Sermon #37 Zechariah Series

Title: The Gospel Church

God’s Holy Mountain

Text: Zechariah 8:1-6

Date: Sunday Morning — August 27, 2006

Reading: Isaiah 11:1-12:6

Tape # Zechariah #37

Isaiah 11

1. And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

2. And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

3. And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

4. But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

5. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

6. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

7. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

8. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.

9. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

10. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

11. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

12. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

13. The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.

14. But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.

15. And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.

16. And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.

Isaiah 12

1. And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.

2. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

3. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

4. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.

5. Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.

6. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

Introduction

The title of my message is The Gospel Church — God’s Holy Mountain. Our text is Zechariah 8:1-6. In this passage God’s prophet is describing the goodness and grace of God to his people in this Gospel day, using Zion, Jerusalem, and the people of Israel as typical pictures of his Church.

Let me tell you something that will help you immensely as you read and study the Old Testament. Any time you read a gracious promise from God made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to Israel, Judah and Jerusalem, read it as a promise to God’s elect, to his Church. Better yet, if you are a believer, read it as a promise of God made to you specifically. Any time you read of something glorious concerning the nation of Israel, Jerusalem, Zion, or the house and temple of God, apply the promise to the Church of God. That is always the intent of the passage. The New Testament makes this fact abundantly clear.

· In the New Testament, as God the Holy Spirit explains that which he caused to be written in the Old Testament, he calls the Church of God’s elect — “the Israel of God” (Gal. 6:16), — “Jerusalem” (Gal. 4:26), — “Mount Zion” (Heb. 12:22), — “the Temple of God” (1 Cor. 3:17), — and “the House of God” (1 Tim. 3:15).

· The physical seed of Israel, Abraham’s physical descendants were only typical of “the Israel of God,” the spiritual “children of Abraham.” — “If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:29).

· And we are plainly told that “all the promises of God” are in Christ, and “in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God” (2 Cor. 20). — The blessings and promises of God’s grace do not come by man’s pedigree, but by God’s decree (John 1:12-13; Rom. 9:16).

(John 1:12-13) “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (13) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

(Romans 9:16) “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.”

With that in mind, I want us to look at Zechariah 8:1-6. The prophet of God is here commanded of God to proclaim rich, precious promises of grace and glory to his chosen people, the Church of his elect, here called “Zion,” “Jerusalem,” “the Mountain of the Lord,” and “the Holy Mountain.”

(Zechariah 8:1-6) “Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, (2) Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. (3) 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. (4) Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. (5) And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. (6) Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts.”

People of God’s Interest

The first thing I want you to see is that there is one group of people in this world who are of interest to the triune God, one Nation to which the Almighty is devoted, one City he makes to be his home. That is Zion, Jerusalem, the Church of his elect, the City of God (Ps. 46:4; 48:1; Zech. 8:1-2).

(Zechariah 8:1-2) “Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, (2) Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.”

The Lord Jesus Christ is jealous for no one else. He is completely, totally and singularly devoted to his espoused Bride. She alone is the object of his love.

· He did not love all people; but he “loved the Church” with an everlasting love.

· He did not choose all people; but he chose his Bride, the Church.

· The Son of God did not die for, redeem, and purchase all people; but he died for his Church, redeemed his Church, and purchased his Church with his own precious blood (Acts 20:28).

· The Lord of Glory is not concerned about all nations and all people. His concern is for one nation, called his “Holy Nation,” the Church. He has no concern for anyone else. In fact, he plainly tells us that he does all things for his Bride, the Church alone (Rom. 8:28; Eph. 1:10-12). For her he raises up all others. For her he uses all others. For her he sacrifices all others (Isa. 43:1-7).

(Isaiah 43:1-7) “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. (2) When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. (3) For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. (4) Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. (5) Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; (6) I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; (7) Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.”

The Lord Jesus Christ is jealous for the everlasting salvation of his chosen Bride, zealous with great fury to have her (Isa. 9:6-7; 37:31-32; Jer. 29:11-14).

(Isaiah 9:6-7) “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (7) Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

(Isaiah 37:31-32) “And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward: (32) For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.”

