Zechariah 14 “He Fights For Us”

Behold, a day is coming from the Lord when the spoil taken from you will be divided among you. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle.” (vv.1-3)

The first verse of this prophetic word from Zechariah indicates that Jerusalem will lose many things of great value (spoil), but later they will be returned and divided among them. This speaks to the yet future battle of Armageddon in which nations will fight against Jerusalem, and at first will be winning. But then the Lord will arrive, to fight, conquer, and make the city safe forever (vv.2–5,10–11). He’ll stand on the Mount of Olives, which is one reason why some scholars think Christ will return to this specific place. 

This illustrates how God may, as a last resort, allow great trouble into our lives as well, in order to get our attention and get our eyes back on Him. Then, just as we have seen here, the LORD arrives to fight, conquer, and make our lives safe and secure once again. He tests us to allow faith to replace doubt, along with hope and love to replace defeat and anger. And if we fail the test, He will continue the testing until we get it right. Why? Because He loves us and does not wish us to be out of His love and will for our lives.

Yes, sometimes life just doesn't seem fair. But when your feeling defeated, look up and know that He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will never give you more than you can bare and will always provide a means of escape - He fights for you because He loves you! Will you not love Him? 

The Truth: “One man of you shall chase a thousand, for the Lord your God is He who fights for you, as He promised you.” (Joshua 23:10)

Zechariah 13 “A Fountain Shall Be Opened”

 “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.” (v.1)

Zechariah 12 ended with Israel’s return to the LORD through the once rejected but now embraced Messiah. Flowing from their embrace of the Messiah they would then enjoy a fountain of cleansing for sin and for uncleanness (v.1). The cleansing comes after their mourning for the One whom they have pierced. 

The idea of God being a fountain to His people is found frequently in the Old Testament, but Zechariah’s writing is possibly the richest of all. Concerning this idea Spurgeon remarks, “According to the passage before us this provision is inexhaustible. There is a fountain opened; not a cistern nor a reservoir, but a fountain. A fountain continues still to bubble up, and is as full after fifty years as at the first; and even so the provision and the mercy of God for the forgiveness and the justification of our souls continually flows and overflows.”

So, there is this never-ending reservoir of cleansing power available to us through God’s fountain. It is His supply, and one must come to Him and ask to be cleansed, for nothing else can cleanse. Our own works at reform or restitution can’t cleanse us; our past, present, or promised future works can’t either – only His fountain can. And, as the following old hymn explains;

There is a fountain filled with blood,


Drawn from Immanuel’s veins;


And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,

Lose all their guilty stains.


(William Cowper)

If you would like to have your sin cleansed by His fountain just pray the prayer (Connect With God) to the right hand side of this page. God Bless.

The Truth: “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

Zechariah 12 “A Heavy Stone”

Thus declares the Lord who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him, “Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah. It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.” (vv.1-3)

Here in our text the nation of Israel is pictured as the cup of God’s wrath, which will send the other nations around her reeling (v.2). Just as drunken men are overcome by alcohol, so the wicked will be overcome by divine judgment. Israel will also be an “immovable rock,” strong and secure (vv.3–5). God’s people will be a fire in dry grass, defeating their enemies as quickly as such a fire spreads (v.6).

In yesterday’s prophecy Israel was condemned for following the foolish shepherd, but now the nation is redeemed when the Good Shepherd returns. “On that day” the Lord will save, shield, fight, win, and pour out His Spirit. “On that day,” God plus the weakest person will be a mighty warrior. 

And, by God’s grace, Israel will receive spiritual deliverance as well. They will “look upon” the Crucified One and grieve, responding in faith (v.10). Then, with their eyes opened to the truth, they will repent with sincere and godly sorrow finally seeing their Messiah, their immovable rock who stands for them.

Woe to the enemies of Israel, and those who support them (including the US). For if you stand against Israel you stand against God, and on "the day" of His return, be ground into powder.

The Truth: “And whoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” (Matthew 21:44)

Zechariah 11 “The Foolish Shepherd”

And the LORD said to me, “Next, take for yourself the implements of a foolish shepherd. For indeed I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for those who are cut off, nor seek the young, nor heal those that are broken, nor feed those that still stand: but he will eat the flesh of the fat and tear their hooves in pieces. Woe to the worthless shepherd, who leaves the flock! A sword shall be against his arm and against his right eye; his arm shall completely wither, and his right eye shall be totally blinded.” (vv.15-17)

Here the prophet Zechariah play-acted as a foolish shepherd, one who did not care for the sheep in the way that a shepherd should. Through his actions he warns God’s people that, if they reject the Good Shepherd another shepherd will be raised up, the worthless shepherd (v.17), one who won’t care for the flock (God’s people), the antichrist.

This foolish shepherd was allowed and appointed by God as judgment because His people forsook the true shepherd. This was fulfilled in Israel’s rejection of Jesus. They rejected the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-18), but received another shepherd (John 5:43).

We often assume in our society today that all we need is the right leader. Well, here we see that even the ultimate leader may be rejected and a worthless leader chosen. The foolish shepherd embraced by Israel was partially fulfilled in their choice of Barabbas (Matthew 27:20-22), but will be ultimately fulfilled in their embrace of Antichrist, and their covenant with him (Daniel 9:27). 

