ESOCS Devotional 12 October 2026 – Promise of Hope For the Nation
MEMORY VERSE: “Thus saith the Lord; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Lord of hosts the holy mountain.” Zechariah 8:3 KJV
TEXT: ZECHARIAH 8:1-8
Again the word of the Lord of hosts came, saying, 2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts:
‘I am zealous for Zion with great zeal;
With great fervor I am zealous for her.’
3 “Thus says the Lord:
‘I will return to Zion,
And dwell in the midst of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth,
The Mountain of the Lord of hosts,
The Holy Mountain.’
4 “Thus says the Lord of hosts:
‘Old men and old women shall again sit
In the streets of Jerusalem,
Each one with his staff in his hand
Because of great age.
5 The streets of the city
Shall be full of boys and girls
Playing in its streets.’
6 “Thus says the Lord of hosts:
‘If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days,
Will it also be marvelous in My eyes?’
Says the Lord of hosts.
7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts:
‘Behold, I will save My people from the land of the east
And from the land of the west;
8 I will bring them back,
And they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem.
They shall be My people
And I will be their God,
In truth and righteousness.’
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God scattered the Israelites throughout the nations because of their apostasy. However, God did not forget His people in captivity. Because of His zealous commitment to His people, He worked in the affairs of the nation, Israel, so that they would be restored to their land.
The message of Zechariah went to those who were still in the lands of their captors; they needed to hear that God had returned with favour on Jerusalem. God wanted Israel to return, thus re-establishing to fulfil the promises He had made to their fathers. This is the fulfilment of the promise of hope for their nation. God returned to the city with blessings upon those who returned from exile to the city.
One day, Christ will reign in His kingdom on earth, and His people will live with Him. He beckons us every day to return home (repent) that we may be blessed. In the same vein, nations should turn to God and be blessed (2 Chronicles 7:14). But any nation that forgets God will be punished (Psalm 9:17). Man, too, will not escape the judgment and punishment.
Reflections
- Many nations are sliding into immorality every day.
Prayer
- God, have mercy on the nations of the world that they may know you.
Further Reading: Deuteronomy 8:19; Jeremiah 18:15; Hosea 4:6
ESOCS Devotional 12 October 2026
