ZECHARIAH 9: 10-17
THE MESSIAH AND HIS KINGDOM
"Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord." After seeing the humble Messiah riding on a donkey the prophet's vision is directed to the victory that will follow and to the blessed results of the second coming. This Redeemer-King not only will deliver Zion and Israel but also to the entire earth. The salvation of the captives and their defense is based on the blood covenant His has with them. The Messiah's coming as the Son of Man in glory is the only way to bring fulfillment to these prophecies of hope and deliverance.
I. THE COMING PRINCE OF PEACE, 10.
II. THE COMING DELIVERANCE, 11-12.
III. THE COMING VICTORY, 13-15.
IV. THE COMING CROWNS, 16-17.
Again we encounter a merging of what pertains to the first coming of Christ with what refers to His second coming. The humble King appeared in verse 9 but verse 10 and following do not describe anything that Jesus our Messiah did during His first coming. He certainly did not bring peace between the nations as predicted in verse 10 where the rule and reign of Messiah's Kingdom are described. When the lowly King comes again, He will inaugurate His rule by putting down warfare and strife. Then His dominion will be extended by peaceful methods, for the tools of war will be destroyed - Micah 5:10, 11; 4:37, Isaiah 2:4. The swords will be beaten into plows and spears into pruning hooks, there will be no reliance in earthly weapons possible. At last, total world disarmament and permanent world peace will come to the nations.
When we view two distant mountains at a distance they appear to be close together, perhaps even to touch each other. As we approach them, we can see that they are distinct, in fact far apart and even separated by a huge valley. This is the situation with many Old Testament prophecies. Verse 9 was clearly fulfilled in Christ's first coming, but verse 10 can now be seen to refer to His second coming. At that time all nations will be subject to Christ, and His rule will extend over the whole earth. In Philippians 2: 9-10, we are told that at that time every knee will bow to Christ and every tongue will confess Him as Lord.
I. THE COMING PRINCE OF PEACE, 10.
The LORD now speaks of what He will do through the Messiah at His second coming in verse 10. "And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; and the bow of war will be cut off. And He will speak peace to the nations; And His dominion will be from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth."
The southern kingdom of Judah is represented by its capital, Jerusalem, and the northern kingdom of Israel by Ephraim, one of its principal tribes. Both are mentioned to indicate that the all Israel is reunited and involved in the LORD's blessing.
[Ephraim was Joseph's second son born in Egypt before the famine. Israel's first born by Leah was Reuben. Reuben by an act of personal moral defilement (Gen. 35:22) disqualified himself and did not inherit the birth right, it went to Joseph (1 Chron. 5:1-2), Rachel's first born.. Joseph's two sons Ephraim and Manasseh received the blessing with Ephraim getting the greater blessing (Gen. 48:8-22). They received a double portion in the Promised Land.]
Israel's Redeemer-King will come and bring peace to the nations. He shall "speak peace." Not command or demand peace but the power and authority of His spoken words will bring about internal and external peace. Those who know Him personally already have peace because He has removed the hostilities between man and God (Rom. 5:1) but this deep inner peace toward men with whom God is pleased was brought about at His first advent. During His second coming the true inner peace of surrender to the will of God in Christ Jesus will accomplish outward peace because outward conflict and strife is the result of inward restlessness and strife (Ps. 72).
The Prince of Peace's world dominion will mean for external peace for all, even for those who reject His inner rule and peace. His rule will extend from sea to sea, originally meant from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf, but it became an expression for everywhere. "The river," when not in the context of Egypt, indicates the Euphrates (which was the eastward boundary of the Promised Land, Gen. 15:18, Ex. 23:31) where His holy land ends but His dominion will extend "to the ends of the earth."
He "cut off" the instruments of war from His people for they will not be like the heathen world powers who trusted military power (Isa. 20:7) but they will learn to trust in His watch care and protection.
In this interim time between Christ's two advents He asks His people to extend His Kingdom by speaking of the peace He made between God and us on the cross of Calvary. Those who shod their feet to walk in the Gospel of Peace will experience His inner peace
II. THE COMING DELIVERANCE, 11-12.
The focus of the prophet's message now moves from the future extent of the Messiah's realm to the present condition of the LORD's people in verses 11 and 12. The glorious vision of their coming King is intended to encourage them despite the gloominess of their current circumstances, and should reinvigorate them to persevere no matter what may come their way.
In verse 11 the LORD promises His people deliverance out of what ever desperate circumstances they have dug for themselves. "As for you also because of the blood of (My) covenant with you, I have set your prisoner free from the waterless pit."
