Zechariah 8:14-23 (August 14, 2025)

14 For thus says the Lord of hosts: “As I purposed to bring disaster to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the Lord of hosts, 15 so again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not. 16 These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; 17 do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.”

18 And the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, 19 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: The fast of the fourth month and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace.

20 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. 21 The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the Lord and to seek the Lord of hosts; I myself am going.’ 22 Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the Lord. 23 Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

The Faithful God Who Turns Fasts into Feasts

Zechariah 8_14-23Brian Lee

0:00

Summary

Zechariah 8:14–23 continues God’s word of encouragement to His post-exilic people. He reminds them of His covenant faithfulness. Just as He once brought judgment when their fathers provoked Him to wrath, so now He has purposed to do good to Jerusalem and Judah (vv. 14-15).

Because His purposes stand, His people are to live in truth and righteousness (vv. 16-17).

The LORD then addresses their question about fasting (cf. Zech 7:3). The fasts that once marked judgment and mourning will become seasons of joy, gladness, and feasting for Judah (v. 19). God’s blessing will overflow so that many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the LORD in Jerusalem. The closing image is striking. Ten men from every language will take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you” (v. 23).

Who is God?

God is the unchanging covenant LORD whose purposes are good and sure. His goodness in mercy is as certain as justice in judgment:

“For thus says the LORD of hosts: As I purposed to bring disaster to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the LORD of hosts, so again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not” (vv. 14–15).

He is not fickle. When He determines to do good to His people, no force can undo His will. He is the God who transforms fasting into feasting, mourning into joy, and a remnant people into a global witness to the nations:

“Thus says the LORD of hosts: The fast of the fourth month and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace” (v. 19)

What is our Guilt?

Like Israel, we can treat fasting, worship, or religious activity as mere ritual while our hearts remain far from God. The LORD commands, yet we often fail to practice truth, righteousness, and justice in our daily dealings.

“These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD” (vv. 16–17)

Worse still, we can doubt God’s good purposes, letting fear or cynicism rob us of joy, even though He has said, “Fear not, but let your hands be strong” (v. 13).

Our inward reluctance to live as a public witness, whether out of fear of man or comfort in private piety, reveals how often we resist God’s call to be His visible people.

How does Grace Shine?

Grace shines in God’s unwavering commitment to His people’s good. Though He once judged them for sin (v. 14), He now promises restoration that overflows beyond their borders:

“So again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not” (v. 15).

In Christ, the greater fulfillment comes: through His death and resurrection, mourning is turned to joy, fasting to feasting (v. 19). At Pentecost and ever since, people from every nation have “taken hold” of the true Jew, Jesus Christ (v. 23), coming to Him because God is with Him. Now, we are His visible presence in the world, empowered by the Spirit to live truthfully, do justice, love peace, and invite the nations to join us in worship.

Prayer

LORD of hosts,

We thank You that Your purposes never fail. You are faithful in judgment and faithful in blessing. Forgive us for doubting Your goodness or treating worship as an empty ritual. Turn our hearts from fear to joy, from self-interest to truth and peace. Make us a people whose lives invite others to seek You, because they see that You are with us in Christ. May our fasting be transformed into the feast of eternal fellowship with You in the New Jerusalem.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.