"Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse among the nations, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong.”
- Zechariah 8:13 -

In Zechariah 8, we see God's promise to restore Israel into their original blessing. Jerusalem will be restored and called “the Faithful City” (3), the longevity and security (4-5), the restoration of salvation as God's people (6-8) and the restoration of the temple and land (9-13). In verse 13, we especially see God's determination to take away His curses upon Israel and make them a blessing. It was not because they deserved it. It was God's own zeal and His covenant with them. It was solely by God's grace. In order to bear this blessing of God, they needed to seek truth and peace (14-19). The result is the city being full of God's glory so that nations will throng to Jerusalem, seeking God and His favor (20-23). Jerusalem will once again be the city of God -- the beautiful Zion. This blessing of restoration and being God's Zion comes to us in Jesus Christ. Though in sins, we don't deserve it, in God's one-sided grace and his zeal, He gives us this grace. All we have to do is to turn to Him with all our hearts and seek His truth and peace.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your blessed plan and purpose for us. We turn to you with all of our hearts in this Christmas season. Please make us into a blessing to have the blessing of Zion.