Turning to the Strong Hold - Zechariah 9:12

In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how Jehovah God said, “I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. As for you also, by the blood of your covenant I have sent forth your prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water”, and in chapter nine and verse twelve of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how Jehovah God said, “turn you to the strong hold” where we read,

Turn you to the strong hold, you prisoners of hope: 

even to day do I declare that I will render double unto you; 

The verse reads, “Turn you to the strong hold, you prisoners of hope:” Zechariah began with the words, “turn you to the strong hold” or “return you, the people of Israel, toward the fortress”, “you prisoners of hope” which means “you, the people of Israel, captives and bondmen pertaining to expectation”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God referred to the people of Israel as captives to expectation as he told them to return to the fortress.

The verse continues, “even to day do I declare that I will render double unto you;” Zechariah added the words, “even to day” or “also and indeed this very sunrise to sunset” “do I declare” which means “I, Jehovah God, utter and proclaim” “that I will render double unto you” or “that I, Jehovah God, shall return to you, the people of Israel, a second or duplicate amount”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God promised that He would restore a double portion or two blessings to the people of Israel. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Zechariah how Jehovah God instructed the people of Israel, whom He considered to be captives of expectation, to return to the fortress, and He would promise to give them a “double portion or two blessings” for all their trouble. God loves the people of Israel, and He desires to provide for them. He gave His Son Jesus to the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and provide for us according to His riches in glory. (See Philippians 4:19) 

Next time Zechariah shares how Jehovah God shares about, “Judah, Ephraim, Zion and Greece”, 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".