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OD made great and precious
promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Among other things, He promised to bless
those who are kind to Israel and to curse those who are unkind to Israel. In
Zechariah 2:8 that old promise is reiterated, "Thus says the LORD of hosts; 'After the glory has He sent Me unto
the nations which spoiled you: for he that touches you touches the apple of His
eye."' If you have never said
it before, well, now is the time to say it, "Bless you, Jew!" Like it or not (and I do), God has chosen Israel
as His own – forever (Romans 11:1-2). The New Testament is not in any way a
cancellation of the old, it is only a completion of it. God is not through with
Israel. The meek will still inherit the earth. And, their King will yet own
Jerusalem (Zechariah 2:1-5). Messiah will deal harshly with Israel's enemies
and the Jews will have a great cause to rejoice (vs. 10).
It is fitting that Zechariah
should have such a high and lofty vision during the days of the rebuilding of
the temple. What a wonderful encouragement it would have been to the Jews who
were working on that pitiful structure! They were small and insignificant in
their time. But their great God was
promising an appropriate greatness for His elect nation in the future. Rather
than Israel being a 3rd rate nation without power or
influence, God promised a day in the future when wise and humble Gentile
nations would attach themselves to Him, that is, to Israel's God; the God of
Abraham (vs. 11). In that day the "holy land" will truly be holy (vs.
12). Let all mortal flesh be silent before Him as we recognize and accept His
sovereign grace upon His people (vs. 13). Let us rejoice in the coming
fulfillment of His promises to the Jews.
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