Zechariah 8: God of All, Devoted to One, Enables Temple Completion

Rev. Warren Woerth, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Arnold, Missouri, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Zechariah 8. “The LORD of hosts” is repeated 10 times as Zechariah 8 powerfully extends and concludes the previous chapter. Although He is the God of all the nations of the world, He is jealous, jealous, jealous for the nation of Israel in particular. The word in Hebrew means “exclusively devoted to”—God is not polygamous or unfaithful in His love for Israel. God enables the Temple to be finished. He gives peace and prosperity so that their “hands [may] be strong” to finish the work. He enables His people to live in righteousness. By God’s grace, we may be on the side of “truth and peace. The resurrected Lord claims us in baptism and turns our weeping and fasting into joy and celebration.