September 4, 2024

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“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. We have heard that God is with you.‘” (Zechariah 8.23)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

Verse 23 stands in contrast to verses 20-22 in this regard: a word to the Jews at-large and a word to all nations in which such Jews are found. God will make no distinction as to who is worthy to receive the word of the Lord in the renewed Jerusalem except as to the role of purpose. It is the purpose of all people who come before the Lord Almighty (regardless of worldly designations according to race, gender, creed, culture, philosophy, political affiliation, national alliances or religious leaning which defined them in their past) to bear witness to and serve with gladness that very Lord. The mighty ones of God hear in their spiritual ears the words of Paul declaring “In Christ, there is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female.” (Galatians 3.28) From Isaiah, they hear: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9.6) Again, from Paul to Timothy: “And He will be called King of kings and Lord of lords.” (1 Timothy 6.15) For those who declare we do not need the Old Testament because Christ has come, I would say that those who do not know from whence they came there is no real knowledge of where they are nor where they are going. God clearly speaks the truth that “in that day” all nations and the Jews from all those nations will focus their attention on one point of reference. It is from that point of reference that life will have its greatest empowerment, definition and outlook. Why Jerusalem? Why Israel? Why the Hebrews? That is for God alone to give us the knowledge if it is necessary to do so. That He chose Jerusalem, Israel and the Hebrews/Jews is without debate. That His purpose in doing so is equally without true debate. What remains always in question is, following the words of Joshua to the new nation of exiles from Egypt as they enter into the Promised Land, “…as for me and my house, we will choose to serve the Lord our God.” (Joshua 24.15)

Let’s look at some specifics:

“In those days ten people from all languages and nations…” Some scholars will point out that “ten” represents a sense of wholeness and completion, while others will assert it speaks to “a large number.” And as the number 10 is used in scripture, we can most certainly see where it is true. But “ten” is not the only number that is mentioned throughout scripture which points to wholeness and completion. There are times when three, seven and twelve will do the same. As to it representing a large number of people we know that “base 10” is often employed to assist in counting and understanding the grouping of a large number of people. In verse 8.23, however, the sense of wholeness of a large number of people may well represent gathering of the “lost tribes of Israel.” Those “10” tribes of what was once known as the Northern Kingdom, or Israel, had been scattered and enculturated into other nations as foreign armies marched against Jerusalem in Judea. In Greek, we will hear that designation as the Diaspora, or the region of disbursement or scattering. We know that Jesus spent time ministering in that region and to those people. When Jesus declared “I have come to seek and to save the lost,” He may well have included “those” people as a deliberate statement to those who were “found.” In this we can gain a perspective of the Parable of the Lost Sheep. We can recognize both the singular and the plural form of the word “sheep” to represent one and the other. We see this also then in the Parable of the Prodigal Son with the conflict that exists between the older and the younger brothers and their responses to the father’s gesture of reconciliation. Since I believe in the foreshadowing of the Messianic Kingdom as the foretaste of glory divine revealed in the Book of Zechariah, I am inclined to connect to another post-resurrection event which challenged and changed to intentional focus of “the Church” in its infancy. This event required the fledgling community of faith to grasp its global intent. I am speaking of “the Day of Pentecost.” On that day, under the influence of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room, Peter preached to those who had gathered to celebrate the Feast and Fast of Pentecost. It is also known by the name “First Fruits.” On one side of the courtyard was the Chief High Priest performing the sacrificial rite of blessing the coming harvest of which the “first fruits” were visible. It required the sacrifice of an unblemished lamb. Those in attendance, many of whom had stayed the fifty days in the vicinity of Jerusalem since Passover because they came from distant lands, were Jews from foreign lands and nations. There were also Gentiles in the crowd as well who had dealings with those in Jerusalem as part of their agricultural business. While the High Priest is conducting the sacrifice, Peter assumes a posturing as a representative of the other “ten” disciples. Judas of Kerioth, of course, was dead by his own hand, and Matthias had not yet been chosen to take his place. It was under the influence of the Holy Spirit that Peter began to preach repentance. It was not so much a new word as Jesus of Nazareth and John the Baptizer had preached a similar message. What was different, besides the message took on a powerful meaning and affect with the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, was that the other disciples began interpreting Peter’s message so that everyone could hear it “in their own language.” Those who had been “afar off” were now being “drawn near.” Those who had been scattered and confined based on Jewishness were brought into a unity and harmony of the gospel of Jesus Christ based solely on their hearing, understanding and receiving of it. Indeed, we know the effect of that preaching as 3000 became believers in the Word of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ and received the Holy Spirit themselves.

