Zechariah 12-14
"Men since the beginning of time have sought peace, but war is man's chief legacy." wrote General Douglas MacArthur
Chapter 11 painted a gloomy picture of judgment, death and destruction. Zechariah portrayed the good shepherd and felt the sting of betrayal as his sheep rejected him. Then he played the part of the worthless shepherd and heard the judgment the Lord declared against him. The most worthless of all worthless shepherds will be the antichrist.
As we begin chapter 12, we transition from looking at Israel's rejection of the Lord and the declaration of woe, to putting our eyes on the Lord. Remember the context of the book. The Israelites, small in number, returned and just completed building the temple. We can imagine them wondering what the future held for them, their children and nation.
Chapter 12 looks to the horizon; to a coming time known as the 'Day of the Lord'. The 'when' of this day is unsure; but the details of this day are many and sure.
See also Jeremiah 30.
Zechariah 12:1-3
The opening line marks this as a new oracle; a slight change in subject. While the NKJV says this oracle is 'against' Israel, it should be understood as 'toward' or 'concerning' Israel. This puts Israel right in the heart of this time period they understood as the 'day of the Lord' and we know as the second coming of Jesus Christ.
The Lord is introduced as the one who stretched out the heavens, laid the foundations of earth and formed the spirit of man. The creative power and ominipotence of Almighty God are on display in this passage. The language used doesn't speak of something God did long ago; but instead it speaks of currently stretching, laying and forming. The Lord is till moving and forming and active in the world in which we live.
If Israel is the setting for this day, then Jerusalem is center stage. It's not hard to imagine how this will play out in our day. Jerusalem is the constant sticking point in negotiations over peace in the middle east. Israel repeatedly concedes on point after point, but would not concede the sovereignty of Jerusalem. The muslims built the dome of the rock as a holy sight, yet the Jewish claim to Israel is clear throughout the bible. The declaration of the dome of the rock as their third most holy place located in Jerusalem was a recent intepretation of the Koran – and a weak one at that. The Koran doesn't even speak of Jerusalem, even one time.
'In that day' appears again and again, tying all the events of chapters 12-14 into this end time period. In this coming day, all the nations will come together against Jerusalem. The wrath of God against the nations is portrayed as wine cup that will leave the nations reeling. The Islamic passion regarding Jerusalem is like a drunkenness. The obsession and intoxication to possess Jerusalem will pit them against God; a battle that they cannot and will not win. These nations will become like a stumbling drunk:
· They won't listen to reason.
· Won't make good decision
· Will be single minded.
· Are unreasonable & unruly
As the Lord is still present in his creation stretching, laying and forming; He is also still present in Israel, Judah and Jerusalem. They, too, were created by Him, guarded and sustained by Him and currently protected by Him. Imagine how this must have sounded to those folks in Zechariah's time. They were afraid to build the temple for the presence of all the enemies that surrounded them. In this day, Israel will be found as a very heaven stone. Laying siege to them won't be any easy task. In fact, Zechariah says that anyone attempting to move this stone will injure themselves. Even if all the world comes against this one city, they will not succeed; in fact, they will be injured.
Zechariah 12:4-6
In this attempted battle, God himself would strike everh horse and rider with confusion and madness. This confusion and madness is spoken of in Deuteronomy 28:28 as a curse against disobedience. The armies will be confused in this drunkenlike confusion while the Lord opens His eyes toward Judah. Look back at Zechariah 2:
8 For thus says the Lord of hosts: "He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. 9 For surely I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me.
10 "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst," says the Lord. 11 "Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. 12 And the Lord will take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for He is aroused from His holy habitation!"[1]
God has never stopped watching over Jerusalem and won't cease to on that day.
Israel facing the warhorse cavalry would have sounded like an impossible situation to the Israelites of Zechariah's day. Who could stand against such a formidable foe? The warhorses of our day are tanks, jets, helecoptors, cruise missles and nukes. Likewise, when all the world brings these agaisnt Israel, it will also seem like an impossible war to win. Yet, win they will.
