SCRIPTURE: Zechariah 14
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name. [Zechariah 14:9]
A day is coming when the Lord will finally be revealed and acknowledged as the Ruler of all creation – though not until a major war is fought.
He will raise up His people (the poor, the weak, the humble) and bring down the oppressors – the nations and people that refuse to accept God.
His kingdom will be open for all nations and people, to all who accept Him.
Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. [Zechariah 14:16]

On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it east to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterranean Sea, in summer and in winter. [Zechariah 14:8]
The idea of living water flowing from Jerusalem was a repeated by many of the prophets [see also Ezekiel 47, Revelation 22:1-5].
There is an interesting fulfillment of these verses in Jesus’ coming.
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” [John 7:37-38]
The festival mentioned is the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:2], which Zechariah also mentions in his prophecy.
This was the Feast that celebration God’s provision for His people in the wilderness (streams in the desert, bread from heaven).
Jesus is claiming to be the key to God’s promise of restoring His kingdom, raising up His people, and bringing new life (‘living water’) to the nations.
And we know the living water is the Holy Spirit – By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. [John 7:39]

Zechariah is describing in prophetic language the final restoration of God’s kingdom, when sin and death and suffering will be removed, when we will be restored to life and will live in harmony in God’s creation under one ruler.
Jesus is this one ruler, the Spirit is the living water flooding the nations.
He came to announce it, and one day He will come to complete it!

We are ambassadors of this coming kingdom, and servants of the one Lord!
We are refreshed by the living water, and share it with all nations.
Christians may disagree on how and when this will happen, but they are united in their hope that one day God will make all things new, and we will enjoy everlasting life in His creation.
“Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” [Revelation 21:3-5]

PRAYER:
Lord, may this day come quickly!