Zechariah 8
Strengthen your Hands!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, October 16.
The prophet’s next response to the delegation from Bethel calls them to strengthen their hands for the work of rebuilding the temple. The priority was for them to soften their hearts and return to right worship of God through covenant obedience (Zechariah 7). Now, the prophet was calling them to wholeheartedly work unto the Lord by strengthening their hands, as explained in Zechariah 8:9-13:
Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Let your hands be strong, you who are listening in these days to these words from the mouth of the prophets, those who spoke in the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, to the end that the temple might be built. … But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days, … It will come about that just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you that you may become a blessing. Do not fear; let your hands be strong.”
The fourth response was a promise of what would happen if the remnant of Israel softened their hearts in right worship of God and strengthened their hands to do the work of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem, as foretold in Zechariah 8:22, “So many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the Lord.” The summary of God’s response is simple: Yes, keep fasting, but do it for Me, and I will bless the work of your hands.
Seize the moment and strengthen your hands to do the Lord’s work – “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve” (Colossians 3:23-24).
God bless you!
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