Zechariah 1:12

 Zechariah 1:12 says, Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?   The angel of the LORD asked how much longer He would continue to not show mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah.  The LORD had allowed them to suffer for seventy years by now.  The sins of the people of Israel had long lasting consequences, and sin still does today.  Of course, God's mercy is extended to us continually, but it is up to Io us whether we accept it or not.  Verse thirteen states, And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.  Zechariah heard the angel as he was talking with the LORD.  The LORD answered the angel by speaking with good and comforting words.  God awaits to speak to us today with good and comforting words if we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse fourteen declares, So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.  Zechariah said that the angel now spoke directly to him telling him of God's jealousy, or desire, for Jerusalem and Zion to be His alone, with no other gods in their midst.  This is still what God demands of us today if we are to be His people.  Verse fifteen adds, And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.  God said that He was displeased with the heathens, those who did not believe in Him, since they were at ease in the world.  God also said that He had allowed them to be victorious over His people in Jerusalem and Judah, but it was to be only for a little while.  God may allow those who do not believe in Him to be victorious in the world today, but no matter how long that may be, it is but a little while from God's perspective.  Verse sixteen declares, Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.  The LORD then said that He had returned to Jerusalem with mercy and that His house would be built there.  God had not gone away, but as long as the people of Jerusalem and Judah were rebellious against Him,He had withheld His mercy.  God has not gone away today, but if we rebel against Him, He will withhold His mercy from us.  Verse seventeen adds, Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.  Zechariah was told to proclaim that God's cities were once again to be prosperous.  Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we will  know spiritual prosperity from God's grace.  Verse eighteen states, Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.  Zechariah said that he then looked up and saw a vision of four horns.  Verse nineteen adds, And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.  Zechariah asked the angel what these four horns meant, and the angel said they represented the nations that had scattered God's people, Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.  If we have questions today, we need to look up to God in faith, and He will answer us.  Verse twenty says, And the LORD shewed me four carpenters.  Next, the LORD showed Zechariah four carpenters.   Verse twenty-one adds, Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.  Zechariah asked what the carpenters had come to do, and the LORD answered that they had come to cast out the Gentiles and restore God's land to His chosen people.  As followers of Christ today, we are a part of God's chosen people, and as such, He will bring us the ultimate victory, which is everlasting life with Him in our heavenly home.