“…will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe…” Of course, we cannot move forward at this point without stepping back into the days of Jesus when the woman reached out to touch the hem of Jesus’ robe. She herself was unclean and could not approach Jesus directly. It was a risk to even be in the midst of all those people because they would have been judged to be ritually unclean. Yet, in the moment as Jesus was walking through the town no one noticed. Their focus was on Christ alone. We know she believed that if she could just touch the hem of His robe she would be healed. It was a belief centered on the prophecy of Malachi which spoke of “healing in his wings of righteousness.” Indeed, the hem of the robe of the priests and rabbis bore tassels. Some had bells affixed to them so that their presence would be known as they walked by. The hems of their robes were sanctified because they were so near to the ground. As they walked the wind would cause the edges of the robes to rise and fall giving a sense of the wings of birds as they lifted from the ground. There was a sense of hope in this image from which many who had been in the Temple saw the doves flutter overhead and their wings beating against the air created a song of peace. Now here in Zechariah, the prophecy speaks then of one of righteousness who holds the power of peace and healing in his hand. The identification of “one Jew” speaks both to one person and to one community; the Messiah and the Messianic community. On “that day” the world will come as one for peace and healing, redemption and reconciliation, restoration and renewal. Of course, we know many who desired to reach out and touch Jesus during His ride into Jerusalem on the first day of the Week of Passover. We also know of those who desired to touch Him on His journey through the streets of Jerusalem from the Court of Rome to the hill of Golgotha. There at the foot of the cross, Roman soldiers gambled for ownership of the robe knowing its value was lost if the garment was torn. Was this a foreshadowing of the Temple Veil being rent in two upon the death of Jesus on the Cross? Was it thus invalidated and nullified as keeping God and humanity separated and the holiness of God as the possession of those who were “sanctified” by tradition instead of blessed by the blood of the Lamb. Yes, the blood-stained robe of Jesus was an evidence of bring salvation to the lost that they would be found. The call of Peter across the Temple courtyard on the day of Pentecost brought to mind the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross with the words of John the Baptizer still echoing across the wilderness “Behold, the Lamb of God who comes to take away the sins of the world.“

“…and say, ‘Let us go with you. We have heard that God is with you.‘” Finally, we bring this chapter to a close with Immanuel, God with us. The Scribes and Pharisees feared any kind of action against Jesus because “the people believe God is with Him.” Even the testimony of the beggar born blind but healed by Jesus’ touch asked them “Why do you keep asking me about Him, do you want to believe, too?” The very anthem from Heaven as the angels sang over Bethlehem when Jesus was born declared “Emmanuel, God is with us.” Pressing even further, we hear the challenge of Thomas to the other disciples (John 11) as Jesus committed Himself to go to Jerusalem in the face of mortal danger “Let us then go with Him that we may die, too.” It is the story of faith that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, which becomes the impetus of discipleship. Jesus challenged them all, as He does us, “Take up your cross and follow Me.” Is not our profession of faith our restatement of the hope of “that Day” as God declared “They will go with Him whom God is with“? Is it not the foundation of the Great Commission “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit“? Mighty ones of God, our stance in faith is the means of challenging the old with the new, the lie with the truth, the despair with the hope, the apathy with authentic love. But our stand is not to be fixed in one place but focused on one point: Jesus is the Christ and His word is truth which liberates the sinner from the grasp of death as they reach out to hold on to the hem of His robe. Let us tussle for the tassel. Let us do so with one hand while using the other to reach out into the world and “seek to save the lost.”

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, before we were conceived in the womb, You had already formed us in Your love and by Your Spirit brought us into being. Each one of us is blessed with the opportunity of doing right, being good and producing the fruit of the Spirit in order that others be fed the truth of that same love so that the two will become one. It is our soul’s sincere desire to embrace the oneness You have in mind so we would know we are Your people and You are our God. Lead us in that discovery of the truth and the manifestation of that love for us all. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.