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Daily Devotions

Zechariah

Zechariah 
Day 
Day 149

"The Feast of Tabernacles"

Text: Zechariah 14:16

THE WORSHIP OF THE LORD

The Messianic Kingdom was in view in this passage. Many nations would worship God.

“And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations
which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year
to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth
do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts,
on them there will be no rain.
If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain;
they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations
who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations
that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.”
Zechariah 14:16-19

1. The survivors of the war

a) Their lives would be spared!
b) They would be required to do only two things:
i) To offer worship to the King, the LORD of hosts.
ii) To keep the Feast of Tabernacles (Joyful celebration of God’s protection).
c) The penalty explained, if there is no compliance:
i) They would not receive rain (crops cannot grow well without water supply).
ii) They would be punished with “the plague” (Zechariah 14:12, 15).
iii) Egypt was singled out as an example.
The nation had seen what plagues could do to a country (Exodus 7-12).
iv) The same judgment would be meted out against the conquered nations.

2. A Surrender Treaty

a) The victor may impose conditions on the defeated countries.
Conditions must be fulfilled to the letter!
b) A very simple condition was imposed.

To offer worship and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles (Cf. Deuteronomy 16:13-15).
To be spared by the King, is a precious gift of life that needs to be treasured.