The Call of Redemption: A Divine Gathering
"I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased." - Zechariah 10:8
In the book of Zechariah, Chapter 10, verse 8, we find a beautifully profound declaration from the Lord: "I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased." This verse encapsulates the rich themes of redemption, gathering, and growth in a believer's life.
To fully appreciate this verse, we first need to understand the context in which Zechariah wrote it. Zechariah was a prophet during the time following the Babylonian exile, when the people of Israel were returning to their homeland. They had endured great hardships, loss, and were in a process of rebuilding not only their physical surroundings but also their spiritual lives. This given scenario accentuates God’s desire to restore His people, reminding them that despite their trials, He was still in control and had plans for them.
The phrase "I will hiss for them" may seem foreign to our modern ears. In ancient times, a purposeful hiss was often used by shepherds to call their sheep. Here, we see God likening Himself to a shepherd who calls forth His flock. The act of hissing is personal; it denotes communication, warmth and intention. When the Lord hisses for us, it signifies that He is seeking us out, anticipating our return to Him, and calling us into deeper fellowship with Him.
The next part of the verse, "and gather them," speaks to the active role of God in our lives. God’s call to gather is not one of compulsion but of love. He is the Good Shepherd who desires to have all of His sheep in one fold, secure and nourished. This gathering has implications for both communal and individual relationships with God. As believers, we are called not only to experience personal redemption but also to gather with others in faith, nurturing the body of Christ together.
Redemption is at the heart of this verse. "For I have redeemed them" underscores our desperate need for saving. In the larger narrative of Scripture, this redemption points ultimately to Jesus Christ—the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world. Through His death and resurrection, we are called from spiritual death into life, and this promise of redemption is what fuels our growth and increase. God has claimed us as His own.
The culmination of this verse comes when it declares, "and they shall increase as they have increased." This statement speaks to the inherent promise of growth that follows redemption. Just as a shepherd gathers his flock, He also nurtures them, leading them toward abundance, both in spiritual vitality and in the fruits of the Spirit. Growth in a believer’s life is an indication of healthy spiritual living—evidence of the constant work God is doing within us. It is not a growth that is imposed or forced but one that is birthed from the grace of God and our cooperation with His will.
As we reflect on this passage, we must ask ourselves: Are we attuned to the hissing of His call? Are we responsive to the Lord as He gathers His people, and are we attentive to our own redemption and the growth that follows?
In times of uncertainty or spiritual dryness, it is vital to remember that the Lord is still calling us. He desires for us to increase in our faith and bear witness to His glory. In our moments of challenges, let us be reminded that we have been redeemed, and His abiding presence in our lives assures us of the continual growth He desires for us.
So let us journey forward, listening for the Lord’s call, embracing His gathering into community, and flourishing in the redemptive love He freely offers each one of us.
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Zechariah 10:8 - "I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased."
"I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased." - Zechariah 10:8
Zechariah 7:8-10 - "And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’"
Zechariah 7:8 - "¶ And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying,"
Zechariah 8:10 - "For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour."
"¶ And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying," - Zechariah 7:8
Zechariah 8:8 - "And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness."
Zechariah 8:18 - "¶ And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying,"
Zechariah 8:1 - "Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying,"
Zechariah 4:8 - "Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,"
Ezra 10:26 - "And of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah."
Zechariah 8:5 - "And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof."
Ezra 8:11 - "And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males."
Zechariah 5:10 - "Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?"
Zechariah 8:11 - "But now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts."
Zechariah 10:12 - "And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD."
"And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’" - Zechariah 7:8-10
Ezra 8:3 - "Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred and fifty."
Isaiah 8:2 - "And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah."
Zechariah 5:8 - "And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof."
Zechariah 8:22 - "Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD."
Zechariah 8:15 - "So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not."
Zechariah 10:10 - "I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them."
Zechariah 2:10 - "¶ Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD."
Zechariah 8:2 - "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury."
Zechariah 8:20 - "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:"
"¶ And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying," - Zechariah 8:18
"Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying," - Zechariah 4:8
"Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying," - Zechariah 8:1
Zechariah 10:9 - "And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again."