Returned to Jerusalem with Mercies - Zechariah 1:16

In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how, “the LORD of hosts” said, “I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction”, and in chapter one and verse sixteen of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how the LORD said, “I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies” where we read,

Therefore thus says the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, says the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.

The verse reads, “Therefore thus says the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies:” Zechariah began with the words, “therefore thus says the LORD” or “wherefore, then and on this account utters, declares and proclaims Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”; “I am returned to Jerusalem” which means “I, Jehovah God, have turned and come back to Jerusalem whose name means teaching of peace and is the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split” “with mercies” or “with compassion, tender love and pity”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God concluded because the foreign nations were abusive to His people Israel, He would turn back to “Jerusalem” with loving compassion and pity toward His people. 

The verse continues, “my house shall be built in it, says the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.” Zechariah added the words, “my house” or “my, Jehovah God's, dwelling place, habitation and abode”“shall be built in it” which means “will be erected, established and caused to continue within Jerusalem”, “says the LORD of hosts” or “utters, declared and proclaims Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God who is over the spiritual army of angels and warriors”, “and a line shall be stretched forth” which means “and a measuring cord or rule will be extended and spread” “upon Jerusalem” or “on Jerusalem whose name means teaching of peace and is the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God who rules over the armies of angels and warriors declared that His “dwelling place” would be established within “Jerusalem” and that a measuring rule would be stretched out to establish the city once again. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Zechariah how Jehovah God responded to the foreign nations abusing His people Israel. He declared that He would go back to “Jerusalem” where His temple would be established and the city boundaries measured again. Jehovah God rules over the spiritual angels and warriors, and He is aware of what people do to His chosen people Israel. When the foreign heathen nations abused the people of Israel who were in exile, God saw, and He came to their rescue. The nation of Israel was to be the nation through whom all the nations would be blessed, (See Genesis 18:18; Galatians 3:8) and when God sent His Son Jesus into the world through the nation of Israel to be crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind, everyone has an opportunity to receive Him as their “Savior and Lord”. When we believe and trust in Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us an understanding of the value of the nation of Israel and to never be among those who abuse the ones to whom Jehovah God shows great compassion and pity. 

Next time Zechariah shared how the LORD says, “my cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".