Page:Visions and Prophecies of Zechariah (Baron, David).djvu/257

 not so much as the actual residence of all the people, but as the place where Israel should worship Jehovah."

Jerusalem stands here for the land of which it is the centre and metropolis, to which restored and converted Israel (in whatever part of the country they may be located) will turn, as the place where the glory of their Divine Messiah will then be especially manifested even as in times past the tribes from all parts of the land went up during the three great festivals, there to appear before God, being thus taught to regard the place where His honour dwelt, and His glory was specially manifested, as their true home.

The great and glorious promises contained in the first eight verses of this chapter, like all prophecy about the future, are to be turned to practical account. Not only is the restored remnant to derive comfort and stimulus from " these words," but they are to act as incentives in the path of obedience and to the more perfect accomplishment of the will of God in the present: " Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words from the mouth of the prophets which were in the day that the foundation of the house of Jehovah of hosts was laid, even the Temple, that it might be built?

" Let your hands be strong," which is an idiom for the expression " Be of good courage " (Judg. vii. 1152 Sam. ii. 7; Ezek. xxii. 14, etc.), reminds us of the words of Zechariah's contemporary and colleague, whose voice was now silenced by death: " Be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith Jehovah; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, and work" (Hag. ii. 4) though here, in the 8th chapter of Zechariah, the phrase is used as an exhortation not merely or especially to the continuation of the building of the Temple, as is the case in Haggai, but with reference to their doing, individually and collectively, the will of God in all things.

" These words " refer particularly to the words of promise which had just been uttered by Zechariah in the preceding verses of this chapter, and by Haggai in the prophecy from which I have just quoted, who are together