Page:Visions and Prophecies of Zechariah (Baron, David).djvu/265

 of the siege of Jerusalem on the tenth day of that month in the ninth year of Zedekiah.

All these days are still observed as fasts by the Jewish nation in all parts of the earth, for it is still the night of weeping for Israel, and Zion still sits desolate and mourns.

But the long night of weeping is to be followed by a morning of joy, when Jehovah shall accomplish the " good " which He has purposed and promised to Israel and Jerusalem (vers. 14, 15), and then the former troubles and calamities shall be "forgotten" (Isa. Ixv. 1 6), and the very days which commemorate them shall be turned into "joy and gladness" and moadim tobhim cheerful feasts or sacred festivals. " Therefore," the prophet turns again to the remnant whom he was addressing, " love ha-emeth've ha-shalom truth and peace " for the promises of future blessedness and glory, whether national in relation to Israel, or spiritual in relation to the individual believer in Christ, are intended in every case to act as incentives to holiness of life and consecration to God's service in the present; and though God's covenants and promises to the nation are unconditional, and " without repentance," or any change of mind as far as He is concerned, and are not made to depend on Israel's goodness or righteousness, yet righteous ness, truth, and love must be blessed fruit of these promises.

What the consequence of Jehovah's dwelling in the midst of Israel will be to the other nations, and how Israel's blessing will react upon the whole earth, we see in the last four verses of our chapter.

" Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: It shall yet come to pass"

(or, " it shall yet be ") however unlikely it may have appeared in the eyes of the remnant of the people to whom Zechariah prophesied, and however " wonderful " or impossible it may appear in our eyes " that there shall come peoples " (a collective and representative name for all peoples), "and the inhabitants of many (or great } cities: and the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily (literally, going, let us go Tji/n naps or