Zechariah 8:14-23: a reflection

14For the LORD of Armies says: “As I thought to do evil to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath,” says the LORD of Armies, “and I didn’t repent, 15so again I have thought in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Don’t be afraid. 16These are the things that you shall do: speak every man the truth with his neighbor. Execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates, 17and let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbor, and love no false oath; for all these are things that I hate,” says the LORD. 18The word of the LORD of Armies came to me. 19The LORD of Armies says: “The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months shall be for the house of Judah joy, gladness, and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace.” 20The LORD of Armies says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come. 21The inhabitants of one will go to another, saying, ‘Let’s go speedily to entreat the favor of the LORD, and to seek the LORD of Armies. I will go also.’ 22Yes, many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the LORD of Armies in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD.” 23The LORD of Armies says: “In those days, ten men out of all the languages of the nations will take hold of the skirt of him who is a Jew, saying, ‘We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

In a hopeful vision of restoration, God foretells a day when his presence among his people will draw others, even many nations, to seek him. In those days, God says, ten men out of all the languages of the nations will take hold of the skirt of him who is a Jew, saying, We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you. The reason the nations are drawn to seek God is his evident presence with his people: we have heard that God is with you. When God is truly present with his people, in a way others can see and hear of, it draws them, makes them want to come along, to seek the God who is so evidently with his people. God's presence among his own is attractive; it draws others to want what they have, to seek the God who is with them. The evident presence of God with his people is what draws others to seek him.

Notice what draws the nations to seek God: his evident presence with his people. They do not say, we have heard your arguments, or seen your impressive works; they say, we have heard that God is with you. It is the reality of God's presence among his people, something others can perceive, that draws them. When God is truly with his people, in a way that shows, it makes others want to come along, to share in what his people have, to seek the God who is so evidently present with them. This tells us something about how others are drawn to God: not chiefly by our cleverness or our efforts, but by the evident reality of God's presence with us. When God is truly with his people, it is attractive; others see it, hear of it, and want to seek the God who is with them. The presence of God among his own draws others more than any argument. To have God evidently with us is what makes others want to come along. God's presence, seen among his people, is what draws the seeking heart.

That is worth taking to heart, for God's evident presence with his people is what draws others to seek him. We can suppose that others are drawn to God chiefly by our arguments or efforts; but God foretold that the nations would seek him because they had heard that God was with his people. It is the evident reality of God's presence with us that draws others, makes them want to come along and seek the God who is so plainly with his people. What draws others to God is not chiefly our cleverness but God's presence among us, seen and known. Do not rely on your arguments alone to draw others to God; his evident presence with his people is what draws them, as the nations said, we will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you. Trust that God's evident presence with his people is what draws others to seek him, more than any argument, as God foretold that ten men from the nations would take hold of a Jew, saying, we will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you; for others are drawn to God not chiefly by our cleverness or efforts but by the evident reality of his presence among his people, and when God is truly with us in a way others can see and hear of, it makes them want to come along and seek the God who is so plainly with his own.

Lord, in a hopeful vision of restoration, you foretell a day when your presence among your people will draw others, even many nations, to seek you. In those days, you say, ten men out of all the languages of the nations will take hold of the skirt of him who is a Jew, saying, We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you. The reason the nations are drawn to seek you is your evident presence with your people: we have heard that God is with you. When you are truly present with your people, in a way others can see and hear of, it draws them, makes them want to come along, to seek the God who is so evidently with his people. Show me what draws the nations to seek you: your evident presence with your people. They do not say, we have heard your arguments, or seen your impressive works; they say, we have heard that God is with you. It is the reality of your presence among your people, something others can perceive, that draws them. This tells me something about how others are drawn to you: not chiefly by our cleverness or our efforts, but by the evident reality of your presence with us. When you are truly with your people, it is attractive; others see it, hear of it, and want to seek you. Take that to my heart, for your evident presence with your people is what draws others to seek you. I can suppose that others are drawn to you chiefly by my arguments or efforts; but you foretold that the nations would seek you because they had heard that you were with your people. Keep me from relying on my arguments alone to draw others to you; help me trust that your evident presence with your people is what draws them, Lord, as the nations said, we will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.