“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘If it is marvelous in the eyes of the
remnant of this people in these days, will it also be marvelous in My eyes?’
says the LORD of hosts.”
In the previous chapter of Zechariah, the prophet reproved
the people who were disobedient and rejected the truth. They would, or should, have been left with a
deep sense of guilt about the state of their nation and the desolation of their
land. God designs such events, or allows
them, to bring people to repentance, but not to despair. As we see in this chapter, the prophet speaks
God’s words of encouragement to the remnant who are willing to be
obedient. He tells them of the
restoration of Jerusalem, the richness of the land, that men and women will
grow old and children will play in the streets without fear. He tells them to reform their ways to be
ready for these blessings, and he tells them the times of their previously non-ordained
fasts will be turned to times mercy when there will be feasts and celebration. In the midst of this good news, God points
out that such a turn of events is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant.
‘Marvelous’ in their eyes (Strong’s 06381) is to “be beyond
one's power, be difficult to do, to be difficult to understand, to be
wonderful, be extraordinary.” Well…yes!
For the remnant, ‘these days’ were dark and difficult. The challenges before them to rebuild the
temple, the city walls, and the nation, looked impossible from their
perspective of being a small and feeble people.
God described for them a city and society that seemed out of reach. The news was too good to be true. How can these things be? Maybe they marveled as well at the mercy of
God. What had the people done to deserve
such blessings?
God’s ways are not our ways,
which is why God shows the contrast: “will
it also be marvelous in My eyes?”
With this question, God is pointing out that what He said will transpire
is not too difficult for Him, it is not beyond His power. To consider that something is beyond His
ability is a foreign thought to God.
Such a thought must be rejected. God
assures us in His Word of His power over the impossible. “For
with God nothing will be impossible.”
(Luke 1:37) “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is
impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)
Such good news from God is marvelous in their eyes because
they cannot see how it can come to be.
Typically, once the remnant experiences the fulfillment of God’s
promises, it is no longer marvelous in their eyes, but a blessing worthy of
joyful praise. But because of their
current situation, it is at this point marvelous in their eyes.
There are days in everyone’s life that are dark and
difficult. Whether you are plagued with
financial troubles, injury or sickness, relationship problems, legal issues,
maybe you are suffering persecution because of your stand for Christ, or you
are beginning to think it will be impossible for that friend of yours to
surrender to Christ. Remember that with
God all things are possible. So often we
cannot see our way through the troubles, or see a way for that loved one to
know the joy of a relationship with Jesus.
But God has a way. His way is not
our way, and that is why we marvel. God
can easily get over the difficulties that seem insurmountable to us. It is not marvelous in God’s eyes that one
day the burdens that now have you buried will be forgotten and all the mourning
replaced with “joy and gladness and
cheerful feasts” (Zechariah 8:19b).
“I remember when a boy being taken to see the residence of
one of our nobility, and the good friend who took me noticed my astonishment at
the largeness of the house. I was amazed at it, having never seen anything like
it, and so I said, ‘What a house for a man to live in!’ ‘Bless you, boy,’ said
he, ‘this is only the kitchen!’ I was only looking at the servants’ apartments,
and was astonished at the grandeur thereof; but the mansion itself was a far
nobler affair. Oftentimes when you see what the Lord has done, you are ready to
cry out, ‘How can all this be? His goodness, his mercy, is it as great as
this?’ Rest assured that you have only seen a little of his goodness, as it
were the kitchen of his great house: you have not seen the palace of the Most
High, where he reveals his full power and splendor.” (Charles Spurgeon)
However desperate your situation remember that nothing is
impossible with God. He said so! Take your troubles to Him, talk to Him, trust
Him. It may be marvelous in your eyes
now (beyond your power), but soon it will be turned to the reality of joyous
praise!
May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ.
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