Corona Devo 3229

Have we ever used a travel agent?  They do the (travel-detail) legwork for you, in regards to an upcoming trip.  They look into the cost, amenities, routes, and benefits of our travel options.  And they take care of the details in preparing the trip research, reservations, planning, and processes.  Taking care of destination details--that's what a travel agent does. 

Even if we usually plan our own trips, we have a travel agent waiting for us in Zechariah Chapter 8: It is Zechariah.

Even though Zechariah lived about twenty-five hundred years before we did, God speaks through him to speak to us about introducing our upcoming/eventual trip to Jerusalem.  And I am excited to go.  Better yet, as Scripture says...I'm determined to go (Zechariah 8:21).

If we are looking for warm weather, coastlines, and fresh dates, figs, olive oil and fish.... Let's take a trip to Israel, and to be more specific...the city of Jerusalem!  But we might find those items and amenities in other locations also...so why else would Zechariah be speaking of God's intention to book us a trip to Jerusalem?

Let's refer to the Bible to hear why we should go to Jerusalem (and why God says that we will), and the Number One reason is much deeper than tasty dishes or tan lines: God is going to BE in Jerusalem!  (And so WE will want to be in Jerusalem!)  

Book us a flight, Zechariah!

Then another message came to me from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: (2) “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: My love for Mount Zion is passionate and strong; I am consumed with passion for Jerusalem!  

(3) “And now the Lord says: I am returning to Mount Zion, and I will live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City; the mountain of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will be called the Holy Mountain.  ~Zechariah 8:1-3 

Simply put...God uses the prophet Zechariah to announce a (coming) day and time when God will live in Jerusalem.

Top reason for visiting Jerusalem?  God will dwell there!  (“And now the Lord says: I am returning to Mount Zion, and I will live in Jerusalem.  Zechariah 8:3)  

Zechariah (our spiritual travel agent in this instance) even gives us clues and tips to let us know when we should begin making ready for our trip to the Holy Land:   

1.) When God starts drawing His people, the Jews, and us...home again to live safely in Jerusalem.

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: You can be sure that I will rescue my people from the east and from the west. (8) I will bring them home again to live safely in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be faithful and just toward them as their God.  ~Zechariah 8:7-8

2.) When God's people complete the building (rebuilding) of God's Temple in Jerusalem.

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Be strong and finish the task! Ever since the laying of the foundation of the Temple of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, you have heard what the prophets have been saying about completing the building...  ~Zechariah 8:9

3.) When God brings peace and prosperity among us, (His people), and when we see that He is blessing the crops of Jerusalem, and the people of Jerusalem...He will be near!

“But now I will not treat the remnant of my people as I treated them before, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. (12) For I am planting seeds of peace and prosperity among you. 

The grapevines will be heavy with fruit. The earth will produce its crops, and the heavens will release the dew. Once more I will cause the remnant in Judah and Israel to inherit these blessings. 

(13) Among the other nations, Judah and Israel became symbols of a cursed nation. But no longer! Now I will rescue you and make you both a symbol and a source of blessing. So don’t be afraid. Be strong, and get on with rebuilding the Temple!  ~Zechariah 8:11-13

These happenings are lined up on the Bible's Trip-Tik for us as we navigate when it will be time for us to make the voyage to Jerusalem.  

If God's Holy Temple (the Temple of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies) is being rebuilt...let's be making some Jerusalem reservations!  

And when the land and crops and people of Jerusalem are being blessed, and producing, andclearly have the hand-of-God upon them...it's time for us to ask our boss for some vacation days.

~~~

Zechariah (Chapter 8) is just getting us prepped.  He is giving us the travel plan, and Zechariah is such a great travel agent, he even gives us tell-tale tips about what will be occurring in Jerusalem and its people, so that we will know when it is time to book our flights.

Zechariah is a fantastic travel agent!  He (with God's leading) has thought of everything to "ready" us for this trip to Jerusalem. 

And guess what?  When the time (as prophesized by Zechariah) is right/ripe/occuring: We won't be the only ones going to Jerusalem.  In fact, the buses, and planes, and trains will be full.  

(The Bible says) that everyone will want to be there and we will cling to the Jewish people to help us get there!

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: People from nations and cities around the world will travel to Jerusalem. (21) The people of one city will say to the people of another, ‘Come with us to Jerusalem to ask the Lord to bless us. Let’s worship the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. I’m determined to go.’ (22) Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord of Heaven’s Armies and to ask for his blessing. 

(23) “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: In those days ten men from different nations and languages of the world will clutch at the sleeve of one Jew. And they will say, ‘Please let us walk with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”  ~Zechariah 8:20-23  

~~~

Top reason for visiting Jerusalem?  God will dwell there!  (“And now the Lord says: I am returning to Mount Zion, and I will live in Jerusalem.  Zechariah 8:3)  

But...the next reason for traveling to Jerusalem?  The Lord will have blessing for us there!

  • The people of one city will say to the people of another, ‘Come with us to Jerusalem to ask the Lord to bless us.  ~Zechariah 8:21
  • Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord of Heaven’s Armies and to ask for his blessing.  ~Zechariah 8:22

Is Zechariah, our travel agent in the Bible really telling us to visit Jerusalem (at the right time) to receive God's blessing?

Yes.  (Zechariah 8:20-23)

It is powerful Scripture isn't it?

It is exciting too. 

Are we interested in Zechariah's foretold-trip for us to Jerusalem?  I am excited to go.  Better yet, as Scripture says...I'm determined to go (Zechariah 8:21).

Are you?

The people of one city will say to the people of another, ‘Come with us to Jerusalem to ask the Lord to bless us. Let’s worship the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. I’m determined to go.’  ~Zechariah 8:21


Blessings,

sarah 

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com 

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