Leading the Nations to God (Zechariah 8:20–23)

Thus says the Lord of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the Lord and to seek the Lord of hosts; I myself am going.’ Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’
– Zechariah 8:20–23

What a powerful picture. This is one of my favorite passages in the book of Zechariah. We just see this vision of people from the nations saying to God’s people, “We’ve heard that God is with you. We want to follow you, to seek God with you”. Just this ingathering of the nations at the temple is the picture here in Zechariah 8.

Zechariah 8:20–23 reveals God’s heart for the nations.

What’s even more awesome is when we turn the pages in the New Testament and the New Covenant, and we see not God’s people coming to see his glory in a particular place in Jerusalem where the temple was, no. Now, what is the temple of the Holy Spirit? That’s us. It’s every follower of Jesus. It’s the church. Wherever the church is gathered, 1 Corinthians 3, 1 Corinthians 6.

And so the picture is the temple going to the nations and drawing the nations in a way that, 1 Corinthians 14, people come in and see God is with you. “Let us go with you for we have heard that God is with you”. That’s Zechariah 8:23. And that’s the story of God drawing people into the church, into the body of Christ, all throughout the New Testament. And it’s the story you and I are part of today.

So let’s live for this. We are temples of the Holy Spirit. Let’s live to lead the people around us to the presence of God, to the goodness of God, to the love of God, to the mercy of God, all that we know in God. We lead people from the nations right around us and all around the world. This is what we live for as God’s people. To bring people and peoples and nations to seek the Lord of hosts, to experience his favor in Jesus.

Zechariah 8:20–23 reminds us of our calling to reflect God’s character.

So God, we pray that you would help us to do what you’ve called, and created, and saved, and chosen us to do as your people. As your temples filled with your Holy Spirit. God, we pray you help us to point people to you today, to lead people to your goodness. Lord, help us to lead people to your grace, to your mercy, to your love, to see you and know you.

God, we pray this over our churches. We pray that our churches would be places where your presence is evident and people are being drawn to you through your presence in your church, that they might say, “We’ve heard, we’ve seen that God is with you and we want to seek God with you”. God, we pray for that to be the story of our lives, our churches, and your church around the world for all the nations, just like you talk about here in Zechariah 8. So do it. We pray, oh God, according to your Word.

Prayer for the Dar Hamid People

We pray for the Dar Hamid people. For a million Dar Hamid men, women, and children in Sudan. Please God, no known followers of Jesus. Many never heard the truth about who you are. God, we pray, draw the Dar Hamid people to yourself. And use us, our lives, our resources, however you want toward that end. That you might be praised and sought and enjoyed and exalted by the Dar Hamid and all the peoples of the earth. We pray this in light of your Word, according to your Word, and what you have promised in places like Zechariah 8:20–23, may many people around us and peoples around the world and strong nations seek you and entreat your favor and find your mercy through our lives. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.