The governors of Judah will acknowledge that only God could turn away such a sure devistation. These leaders will be supernaturally impowered for this work. They will be like a firepan, a firery torch; all that surrounds them will burn. And in this, the Lord Himself will get credit, not the house of David or the leaders.
Zechariah 12:7-9
In the coming deliverance, there won't be any ranking of some over others, but all will be one in Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Ga 3:28–29)
The house of David won't be held in higher esteem because of geneology and those living Jerusalem won't be regarded as more righteous than those in surrounding towns. The Lord will save the surrounding places in Judah first and then defend those in Jerusalem. When the Lord is defending you, there's nothing to fret over. What a great comfort in a chaotic and scary time. The confidence in the Lord will bring the most feeble to be a warrior like David. Those of the house of David will be like the angels of the Lord. This is how the Lord will move the hearts of His people as He defends Israel against this vast coalition of the world.
Zechariah 12:10-14
Zechariah shifts the focus now, from physical deliverance to spiritual. At this time, the physical deliverance will be so profound that no one would be able to deny the Lord. The Lord will in turn pour out His Spirit of grace on them. The response to this grace will be prayer. As the veil is lifted on their spiritual eyes, they will see clearly, what so many before were blinded to; they will acknowledge Chirst as their messiah. They will recognize and mourn him as the One they pierced. David Guzik said this:
As Jerusalem is supernaturally defended and the Spirit is poured out on the nation, they will turn to Jesus, the pierced One. His head was pierced with thorns, His hands and feet were pierced with nails, and a spear pierced His side.
John quotes this verse (John 19:32-37) and links the crucifixion of Jesus to this passage in Zechariah.
The subsequent mourning will be deep, like one mourning for an only son. Spurgeion said this:
"It is a beautiful remark of an old divine, that eyes are made for two things at least; first, to look with, and next, to weep with. The eye which looks to the pierced One is the eye which weeps for him." (Spurgeon)
During this time, there will be a collective and national mourning, like there has never been before. This will be the the fulfillment of the Day of Atonement – a day of weeping over sin – in that this day they will weep for their greatest sin; that of rejecting Jesus. The mourning will be likened to that which took place for King Josiah at Hadad Rimmon.
Josiah was crowned a king at 8 years old when his father was executed by his own servants. Josiah grew up to restore worship in Judah, tear down the altars and purge the land from evil. It was during his reign that the book of the law was discovered. Things had gotten so bad the book had been put away. Josiah publicly read it, mourned over their sin and repented. He re-instituted the Passover. Josiah was the last godly king and at his death the nation mourned. Chronciles 35 says:
And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.
25 Jeremiah also lamented for Josiah. And to this day all the singing men and the singing women speak of Josiah in their lamentations. They made it a custom in Israel; and indeed they are written in the Laments. (2 Ch 35:24–25)
While this is a national mourning, it will also be personal and individual as the people encounter the truth of Jesus Christ for the first time. If you are saved in Him, perhaps you remember just such an encounter. This is the time when your heart is changed and you are stunned at these new feelings and you're confused; unsure if you are shocked more by what you now clearly see or by your former blindn. The mourning passes through the royal line, the priestly line as well as the land. This shows the mourning is pervasive in the land; from the least to the greatest, from the religeous priests to the backslidden.
Ezekiel speaks of this time of renewal:
24 For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. 28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. (Ezekiel 36:23–28)
Also see: Isa 32:15; 44:3; 59:20–21; Jer 31:31, 33; Joel 2:28–29; Ezekiel 38-39 and Romans 11:25-27.