The Blood Covenant pointed to here is the Blood Covenant of Christ. For the blood of the old covenant foreshadowed the blood of Christ shed on the cross to establish the new covenant (Mt. 26:28; Heb. 9:11-28) and the bond between the LORD and His people. Yes, all the blood of all the previous covenants point to the shed blood of the great sacrifice and covenant; the precious blood of Jesus shed on the cross which alone opens the way for sinful man to receive God's covenant blessings. For the grace which sets free is based upon the blood of the covenant and not due to any worthiness of the prisoner.
The Covenant Blood of the death of Christ distinguishes the lost from the saved (Rom. 5:9; Acts 20:28; Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:20). Blood is the symbol of death. When one makes the decision to die to self life, or to living life by the power of natural man, God makes a covenant with that one by the Blood of Christ shed on the cross and that one walks into the exchanged life.
The waterless pit indicated the thirsty condition of captivity from which God will deliver those prisoners who trusted in His Covenant promises. Like Joseph (Gen. 37:24) they are prisoners (asirim from asar, bound one) without hope of survival until ransomed by blood redemption.
Prisoners in antiquity were often kept in a cistern or a dry well (Jer. 38:6). The cistern could be an allusion to Joseph's hopeless condition that would became the method God used to fulfill the promises given in His dreams (Gen. 37:24) and to deliver a nation (Gen 50:20).
Christ was sent to open the prison gate and to break the bonds of sin and to set the captive free (Ps. 40:2-3. Lk. 4:18). God delivers out of darkness into the Kingdom of His dear Son. We await the day when we will see Jesus and be like Him, free from every besetting sin. Yet even now He offers all who draw near rivers of living water (Jn. 7:37). Praise His wondrous name!
The LORD urges them in verse 12 to return to Him. "Return to the stronghold, O prisoners who have the hope; this very day I am declaring that I will restore double to you."
The prisoners who return to the stronghold will be abundantly blessed. These prisoners have a definite hope of deliverance and are therefore call "Prisoners of the Hope." Even in their distress they have hope for future release because of their covenant relationship with the LORD. The Hope refers to the hope of all the ages which is centered in the Messiah (Titus ).
"The stronghold" is ultimately God Himself, the only one who can give the repentant refuge and safety. The stronghold may have indicated natural fortresses in Palestine or Zion for the people that day, and the Church to us today. Ultimately though, Jesus Christ is the only Ark of safety from the storm.
Those prisoners who have hope of deliverance are told to return which also means to repent. Hope must be acted on in faith, if it is to become personally fulfilled. Their hope is in their spiritual stronghold. If by faith they will have returned to their spiritual stronghold, they will be in a position to enjoy the benefits the LORD bestows on them (Ps. 130:7-8).
The fulness of blessing which will come from the restoration of the repentant is referred to a double portion. A double portion was the inheritance of the first born son, which could mean Israel (Ex. 4:27). But since Ephraim, the son of Joseph became the heir of the double portion after the wicked rebellion of the first born Reuben, it could be applied to the Church or to the repentant remnant of Israel in the tribulation (Duet. 21:15-17; 1 Chron. 5:1-2; Isa. 41:7).
III. THE COMING VICTORY, 9:13-15.
The LORD will deliver His repentant people, and give them a vital role to play. For God is going to use His people to bring about His coming victory. "For I will bend Judah as My Bow, I will fill the bow with Ephraim. And I will stir up your sons O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and I will make you like a warrior's sword."
A nearer fulfillment is again merged with the more distant future fulfillment. A "stirring up" against "Greece" (Yawan - related to Ionia, the Greek area on the coast of Asia Minor and is mentioned as comprising peoples of distant lands in Gen. 10:2, 4; Isa. 66:19 ) by "the son of Zion," infers a spiritual conflict. A partial fulfillment may be seen in the Maccabees revolt against the Seleuciadians who were the rulers of Syria after the dividing up of Alexander the Great's Kingdom. The wars came about when the Greek's attempted to throw out the Jewish religion and substitute in its place Grecian customs (even introducing the cult of Olympian Zeus into the Temple, 1 Macc.8:9-18; 2 Macc 4:13-15). Antiochus Epiphanes (175–163 B.C.) set up a pagan altar in the Temple and sacrificed a pig on it (167 B.C.) causing a major revolt.
The prophecy though cannot be altogether restricted to the Maccabean lead struggle with the Syrian Greeks because the passage goes on to state the complete victory over heathen world powers. The amazing 2nd Century BC (168-104) defeat of Antiochus Epiphanies and His successors at the hands of comparative handful of Jews (Dan. 11:32, 8:9-14) is just a foreshadowing of the final victory over the world-powers who will gather their armies around Jerusalem.
Although the Messiah's mission is to establish His Kingdom of Peace, He must first conquer all warring enemies and deliver His people thus the analogy of the Bow, Arrow, and Sword being used by the Divine Warrior.
