of the Messiah in and from Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:16-19).

As part of our meditation, let us briefly analyze and meditate upon the passage we chose, that is Zechariah 14:5b-9. The main focus of the chosen passage is the coming of the Lord as the Lord of lords and the King of kings who will reign over the whole earth and its people, which includes the chosen people of the Old Testament era (that is, Israel), the chosen people of the New Testament era (that is, the Church), and everyone from every nation, every tribe, every people, every language, who fears God and worships Him (Zechariah 14:8-9 [Psalm 22:27; Revelation 7:9-10]). Let us briefly analyze and meditate upon Zechariah 14:5b-9

• • At the appointed time, the Lord God will come (14: 5b1)
  • The holy ones of the Lord will be with Him when He comes (14:5b2)
  • On the day of the Lord’s coming, there will be no sunlight (14:6a)
  • On the day of the Lord’s coming, there will be no cold (14:6b)
  • On the day of the Lord’s coming, there will be no frosty darkness (14:6c)
  • The day of the Lord’s coming will be a unique day without daytime or night time (14:7a)
  • The day of the Lord’s coming will be a day known only to the Lord (14:7b)
  • The day of the Lord’s coming will be a day with no distinction between day and night (14:7c)
  • On the day of the Lord’s coming, when evening comes, there will be light (14:7d)
  • On the day of the Lord’s coming, the living water will flow out from Jerusalem (14:8a)
  • On the day of Lord’s coming half of the living water will flow out from Jerusalem to the east of the Dead Sea (14:8b)
  • On the day of Lord’s coming half of the living water will flow out from Jerusalem to the west of the Mediterranean Sea (14:8c)
  • On the day of Lord’s coming half of the living water will flow out in summer and in winter (14:8d)
  • When the Lord comes, He will be king over the whole earth (14:9a)
  • When the Lord comes, there will be one Lord, and his name the only name (14:9b)

God’s promise of renewing His covenant with the remnant of His chosen people Israel (Zechariah 8:8) was to restore the nation of Israel in and through the promised Messiah. Thus, in the fulness of time, the Messiah is the one who will build the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, as prophet Zechariah stated:

… The Lord Almighty says: Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord. 13 It is he who will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two (Zechariah 6:12-13)

The representation and story of the promised Messiah was portrayed through the life and ministry examples of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, who was God’s signet ring (Haggai 1:1; 2:23) and Joshua son of Jozadak, who was the high priest (Haggai 1:1; Zechariah 3:1-2).   We can also see the True Shepherd (Zechariah 10:3b; 13:7), and the cornerstone, the tent peg, the battle bow, and the ruler that comes from Judah (Zechariah 10:4), and the promised righteous Branch that sprouts from David’s line (Jeremiah 23:5-6; 33:15-16).  Jesus came to do the will of God and He faithfully accomplished the ministry He came to do (John 6:38; 12:50; 1 Peter 2:22-25) and the Father in heaven honored Him. Apostle Paul stated that

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11)

As we have seen, God the Father exalted the Lord Jesus Christ to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name. The One who came down to save us is sovereign over all and He is our Lord. His Kingdom endures from generation to generation and His dominion is from everlasting to everlasting. If any of us are yet to come to the saving knowledge of Christ, it is not too late – now is the right time to accept Him as the Lord and Savior of our life (John 4:23; 2 Corinthians 6:2). Jesus said: Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done (Revelation 22:12). Let us submit to the will of God and live a life worthy of His calling. Let us prepare ourselves and wait patiently for His return. May the Lord God Almighty bless us all! Amen!