“But now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the Lord of hosts. For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong” (Zech. 8:11-13). 

A study of the remnant or the faithful within the nation is a great necessity to see how God works among the saved.  The concept of the remnant is found even in the New Testament.  Paul wrote, “Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:” (Rom. 9:27).  Again, “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace” (Rom. 11:5).  These faithful had a proper understanding of spiritual things and thus were blessed by the Lord.  Consider three specifics that the remnant understood.

1.  Heavenly-minded is the Correct Perspective.  Whenever the nation turned away from God, the remnant within the nation kept their heavenly-minded perspective.  Isaiah wrote, “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth” (Isa. 10:20).  The remnant do not place their dependency upon the strength of man, but upon the Lord.  Heavenly resources, not human and self-made strength, are the staple of true living.  Examples of this kind of thinking are found in the lives of people like the prophets of the Lord, Mordecai, Esther, Zerubbabel and the like. 

2.  Humbleness is the Attitude for Honor.  Solomon wrote, “The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility” (Prov. 15:33).  Again, “A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit” (Prov. 29:23).  The remnant were often objects of contempt and persecution, even among their own people.  Nevertheless, it is the remnant who ultimately survived to bring about God’s great purpose.  One must always remember that “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).

3.  Holy Living is the Proper Course.  It is written, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” (Heb. 12:14).  Paul wrote to the Roman brethren, “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life” (Rom. 6:22).  Peter wrote, “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:14-16).  The remnant relied heavily upon the Holy One of Israel (cf. Isa. 10:20).  Those with the attitude of “I am holier than thou” (Isa. 65:5) would not stand in the end.  The Lord declares of the man that is blessed by God, “but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word” (Isa. 66:2).  He lives to approve what is acceptable to the Lord (cf. Rom. 12:1-2).                  

Jimmy Clark