Zechariah - Zealous For Zion - Part 4!

Rev. George R. Dillahunty
Freedom Fellowship (COG)
685 Grant Avenue
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23452-3047

April 07, 2009

Text: Zechariah 9:1-8 (King James Version)

"The burden of the Word of the Lord in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the Lord. (v. 2) And Hamath also shall border thereby, Tyrus and Zidon, though it be very wise. (v. 3) And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. (v. 4) Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and He will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire. (v. 5) Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. (v. 6) And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. (v. 7) And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite. (v. 8) And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes."

Topic: Zechariah - Zealous For Zion - Part 4!

The last six (6) Chapters of the Book of Zechariah contain two (2) burdens - that is to say, weighty judgments against the enemies of Israel and against Israel herself! There is a sharp contrast between these Chapters and the first eight Chapters - prompting some to suggest that they may have been written by a different author! Others, myself included, believe that they were written much later in the life of the Prophet Zechariah!

Although the temple was completed by this time; and, the initial work of the Prophet Zechariah was a success, his work as a Prophet was not over! Through him, the Lord has much to say about the future of Israel, with glimpses concerning the coming Messiah - Jesus, the Christ! Let’s engage this first burden which contains Words of Judgment against Israel’s longtime enemies - while offering Words of hope to Israel herself, shall we?

In Chapter 9 of the Book of Zechariah, we find the Judgment against Israel’s enemies! In verses 1 through 2, we find the Judgment against Syria and its leading cities: Damascus, Tyre, and Sidon! In verses 3 through 4, we learn that despite her strength and wealth, the Lord God Almighty will bring destruction! Many commentators point to the conquests of Alexander the Great as the fulfillment of this prophecy - about 333 B.C.

In verse 5, we find the Judgment against Philistia and are told that her cities: Gaza, Ekron; and, Ashkelon will be dismayed! In verses 6 through 7, we are told that strangers will abide there - those that remain will be for God! In verse 8, we find that in contrast, Almighty God will protect His house, or Israel! Alexander the Great, according to the late great Jewish historian and apologist, Titus Flavius Josephus (37 A.D. - about 100 A.D.), born: Josephus ben Matthias, did not destroy Jerusalem as he made his way through Palestine!

In verses 9 through 10, we find Israel’s hope for the future prophesied