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"I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy"

Text: Zechariah 1:16

THE GREAT MERCY OF GOD

Nobody factored in the immense mercy of the LORD towards Israel. The nations thought that God had abandoned His people and He would never return to them. They were so wrong.

“Therefore thus says the LORD:
‘I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy;
My house shall be built in it,’ says the LORD of hosts,
‘And a surveyor’s line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.'”
Zechariah 1:16

1. This was the third word from the LORD

a) “Therefore thus says the LORD”

i) This word came from God Himself.

ii) Zechariah may use God’s name as the source of his authority.

b) This word must also be proclaimed to the remnant who had returned to Judah.

2. “I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy”

a) Mercy is a wonderful attribute of the LORD.

b) He will exercise His great divine mercy to His people.

c) He will return to His people with much-needed mercy.

3. “‘My house shall be built in it,’ says the LORD of hosts”

a) This was a reference to the temple God wanted the remnant to build.

b) It would be in Jerusalem.

c) It would be called Zion.

d) The temple would be called “My (God’s) house”.

e) This was confirmed emphatically by the use of the phrase, “Says the LORD of hosts”.

4. “And a surveyor’s line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem”

a) God had other plans for His people.

b) He would rebuild Jerusalem.

c) The imagery of “a surveyor’s line” was used symbolically.

d) This envisaged the rebuilding of Jerusalem as a city.

e) This was a thrilling word that Zechariah was to proclaim boldly in Jerusalem.