Zechariah 13:1-6
This fountain was shut up for so long, it now pours forth freely. It brings cleansing, forgiveness, refreshment and so much more. It brings the grace of God into their life in a very real but inexplicable way. Ther repentance of chapter 12 brings for the fruit of repentance:
1. Saving knowledge of Christ
2. Forgiveness of sins
3. Personal relationship with the Lord
4. Filling with His Spirit.
Jeremiah saw it unfold this way:
But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." (Je 31:33–34)
Things will be so vastly changed in this day that the idols will be purged from the land so completely they won't even be remembered. Idolatry sneaks into our life so quickly, I don't think we can't even fathom what that will be like. The false prophets and the spirit of their false message will be forced to leave, no longer welcome by anyone. They will revert to the keeping of the law given in Deuteronomy 13:1-11 that anyone speaking lies in God's name should be put to death. This sounds harsh to us in our culture where all opinions are welcome and valid. It shows the high regard for God's word and truth and will make sense in that day. This is quite a contrast to our time when God's word is disrespected, mocked and disregarded (even by those who profess to be a church).
The reaction by the false prophets will be seen when they lay down the garments of a prophet realizing they did not prophecy God's word and truth. They will claim another life, that of a farmer for instance. The wounds they bear between their arms will give them away though. The false prophets often cut themselves to show their devotion to the gods. The law forbade such practice (Lev 19:28; Deut 14:1). The false prophet will claim these woulds came to him in the house of his friends.
What a strange answer! Why his friends? Why would those who love him inflict pain? Well, as a false prophet dealing with false gods, it makes no sense at all. The once 'religious' practice that was to show devotion and commitment is now hidden and shamed and doesn't even make sense.
In contrast, it is by the stripes of Christ we are healed. In the context of Zechariah's oracle, those who now love Christ are the one's who inflicted the wounds he now bears. Their spiritual blindness is now a shameful thing as they will wonder how they ever missed this.
That future 'Day of the Lord' is fixed; that day is scheduled and drawing closer. However, we don't know when that day begins. While the events of the end are fixed, your role in that day is not. The question at hand is where will you be in this day?
Zechariah 13:7-9
This passage speaks of the means by which the fountain is opened.
To those in Zechariah's time, the shepherd were those leaders of Judah, particularly those Zechariah had spoken of previously. When the shepherd was gone, the sheep scattered. This idea would have been all they may have uderstood at that time.
We should note that the Lord says, this shepherd is 'My Shepherd'. This man is His companion. This is the Father sending the Son do complete the work outlined for Him. The Son is obedient to the plan. Paul noted in 2 Corinthians that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. So, it is the Lord Himself that calls for the striking of the Shepherd. We know for sure that this is a reference to Jesus because He quoted it Himself in Matthew 26:31; He was telling the disciples how they would deny Him and scatter that very night of His crucifixion.
God was going to turn against the 'little ones' of the flock. In this time of Jacob's trouble, two-thirds of the people would be killed.
21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened. (Mt 24:21–22)
The Lord will bring the remaining third through the fire. They aren't lucky, skilled or deserving; and I believe they will know it. They will be delivered and glorify God for it. The refining process of silver & gold served as a fitting metaphor. Israel was being refined in the fire to remove the impurites; those left would be the pure, holy remnant to glorify their messiah. These folks will call out the name of Jesus and He will answer them. He will declare them His people and they will call Him their Lord God.
Calvin: The stubble and the chaff are cast into the fire, but without any benefit, for they are wholly consumed. But when gold and silver are put in the fire, it is that greater purity may be produced, and what is precious be made more apparent.
Zechariah 14:1-2
Chapter 14 deals with the physical aspect of that day. This is what it will look like through human eyes.
The people Zechariah spoke this to were the ones who were bold enough to come to Israel out of captivity. It was their homeland they came home to, but most had never been there before. Yet, in spite of that boldness, they whithered at the work for which they were brought back. The stakes were too high, the work too hard, the threats too great and the benefit seemingly small. Hagaii call them to consider their ways, Zechariah spoke God's word, "Return to me and I will return to you." As they now listened to Zechariah, their current struggles probably seemed minor. While their wall was brokend down and they met resistance and opposition at every turn, it was nothing in comparison to the Day that was coming. And if the Lord could save them from this coming Day; and if He could war on their behalf at that time, then He could certainly meet their needs. And if this coming day was in the future, it meant they had a future, they were secure in Him, Jerusalem would stand until that time.