(Jeremiah 29:11-14) “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (12) Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. (13) And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (14) And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.”

Jerusalem was a city God had chosen. He says, “In Jerusalem will I put my name…In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever” (2 Kings 21:4, 7). — “And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them” (Num. 6:27). Jerusalem was the place of his house, the temple, the place of the ark, the mercy seat, and the memorials of his power and goodness throughout the history of Israel. That city had been destroyed by the Babylonian invaders. But, instead of losing interest in His persecuted people, his feelings were intense concerning them. He said, “I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.” And he still is.

The Holy Mountain

In verse 3 the Lord God describes his Church as it is in this Gospel day and shall be eternally as the place of his residence, “a city of truth,” “the Mountain of the Lord of hosts,” and “the Holy Mountain.” — “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.”

What a blessed description God here gives of his Church! All that is said here about the Church of God is true of his Church universal and shall be true of his Church in heavenly glory. But I want you to see that it is true of every true Gospel church, every true assembly of believing sinners today. It matters not whether the church is a large, flourishing, well-known metropolitan congregation, a small, unknown rural assembly, or a church made up of two or three believing people meeting in a private home to worship and serve our Savior. — Every local church, every body of believing sinners is precious to God. Each is fully and equally precious to God, and ought to be precious to us.

God’s Residence

Every Gospel church, every gathered assembly of believers is the place of God’s residence, “the house of God.” The Lord Jesus Christ declares, “I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem.” As the prophet Isaiah wrote, “The Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob” (Isa. 59:20; 2:3; Matt. 18:20; 1 Cor. 3:16-17).

(Isaiah 2:3) “And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”

(Matthew 18:20) “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

(1 Corinthians 3:16-17) “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (17) If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”

Every time we gather in our Savior’s name, he returns to Zion, he gathers with us, making this local assembly “an habitation of God through the Spirit,” showing himself by his Word, revealing his will, nourishing and cherishing our souls, and sending out his Gospel, his word of grace into all the world. This is the place of God’s Shechinah, the place where he reveals his glory and from which he sends out his Word upon the earth. — “Thou, O God, hast prepared thy goodness for the poor. The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it” (Ps. 68:10-11). When you absent yourself from the assembly of God’s saints, you absent yourself from…

· The presence of your Savior.

· The revelation of his grace.

· Food for your soul.

· Comfort for your heart.

· Reproof for your shame.

· The message he sends by his servant

· The fellowship of your family.

· The worship of God.

(Hebrews 10:25-27) “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (26) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.”

This is the house of God, the place of his desire, the place of his tender care, the place of his goodness.

The City of Truth

Next, the Church is called “the City of Truth.” In 1 Timothy 3:15 the Holy Spirit calls the Church of God “the pillar and ground of the truth.” Here he calls her “the City of Truth.” And those are true, accurate descriptions of every true Gospel church.

· Every true church receives and embraces Christ who is the Truth.

· Each one embraces the Gospel, the whole Truth of God. — We do not invent truth, improve truth, or qualify truth. — We embrace and publish the Truth. — “Salvation is of the Lord!”

· Every Gospel church, embracing and loving the Truth, is the means by which God graciously preserves his Truth in this world, generation after generation.

· In this place, “the City of Truth,” we worship God in Spirit and in Truth. — By the power and grace of his Spirit, according to revealed Truth, in Christ who is the Truth, and in truthfulness and sincerity. — “The City of Truth” is “The City of Righteousness, the Faithful City” (Isa. 1:26).

· The citizens of this City of Truth are called “the faithful in Christ Jesus.”

Elevating Grace

When the Lord Jesus comes to chosen, redeemed sinners in the saving operations of his grace and plants them in his Church and Kingdom, they find that his saving grace is elevating grace, for Zion, the City of Truth, the Church of God is here called “the Mountain of the Lord of Hosts.” The Lord Jesus comes to the sinner humbled and abased by his Spirit, who presumes not to take the lowest place, and says, “Friend, go up higher…For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 14:10-11). Isaiah gives us a very similar wo