The battle on earth being divinely aided by the LORD is indicated in verse 14. "Then the LORD will appear over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightening; and the Lord GOD will blow the trumpet, and will march in the storm winds of the south."
The LORD was certainly with the heroic Maccabean revolt but the final fulfillment will come literally, for YHWH in the person of the Messiah will burst "over them." He will be the captain leading the Hosts (Rev. 19:11-16).
The Lord is seen as doing battle for His people as a bowman. His missiles are flashing forth not with the slow-winged flight of the arrows of man but they blaze forth swiftly and dangerously as lightning.
The trumpet blast was used to express important events. And here we have the Lord thundering the trumpet that sends forth His armies be they of nature or of a heavenly Host. And as any army is mightily inspired by the courage seen in its valiant champion so much more will be the Hosts of the LORD.
The storms coming in from the south were the most violent and destructive as they swept unimpeded over the hot desert. These exceedingly hot blasts cause the vegetation to wilt. When the LORD unleashes His fierce storm upon His foes it will cause His adversaries to wither (Job 37:9, Isa. 21:1; 29:6) also.
Not only will the LORD Almighty devastate His enemies, verse 15 states He will shield and exhilarate His people. "The LORD of Hosts will shield them. And they will devour, and trample on the sling stones, and they will drink and be boisterous as with wine; and they will be filled like a sacrificial basin, drenched like the corners of the altar. "
The victory on behalf of those with whom God has established His blood covenant will be decisive. The Lord of Celestial Armies will shield them. "Shield" is yagen (from ganan) to cover, protect and surround (Ps. 3:3). They will be shielded by throwing a completely protective cover around and over them. God told Abraham that He is His shield (Gen. 15:1). With such protection the LORD's Host devoured the oppressing armies (an allusion to the lion of Numbers 23:24). They will trample their enemies under their feet like ones does "sling stones" that have missed the mark. They will drink in their victory and be exuberant in their triumph. When God's people triumph they will not only subdue their enemies but bring about a cleansing from defilement. The basin and altar are the language of the sacrificial system. After the death of the sacrificial animal its blood was put in a basin and poured down the side of the altar. We can see here God viewing lost humanity as the animal it has become (Jude 10b). How the blood of the enemies of God will justly run.
IV. THE COMING CROWN, 16-17.
Verse 16 informs us that their deliverance comes about because of the LORD's assistance. "And the Lord their God will save them in that day as the flock of His people; for they are as the stones of a crown, sparkling in His land."
The picture in verse 16 changes from war and bloodshed to that of a shepherd and His flock, which becomes a prominent picture in the last chapters of this book. The ultimate benefit to Israel will be spiritual deliverance after physical victory. His people will be the flock of the Lord and a glittering stones of His crown in the land.
All the Lord's activities for His people are summed up in He will save them. Not merely deliver but begin the salvation He promised long ago. For the term flock illustrates the saved people status as sheep under the Good Shepherd (Ps. 100, Isa. 40:10-11; Ezek. 34).
The Messiah will not only deliver but He will lead, tend, feed, and reign over His people. Oh to be in our Shepherd's tender care! They will be as stones of a crown. They will be living stones of the Christ that will adorn the earth in an earthly Kingdom of the Great Deliverer. This picture of being crown jewels is in direct contrast to the enemies of Christ who were trampled on like sting stones. The Lord's triumphant heroes will sparkle and shine like crown jewels all over the land.
God's goodness and beauty will also be bestowed as verse 17 discloses. "For what comeliness and beauty will be theirs! Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine the virgins."
The people of the Messiah possession will become attractive and beautiful. Have you ever notice the change that comes over a person's appearance when they receive Christ and enter into Him. His people in that day will be good and beautiful because of the new fuller capacity they will receive from Him to whom they belong. (Flourish is yenobhabh- to grow or to increase).
Grain and new wine are mentioned for the purpose of illustrating the blessings. The material blessings described are symbols of Millennial prosperity under Messiah which will cause vigor and flourishing both in temporal and spiritual blessings. The result of the Lord's coming will be the enjoyment of abundant peace, prosperity, and plenty.
CONCLUSION
How great is the deliverance and blessing in store for the people of God. Despite our present conflict we are to look forward and consider all that will be provided for us. And even today we can testify that when the enemies of God's people rise up against us, He is our shield and defender and leads us to victory.
Though our efforts to advance His cause often seem to be frustrated just like those of the Jews of Zechariah's day, we still are to strive to have a clear vision of what is at the end of the road, that will encourage us to press onwards.
But one day God will lead His people Israel to final glorious victory. When the armies of the world gather around them, Messiah will return and be their conquering Hero. And never again will war be waged or its implements be built.
"God kept every promise He made about the coming of His Son to us, and He will keep every promise He made about the coming of His Son for us." [Roy Lessin]