Out text speaks of a sword that shall be, "against his arm and against his right eye." Meaning the worthless shepherd will feel the sword of God's judgment against his strength (arm) and his intelligence (right eye), so this will be a harsh blow to his head. In the Book of Revelation we are told that the Antichrist will suffer a severe head wound yet survive (Rev.13:3, 13:12-14), confirming that the worthless shepherd will ultimately be fulfilled in the Antichrist. Then, at his healing, the whole world will be filled with wonder and follow the beast, worshiping the beast saying, "Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it? 

The Lamb of God! “Woe to the worthless shepherd! A sword shall be against him.” But, an even greater Wow is reserved for those who follow him, "If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God's fury, which has been poured out full strength into the cup of His wrath." (Revelation 14:9-10).

Better to receive the "Good Shepherd," than the foolish one.

The Truth: “I am come in My Fathers name, and you received Me not; yet another shall come in his own name, and him you will receive.” (John 5:43)

Zechariah 10:4 "The Corner Stone"

“My anger is kindled against the shepherds, and I will punish the goatherds. For the LORD of hosts will visit His flock, the house of Judah, and will make them as His royal horse in the battle. From him comes the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler together. They shall be like mighty men, who tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle. They shall fight because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be put to shame.” (vv.3-5)

Here in chapter 10 through the prophet Zechariah, God makes His displeasure known concerning His people listening to “Diviners,” those who consulted spirits of idols to predict the future. He warns His people that there is no real help from either idols or their representatives, “they comfort in vain” (v.2). Because of this they are in trouble, and with no true shepherd they will simply follow the lies.

However in our text, God makes a promise to His people through Zechariah to, “visit His flock,” and “make them as His royal horse in the battle.” Meaning, God would transform His people from a flock of sheep to a herd of war horses, ready for battle. All of them shall be like mighty men and defeat their enemies. 

Because God was displeased with Israel’s shepherds, He also promises here to raise up the perfect shepherd from Judah and for Judah; the cornerstone (the foundation), the tent peg (the one holding all things together), the battle bow (a strong fighter for good), the leader over every ruler of His people, Jesus.   

The Truth: Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily.” (Isaiah 28:16)

Zechariah 9 "The Coming King"

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey." (Zechariah 9:9)

Here the prophet Zechariah describes the 1st coming of Jesus over 500 years before it occurred. He correctly refers to Him as, "having salvation." Therefore, when Jesus did enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey, as prophesied, the people cried, "Hosanna!" or, literally, "Save now!" (Matthew 21:9). They were hoping Jesus had come to save them from the Roman government and establish His kingdom on earth now.

Luke's gospel tells us as Jesus drew near to the city "He wept," because the people did not know the scriptures well enough to understand the reason for His first coming (v.41-44). While those who did (scribes, chief priests Pharisees), sought to kill Him out of fear and jealousy.

Later, during the week of passover after Pilate had publicly stated he could find no fault in Jesus, no crime worthy of death he asked the crowed, "What shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" The chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes that they should destroy Jesus (Matthew 27:22), so they cried out, "Let Him be crucified!" Some of these voices were more than likely the same ones crying "Hosanna" earlier. How quickly the people were swayed to follow false leadership.

Note: His first coming was to die for the sins of the world, to be the perfect sacrifice for you and for me.  His second coming will be much different.

The Truth: "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up." (2 Peter 3:10)

Zechariah 8 “His Promise Fulfilled”

“And I will bring them back, and they shall dwell in the middle of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.” (v.8)

The promise of a transformed, prosperous, safe Jerusalem seemed a little too fantastic to believe when the city was half-built and the walls wouldn’t be completed for another 60 years. Just because it seemed too big in the eyes of man, it was not too marvelous for the LORD (v.6) Yet, few among the exiles returned to the Promised Land.

However, God promised a gathering from an exile to come that would far surpass the present gathering, “I will save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west” (v.7). The gathering God promised would not just be a geographic gathering, but also a spiritual gathering. It won’t just be that their address changed, but it would be their hearts also, as we see in our text (v.8).

God being faithful to His everlasting covenant brought the Jewish people back into the land, who reconstructed the temple and returned to their worship. The foundation of this Second Temple was laid in 535 BC and finally finished (after delays) on March 12, 515 BC, His promise fulfilled. 

The Truth: “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)

 

Zechariah 7 “Practice Kindness”

"Then the word of the Lord came to Zechariah saying, Thus has the Lord of hosts said, 'Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another." (vv.8-10)

Earlier in chapter 7:7, Zechariah rebuked the people of God and their ancestors for a basic neglect of obedience. Now here in our text Zechariah described the kind of obedience God wanted, beginning with decent and loving treatment of one’s neighbor. Some among the people of God found it easy to ignore a brother or sister in need instead of truly treating others in a godly way. Their bad relationship with others demonstrated a fundamentally bad relationship with the LORD.

Our religious acts, our treatment of others, and our words about them—all of this is important—but our hearts, our motives, and our intentions, must be right before a holy and loving God. That we are to help those in need is seen throughout the Bible - use what you have and to help others. As the Lord leads you practice kindness to those in need, for in doing so you reflect the heart of God.

The Truth: "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: "to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world". (James 1:27)