In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah wrote concerning the people of Israel, “the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things”, and in chapter eight and verse thirteen of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how the LORD said to Judah and Israel, “as you were a curse … so will I save you” where we read,
And it shall come to pass, that as you were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.
The verse reads, “And it shall come to pass, that as you were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel;” Zechariah began with the words, “and it shall come to pass” or “and the following shall happen, occur and fall out”, “that as you were a curse” which means “in the way and manner that you, the people of Israel, used to be a vilification, execration and swear word” “among the heathen” or “in the middle and midst of the non-Hebrew, foreign and Gentile people groups”, “O house of Judah” which means “O dwelling place, abode and habitation belonging to Judah whose name means praised and was the kingdom comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin which occupied the southern part of Canaan after the nation split upon the death of Solomon”, “and house of Israel” or “and dwelling place, abode and habitation belonging to Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name used and given to the northern kingdom consisting of the 10 tribes under Jeroboam”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God referred to the previous time that Judah and Israel were considered a a vilification and curse word among the pagan Gentile nations.
The verse goes on to say, “so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.”Zechariah continued with the words, “so will I save you” or “therefore, thus and this being so shall I, Jehovah God, deliver, rescue and liberate you, people of Judah and Israel”, “and you shall be a blessing” which means “and you, the people of Israel, will exist as a gift, present and treaty of peace”: “fear not” or “do not be afraid, fearful and dreadful”, “but let your hands be strong” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover allow and permit your, the people of Judah and Israel's, physical hands to exist as firm, hardened, resolute and secure”. Zechariah shared how Jehovah God said He would rescue the people of Israel and Judah, and they would exist as a gift and treaty of peace. They were not to be afraid, and moreover they were to allow their physical hands to be firm and resolute.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Zechariah how Jehovah God was going to change the people of Judah and Israel from being a repulsive swear word in the midst of foreign nations into a “blessing” to them. The people of Judah and Israel were not to be fearful and afraid because God was with them and would raise their status within the world. God loves the people of Israel, and He loves us. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and make us a “blessing” rather than a “curse” to others who surround us.
Next time Zechariah shares how the LORD says to Judah and Israel, “as I thought to punish you … I repented not” 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".
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