The Lord Shall Yet Comfort Zion

Brian Johnson  |  The Voice of Zion April 2026 - The Sabbath Word 2 --

Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the Lord of hosts. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; And 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 in righteousness. – Zechariah 8:6–8

Zechariah was a prophet of the Old Testament, who proclaimed the coming of the Lord over 500 years before Christ. The Persian king, Cyrus, ended the exile in Babylon with a decree that the Jews could return to their own country and begin the task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and the destroyed temple. Zechariah returned from Babylonian captivity with then-governor Zerubbabel of Judah. Following Cyrus, King Darius continued that encouragement for the Jews to return home and rebuild.

Zechariah, Malachi, and Haggai were all prophets who lived and witnessed the events of this time, and they were chosen by God to deliver His will to the people of Judah. They encouraged the people to obey God and to restore the temple as instructed.

The people, however, were disobedient and rebelled. Zechariah lovingly rebuked them and exhorted them unto repentance, speaking a message of God’s love and deliverance: “So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. And I am sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction. Therefore thus saith the Lord; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the Lord of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem” (Zech. 1:14–17).

Scripture relays of God’s mercy and His desire to forgive and care for His penitent children. Here, He promised to be with His children in the return to their homeland, and to be their God.

The book of the prophet Zechariah begins with historical background to the current events. Then, through visions revealed by angels to Zechariah, it speaks to coming events in the New Testament and the end times. For example, the coming of the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, is proclaimed: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass” (9:9).

Also, “Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the branch” (Zech. 3:8). This branch is God’s beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

Our text reveals how God encourages His own, with the promise of gathering them together and protecting them from their enemies. He will bless those that are obedient to His Word. God does require His children to do their part: to stand in faith. Faith allows us to fight against the enemy and to build and do the work in His kingdom.

This is our endeavor today. God promises to help us as we do the work in His congregation and in society, being obedient to His Word. God’s Word is a living and unchanging Word; it is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We wish to believe His promises and to thank Him for His mercy and grace to us today. Like the believers returning from captivity, we are likewise encouraged by God’s instructions, and we journey forward with a hope and a future.