The Pulpit Commentary — Zechariah — Section 84

purposes. (Vera. 14, 15.) When the state of things is such as to call for _judgment, ye have seen bow the thought of such judgment is carried out by me (comp. 1 Sam. iii. 12). Lee.rn from this, when Lhings, as at present, are different, to rely on the oame s•eadf!l.8t- ness on my part. 2. So to describe it, the easines.~ of Uod's terms. All that he asks on their part, in order to ensure on bis part the full accomplishment of his purposes of mercy, was that (as in the ce.se of their fathers) which would be for their good. See previous remarks on eh. vii. 9, 10; and note that we have here, in vers. 16, 17, the same thoughts and almost words as before, followed up, however, by two remarkable additions which seem specially meant for those times-the mention of false swearing (comp. eh. v. 4); and the implied assurance that, if these evils were persisted in, they would stop the current of God's love. "All these things, being hurtful to you, are hateful to me. 'rherefore, on every account, do them not." Do we not see here, in conclusion : 1. The unchangeableness of God's nature 1 His dealings with men vary often and widely; his character, never. He is always true to his purpose; never, e.s men are, turned from it by caprice. The very variety of his dealings helps to demonstrate this. The very same sunshine which melts the ice hnrdens the clay. See this illustrated by the opposite effects of mercy and favour, hardening some (Isa. xxvi. 10; Eccles. viii. 11, etc.) and melting others (Ps. cxxx. 4; cxvi. 1, 12); also of affliction or chastisement, humiliating some (Luke xv. 17-19; 2 Chron. xxxiii. 12) and exasperating others (Gen. iv. 13; 2 Chron. xxviii. 22; Rev. ix. 20, 21). 2. The certainty of God's promises 1 Established, as we see, by God's very judgments, what wider base can they have (comp. Mai. iii. 6; also Ps. cxix. 52, "I remembered thy judgments of old, and comforted myself")? In this way, how many (apparently) unlikely things combine to preach Christ! Even the thunders of Sinai itself (see in one sense, Gal. iii. 24) ! Other things, perhaps, more articulately as it were, but none with more power. Vera. 18-23.-Pre-eminent favour. "And the word of the Lord of hosts came unto me, saying, Thus se.ith the Lord of hosts; The fast of the fourth month," etc. 'fhe close of this chapter gives e.n answer at length to the question asked in eh. vii 3. And this answer consists-unlike the intervening stream of mingled denunciation, warning, and encouragement-of an almost unbroken outburst of promise and hope. The only apparent exception, in fact, is to be found in the six brief words of admonition at the close of ver. 19. How far this abundance of promise was fulfilled in the experience of the literal Israel of the past, how far in that of the spiritual Israel of Christ's Church, and how far it yet remains to be verified in the case of either or both,- has been debated often and much. Te.ken simply e.s they stand (which is clearly the fir.t thing to do with them), we may consider the words as setting before us (l) the future happiness of Judah; (2) the eminence of Jerusalem; and (3) the future dignity of the Jew. I. THE FUTURE HAPPINESS OF THE PEOPLE OF JUDAH. We she.II appreciate this best by noting: I. 1'heir recollections e.t the time of this prophecy. For seventy years they had been accustomed, on four different annual occasions (see ver. 19), to fast and weep in remembrance of four different and dreadful stages in their overthrow as a nation, viz. in the tenth month, in remembrance of the opening of the siege of Jerusalem (Jer. Iii. 4); in the fourth month, in remembrauce of its capture (Jer. Iii. 6); in the fifth, in remembrance of the burning of the temple (Jer. Iii. 12-16); and in the seventh, in remembrance of the flight of the last residue of the "seed royal," and army, and prophets, and people from Palestine into Egypt (2 Kings xxv. 25, 26; Jer. xli.1-xliii. 7). What a succession, what e. continual aggravation, what a climax, of ill I 2. Their experience. They had now got so far (as we noted on eh. vii. 3) that a remnant of the people had returned, and the temple had begun to rise again, and its full restoration seemed only e. work of time. This being so, that fifth-month (lay of humiliation, which was connected with the destruction of the temple, appeared no longer in place. Why should they longer commemorate e. loss which they had already begun to efface? 3. Their prospects. Why, indeed, seeing the time was coming (ver. 19) when all the calamities commemorated by e.11 the four Captivity fasts here referred to would be so completely outbalanced by corresponding blessings as to call for "cheerful foasts" rather than fasts? Only let them "love truth and peace," and e.11 their losses would be forgotten, e.s in the case mentioned in Gen, xii. 51. ZECHARIAH, Q 82 THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. [ on. vm. 1-23,