Then They Will Worship

Read Zechariah 14:12-20
 
Zechariah 14:16 Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
 
IN Revelation there are many images that parallel or even repeat the images of plagues against Egypt recorded in Exodus. End-time prophecies always include such difficult pictures of disease, affliction and suffering affecting great numbers of people as in Zechariah 14:12-15. Judgment appears before Christ’s glorious, redemptive power.
   God’s purpose is to use his Spirit-inspired Word to reveal his holiness and our need to repent and be saved. The Holy Spirit is sure to continually teach the deadly cost of sin. It is good to be taught and awakened to the world’s dangers. Even amid the grace of the New Testament salvation, we have such warnings as James 4:4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 
   We rejoice, then, at the Spirit’s ongoing lessons of God’s salvation. Even as Zechariah prophesies suffering for Jerusalem and describes war within God’s people, he then prophesies redemption as the epistles assure us: Ephesians 2:4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. Yes, how high is God’s grace when we know the depth of our sins. Always thank God for the way of salvation through faith. Acts 16:31 “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.” Even as we are born enemies of God, dead to him, he will save us as he has decreed.
   We close the prophecy with a vision of salvation coming to nations who are now Israel’s enemies. The redeemed come to the Feast of the Tabernacles to worship God. This feast is symbolic and mindful of God’s presence to dwell with his us. He is placing himself among us. He has done so amid our sin form the Garden to the cross, to the Spirit come now. He will come in victory to judge sin and save the righteous. In victory he will be our God to dwell forever with his faithful church.
   Why does God so severely judge? He is holy. Sin is severe opposition to him, and he must surely remove it. Why does God so graciously save? He is hoy. He exhibits a deep, unsurpassable love to glorify his name forever.
   Jesus has come to be the way to the Father. Be empowered with the Spirit’s wisdom. Listen to the Son. Live to worship the holy God.
 
Matthew 6:9-13 This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’”