A Promise of Return

KEY VERSE: “I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and righteousness.” —Zechariah 8:8

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Zechariah 8:3-13

ZECHARIAH served the Lord as prophet after Israel’s return from exile in Babylon. One of the services rendered by Zechariah was to stir up the people to resume the work of rebuilding the Temple. He had close contact with Joshua, the high priest, and Zerubbabel, a prince of Judah, who directed the rebuilding project.

Due to their return, it was fitting to prophesy concerning a time when they would return from a far more widespread captivity, a captivity among all nations, which, as we know, was to last more than eighteen centuries. Since this latter returning was to take place concurrent with the establishment of Messiah’s kingdom, its implications in connection with Israel’s blessings, and the blessing of the Gentile nations, were far more profound.

The prophecies show that with this final return of Israel to the Promised Land there would be great opposition against them, but through Zechariah the Lord promised ultimate deliverance.

It is made clear in the prophecy that in order for the returned people of Israel to receive permanent blessings from the Lord it will be necessary for them to recognize their sin in rejecting Jesus at his first advent; and Zechariah foretold that they would do this. But once established in their land, and receiving kingdom blessings from the Lord through their cooperation with kingdom agencies, the happy lot of the people of Israel will be noted by other nations, and they will seek similar blessings, and from the same source.

Zechariah 8:13 reads: “As you have been a byword of cursing among the nations O house of Judah and Israel, so will I save you and you shall be a blessing.” (RSV) While much has happened with Israel in recent times, relative to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophesies, yet further developments still remain for that nation and its people to stand before God in “truth and righteousness,” as Zechariah was instructed to write. (vs. 8) However, this full salvation is assured, as the Apostle Paul wrote: “The gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” This does not mean that they are unconditional. The greatest of all his gifts is his beloved Son, whom he gave to be the redeemer of Israel and all nations. But even this gift must be accepted through belief in order to be saved. (John 3:16) God does not repent of this gift, but as individuals the life which it provides can be lost through failure to believe and obey.

The same thing is true of the gift of the New Covenant. No one will be blessed under its terms unless he obeys those terms. God does not repent of promising the covenant, and its arrangements will be available for all, but it will not give life to any except those who qualify through obedience to its terms.

This is also true of God’s callings. He does not repent of these, but those who are called must make their calling and election sure by obedience to the terms of their calling. This was true of the house of servants, and a remnant of each generation did qualify. It has been true of the house of sons, and again there have been a few in each generation who have made their calling and election sure. It was not true of the broken-off branches, for these, as Paul explains, did not obtain that for which they were seeking, and to which they were called.—Rom. 11:7

But “all Israel” will have an opportunity to be saved, and this is what Paul is emphasizing. Truly our God is great and loving, and we rejoice in the abundance of his mercy as it will be manifested toward Israel, and ultimately toward the whole world. Israel will be the first to have the opportunity of sharing in the blessings of the kingdom. Without doubt, they will quickly fall into line with the laws of the kingdom and, to the extent of their proved worthiness, will have the opportunity of furthering the interests of the kingdom for the blessing of others. What the Lord will then be doing for the Israelites whose blindness is removed, and who have become loyal subjects of the kingdom, will quickly be noticed by the rest of the world, who will seek the same blessings, and will receive them upon the same basis—through obedience to the principles of truth and righteousness.

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