Zechariah 1:13-15
Comforting Words
13 And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words. 14 So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. 15 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.
Look how quickly God will answer our prayers when we pray with sincerely burdened hearts. Almost immediately, He gave the angel an answer for Zechariah. It has always been God's desire to have a close relationship with men, but our sins have separated us from Him. We pray to a God who seems so distant to us, and yet, He is right here ready to engage us in a conversation.
We may not always like the answer we get, but we can be certain that it is the best one possible. God's word for Zechariah was good and comforting. Good, in that "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him." There is nothing in God's word that could ever harm us. Every word is for our benefit. Through it, He teaches us the way to a prosperous and happy life, even the way to eternal life.
Because God's word is good, it must also be comforting. It may not seem comforting to those who do not believe in Him nor to those who are living in rebellion against Him. But, to those who trust in Him, His word is the most encouraging and comforting thing a person could read or hear.
The angel's words are themselves the proof of what I have just said. First, he gave Zechariah permission to cry out, to bring the LORD's answer to the people with the utmost passion and joy. He was about to be given good news, comforting words, that merited his best emotion-packed preaching. They were words sent directly from Yahweh of hosts.
"I am zealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great zeal." What an amazing statement! God is passionately focused on His holy city and His church. "Zechariah, you may not see the evidence yet, but be assured that Jerusalem is a priority of mine. Now, go preach the good news. Shout it from the roof tops."
The night was about to end and a new day was dawning in Jerusalem. The LORD of hosts had taken a personal interest in bringing about a change. Zechariah could relax and be comforted by the knowledge that God's promise had not been forgotten. He had said, "For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jeremiah 29:10-11)
God had only good thoughts for His people, but he was not happy with the surrounding heathen nations. They were at ease or indifferent at the plight of Jerusalem Yes, God was a little displeased with His people, but the heathen nations had helped make her suffering a little more severe. They had no right at that moment to be indifferent to Jerusalem's problems, which they had helped to create.
The LORD is just as zealous for His church. This passage should be an encouragement and a comfort to everyone who reads it. We live in a nation in which the night seems to be growing darker. A tremendous cloud of sin has is being pulled steadily over the evening sky, blocking out the light of God's word. But, God is zealous for His church and not happy with those around her who are indifferent to her mission. We will have our victory.
Before the Throne:
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" (Matthew 7:7) God answers prayer; do not neglect to engage Him. When you pray, expect a quick answer, but not necessarily quick results. Be patient and wait on Him. He is zealous about His church and its work, and He will perform every promise when it is best for you. Let that message comfort you and pray with great faith.
For Further Study:
(v.13) ** with good. Zech 1:14-16; 2:4-12; 8:2-8, 19; Isa 40:1-2; Jer 29:10; 30:10-22; 31:3-14; Amos 9:11-15; Zeph 3:14-20;
(v.14) ** the angel. Zech 1:9, 13; 2:3-4; 4:1; ** Cry. Zech 1:17; Isa 40:1,6; ** I am. Zech 8:2-3; Isa 9:7; 38:22; 42:13; 59:17; 63:15; Hos 11:8; Joel 2:18; Nah 1:2;
(v.15) ** Zech 1:2, 11; 47:7-9; Jer 48:11-13; Amos 6:1; Rev 18:7-8; ** for. Isa 54:8; Heb 12:6-7; ** and. Psa 69:26; 83:2-5; 137:7; Isa 10:5-7; 47:6; Jer 51:24, 34-35; Ezek 25:3-7; 25:12-17; 26:2; 29:6-7; 25:3-9; 36:4-5; Amos 1:3-13; Obad 1:10-16;
13 And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words. 14 So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. 15 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.
Look how quickly God will answer our prayers when we pray with sincerely burdened hearts. Almost immediately, He gave the angel an answer for Zechariah. It has always been God's desire to have a close relationship with men, but our sins have separated us from Him. We pray to a God who seems so distant to us, and yet, He is right here ready to engage us in a conversation.
We may not always like the answer we get, but we can be certain that it is the best one possible. God's word for Zechariah was good and comforting. Good, in that "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him." There is nothing in God's word that could ever harm us. Every word is for our benefit. Through it, He teaches us the way to a prosperous and happy life, even the way to eternal life.
Because God's word is good, it must also be comforting. It may not seem comforting to those who do not believe in Him nor to those who are living in rebellion against Him. But, to those who trust in Him, His word is the most encouraging and comforting thing a person could read or hear.
The angel's words are themselves the proof of what I have just said. First, he gave Zechariah permission to cry out, to bring the LORD's answer to the people with the utmost passion and joy. He was about to be given good news, comforting words, that merited his best emotion-packed preaching. They were words sent directly from Yahweh of hosts.
"I am zealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great zeal." What an amazing statement! God is passionately focused on His holy city and His church. "Zechariah, you may not see the evidence yet, but be assured that Jerusalem is a priority of mine. Now, go preach the good news. Shout it from the roof tops."
The night was about to end and a new day was dawning in Jerusalem. The LORD of hosts had taken a personal interest in bringing about a change. Zechariah could relax and be comforted by the knowledge that God's promise had not been forgotten. He had said, "For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jeremiah 29:10-11)
God had only good thoughts for His people, but he was not happy with the surrounding heathen nations. They were at ease or indifferent at the plight of Jerusalem Yes, God was a little displeased with His people, but the heathen nations had helped make her suffering a little more severe. They had no right at that moment to be indifferent to Jerusalem's problems, which they had helped to create.
The LORD is just as zealous for His church. This passage should be an encouragement and a comfort to everyone who reads it. We live in a nation in which the night seems to be growing darker. A tremendous cloud of sin has is being pulled steadily over the evening sky, blocking out the light of God's word. But, God is zealous for His church and not happy with those around her who are indifferent to her mission. We will have our victory.
Before the Throne:
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" (Matthew 7:7) God answers prayer; do not neglect to engage Him. When you pray, expect a quick answer, but not necessarily quick results. Be patient and wait on Him. He is zealous about His church and its work, and He will perform every promise when it is best for you. Let that message comfort you and pray with great faith.
For Further Study:
(v.13) ** with good. Zech 1:14-16; 2:4-12; 8:2-8, 19; Isa 40:1-2; Jer 29:10; 30:10-22; 31:3-14; Amos 9:11-15; Zeph 3:14-20;
(v.14) ** the angel. Zech 1:9, 13; 2:3-4; 4:1; ** Cry. Zech 1:17; Isa 40:1,6; ** I am. Zech 8:2-3; Isa 9:7; 38:22; 42:13; 59:17; 63:15; Hos 11:8; Joel 2:18; Nah 1:2;
(v.15) ** Zech 1:2, 11; 47:7-9; Jer 48:11-13; Amos 6:1; Rev 18:7-8; ** for. Isa 54:8; Heb 12:6-7; ** and. Psa 69:26; 83:2-5; 137:7; Isa 10:5-7; 47:6; Jer 51:24, 34-35; Ezek 25:3-7; 25:12-17; 26:2; 29:6-7; 25:3-9; 36:4-5; Amos 1:3-13; Obad 1:10-16;
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