When God promises something He often uses the words “I will”. I can equate that to the name Promise Keeper which was made popular in the late 20th century. God promises many things to those who love and follow Him. God uses Zechariah to reassure the Israelites upon the return to Jerusalem. This was the first group that returned from Babylon under the leadership of Zerubbabel. Things had not been going well and the returnees had gotten discouraged and stopped working on the rebuilding of the temple as they listened to the threats of the opposition. God sent Zechariah to give them His messages of encouragement and to motivate them to continue with construction. They did and the temple was finished in 515 B.C.

These “I will” statements from God show His heart for the people. We can take and apply them to our lives today as God cares for us. Some have already happened and some are future to us still.

Zechariah 8:7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country,”

8:8 “and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.”

8:13b “so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.”

9:8 “Then I will encamp at my house as a guard,

9:12 “Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.

10:14 “I will make them strong in the Lord, and they shall walk in his name,” declares the Lord.

Which of these “I will” statements by God caught your attention? Actually there are many more that I did not include, look at Zechariah Chapters 7-11 to get a fuller picture. God loves us and wants to care for us now and in the future. The one that jumped out to me was 9:8. God promises to encamp at my house as a guard. Often I feel I need a guard watching over me providing me with divine protection. It goes along with the promise in Isaiah 49:16“Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
    your walls are continually before me.” Where do you need God’s protection, healing or restoration today?

Scripture is filled with God’s promises. Here are a few more: promise of wisdom, James 1:5, promise to make us fisher of men if we follow Him Matthew 4:19, promise of eternal life John 4:4, and freedom from sin John 8:36.

Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, so we will know how much the Father loves us and that He keeps His promises always! Remember John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” God sent Jesus because He loves us. God is a Promise Keeper, always. You can totally depend upon Him.

Linda