Zechariah 8 - The Economic Value of the Truth

Chad Werkhoven
Oct 23, 2023
2 min read

Prospering communities are built upon solid truth. Help build that foundation where you live.

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Read Zechariah 8

CONTEXT: The prophet Zechariah directs the people to look away from their discouraging circumstances to the certain blessing the Lord has purposed. Our focus will be verses 16 & 17.

The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.

2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.”

3 This is what the Lord says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.”

4 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each of them with cane in hand because of their age. 5 The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.”

6 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to me?” declares the Lord Almighty.

7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west. 8 I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.”

9 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Now hear these words, ‘Let your hands be strong so that the temple may be built.’ This is also what the prophets said who were present when the foundation was laid for the house of the Lord Almighty. 10 Before that time there were no wages for people or hire for animals. No one could go about their business safely because of their enemies, since I had turned everyone against their neighbor. 11 But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as I did in the past,” declares the Lord Almighty.

12 “The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce its crops, and the heavens will drop their dew. I will give all these things as an inheritance to the remnant of this people. 13 Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse among the nations, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong.”

14 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Just as I had determined to bring disaster on you and showed no pity when your fathers angered me,” says the Lord Almighty, 15 “so now I have determined to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah. Do not be afraid. 16 These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; 17 do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the Lord.

18 The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.

19 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.”

20 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, 21 and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the Lord and seek the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.’ 22 And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him.”

23 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’ ”

Listen to passage & devotional:

Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 112

Q. What is God’s will for you

in the ninth commandment?

A. God’s will is that I

never give false testimony

against anyone,

twist no one’s words,

not gossip or slander,

nor join in condemning anyone

without a hearing

or without a just cause.

Rather, in court and everywhere else,

I should avoid lying

and deceit of every kind;

these are devices the

devil himself uses,

and they would call down on me

God’s intense anger.

I should love the truth,

speak it candidly,

and openly acknowledge it.

And I should do what I can

to guard and advance my

neighbor’s good name.

Summary

I think those of us who live in small, rural communities, many of which have seen better days, can really identify with Zechariah 8. We long to see the streets busy again, the shops and stores open & bustling, and the churches full of old people leaning on their canes while watching scores of children playing.

Imagine the excitement the men hearing this felt as God called for strong hands so the temple may be built! The businesses would be flush with cash and the wages high. Seed would grow well, the vineyards would teem with fruit. Best of all, people from all over the world would want to join, not because of the awesome economy, but because they "heard that God is with you."

In short, their community would thrive once again!

God gives four short requirements for His people in order to gain these blessings, but all of them stem from the ninth commandment. In v16-17, He tells His people to:

Speak the truth;
Render true judgments;
Do not plot evil;
Do not love to swear falsely.

In other words, adhering to the ninth commandment is the foundation for civic blessings from God.

Dig Deeper

We always need to be careful with prophetic promises like what we just read. God made these promises to a particular people, living in a particular place, at a particular time in history. A community might be united around an unbreakable commitment to truth, yet not realize any of the benefits God promised here to Israel. In the same way, communities with poor economies and no children did not necessarily become that way because they were liars.

But when we read Zechariah 8 in the light shed by the rest of scripture, we see how it reinforces a common theme: That God loves truth and often blesses those who are committed to it.

You must be known as a truthful person, not just because your local economy depends upon it, but because you are a redeemed image bearer of the God of all truth.

AAA Prayer (About)

ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, the LORD Almighty, who restores His people to shalom when they repent and live in truth;
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that God grants you the courage and strength to live truthfully;
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: