By Mike Chaffin
Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the Lord of hosts. Everyone who sacrifices shall come and take them and cook in them. In that day there shall no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts. Zechariah14:21
The last words in Zechariah contain a prophetic message of the glorious life we will enjoy when Jesus returns to rule in Jerusalem during His millennial reign. Glory and holiness fill the day where we will lack nothing.
Similar to Zechariah’s position as the next to last book in the Old Testament Jesus millennial reign is the next to last thing to happen before Heaven comes to Earth. In Zechariah’s day Jerusalem was still in rubble. The temple was just being rebuilt. The city was overrun with decay, uncleanness, and unbelievers. Zechariah sees the day when Jesus is in charge and everything is holy, clean, and righteous.
While Haggai’s prophecies were directed to the current inhabitants as words of encouragement, Zechariah’s are directed to their future life when Messiah comes to rule.
The last word also denotes there not being any Canaanite’s in the temple. Other translations interpret this as merchants or traders. Some would say heathens. During Jesus earthly ministry He encountered these types. He drove them from the temple then and told the people in John 2:14-17,
And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. 15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. 16 And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” 17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”
Jesus didn’t put up with uncleanness in the temple then, and he won’t put up with it upon his return. Zechariah’s last words are words to remember. Remember them as a warning. For if we haven’t repented and asked Jesus to be Lord and Savior, we won’t be welcome when He returns. For believers, these words are music to our ears. Everything will be filled with holiness and cleanliness. It will be glorious.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for these last words that give us so much hope and comfort. We know you are in charge and in control. You tell me to be holy for You are Holy. Lord, to accomplish this I need the power of the Holy Spirit living in me. Refresh the Holy Spirit in me this day Lord. In Jesus name, amen.
