Zechariah 1:3

“Therefore say thou unto them, etc.] This is an order from the Lord to Zechariah, to say unto them, in the name of the Lord: thus saith the Lord of hosts; of the hosts above and below, of angels and of men, of heaven and earth, and all that is therein: this is said, that the greater regard might be had to his words: turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts; by repentance, and acknowledgment of former sins; by reformation for the future; by attending to the worship and service of God, and seeking to glorify him. So the Targum, “return to my worship”: this is not the condition of what follows, but what follows is the motive and encouragement to this: and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of…”

“saith the Lord of hosts--a phrase frequent in Haggai and Zechariah, implying God's boundless resources and universal power, so as to inspire the Jews with confidence to work. Turn ye unto me . . . and I will turn--that is, and then, as the sure consequence, "I will turn unto you" (Mal 3:7; Jam 4:8; compare also Jer 3:12; Eze 18:30; Mic 7:19). Though God hath brought you back from captivity, yet this state will not last long unless ye are really converted. God has heavier scourges ready, and has begun to give symptoms of displeasure [CALVIN]. (Hag 1:6).”

“Therefore say thou - Literally, “And thou sayest,” that is, this having been so, it follows that thou sayest or must say, “Turn ye unto Me.” In some degree they had turned to God, for whose sake they had returned to their land; and again when, after some negligence Haggai 1:2-11, they renewed the building of the temple, and God had said, “I am with you” Haggai 1:13. But there needed yet a more inward, more complete turning, whereon God promises a yet nearer presence, as Malachi repeats the words Malachi 3:7, and James exhorts, “Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you” James 4:8. Those who have turned to God need ever to turn more into the center of the narrow way. As the soul opens…”

“1:3 the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: God has an infinite number of angelic troops ready to carry out his will (see 2 Kgs 6:17; Matt 26:53). The phrase was probably meant to be an encouragement to the Judeans. • Return to me: A person who repents makes a complete turnaround—a shift away from sin and self toward loyalty to God and his covenant (see Isa 44:22; Mal 3:7; see also Pss 80:3-14; 85:4-8).”

“Turn: Deu 4:30, Deu 4:31, Deu 30:2-10; Kg1 8:47, Kg1 8:48; Ch2 15:4, Ch2 30:6-9; Neh 9:28; Isa 31:6, Isa 55:6, Isa 55:7; Jer 3:12-14, Jer 3:22, Jer 4:1, Jer 25:5, Jer 35:15; Lam 3:39-41; Eze 33:11; Hos 6:1, Hos 14:1; Joe 2:12; Mal 3:7; Luk 15:18-20; Jam 4:8-10 and: Jer 12:15, Jer 29:12-14, Jer 31:18-20; Hos 14:4; Mic 7:19, Mic 7:20; Luk 15:21, Luk 15:22 Zechariah 1:4”