However, when that day arrived it would indeed be a time of Jacob's trouble.
· All the nations would surround the city.
· The spoil of Israel would go the enemy.
· The city would be invaded
· The women would be raped.
· Their houses would be ransacked.
· Half of the peolple would be captured.
The remnant would continue, as it always has. The Lord has always maintained a remnant.
Zechariah 14:3-5
About the time that it appears all hope is lost and Israel would be crushed, the Lord intervenes. Things will be so bad those who are intoxicated with their passions to conquer Jerusalem will be planning their victory party knowing it is eminent. The Jews will see sure death and destruction for all as the city is destroyed, the temple mount overrun and all they held dear wiped away. They will call out to Yahweh. The Lord will come forth in battle and turn the day snatching the victory from those who are drunk with their passions agasint the Lord.
The Lord will descend to the Mount of Olives, not Mount Zion, because it is overrun. But also, it is the Mount of Olives from which Christ ascended (Acts 1:12). Acts 1:9-11 says:
9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
It is at the arrival of Christ that the Mount of Olives will split from east to west. A valley will open as the mountain is moved to the north and the south. This provides a convenient escape route for the inhabitants of the city.
They will flee as they did during the earthquake of King Uzziah's day. We don't know much about this earthquake but it must have been very significant to everyone. Amos makes a brief comment about it:
The words of Amos, who was among the sheepbreeders of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.[2]
Read the last part of verse five again:
Thus the Lord my God will come,
And all the saints with You.[3]
While many see these saints as angels coming with Christ, we can't ignore Revelation 19 that is speaking of this same Day of the Lord.
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS[4]
There is then, as Revelation 19 continues, the invitation to a great sacrificial. The Lord is inviting all the birds to prepare for this great feast. Once the Lord arrives, the actual battle is brief and onesided:
19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.[5]
Zechariah 14:6-9
The lights will diminish, there won't be any natural light in that day. The sun and moon by which we mark our days and nights will be no more. Our future will be illuminated by the glory of the Lord.
Another major change in this day is that living water will flow from Jerusalem. Half of it to the west, toward the Mediterranean and the other half to the eastern sea. The eastern sea can only be the Dead Sea in the current lay of the land. We can only imagine what happens when Living water meets a Dead Sea. It will be exciting to see how the sea is changed, how the landscaped is remodeled by the Lord as He takes His throne. Read Ezekiel 47 to get a glimpse.
His name shall be 'The Lord is One' is a reference to the Shema of Deuteronomy 6. Every Jew hearing this would know this.
4 "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.[6]
It was these words they wore on their person, put on the gates and door frames of their homes.
Zechariah 14:10-11
The terrain will apparently be flattened out also. The two places spoken of are 6 miles north of Jerusalem to 9 miles south of the city. The natual defenses around the city will no longer be needed and the city can grow in this day when the Lord reigns.
Zechariah 14:12-15
How will the Lord battle them? What kind of weapon? It says in Revelation by the sword coming from His mouth. This is His word He will slay them with. Zechariah describes the affect:
· Their flesh will dissolve
· Their eyes will dissolve
· Their tongues will dissolve
· It will also kill all their livestock.
In addition, the Lord will bring about a great panic among them. What a shock this will be to those intoxicated with their apparent victory. They will turn on each other and kill the man next them in a panic. At the same time, the armies of Judah will come against them. The plunderers will suddenly become the plundered as the wealth of the nations will be taken.
Zechariah 14:16-21
There are several prophecies that tell us all the nations will one day worship Yahweh. Zechariah sees the day when they make the annual pigrimage to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles; a commemoration of the wilderness wanderings of the exodus. Those that don't come to worship the King will not receive the blessing of rain and a plague will be added to them. Egypt is used as an example; they understood plagues. The plague any nation received for disobedience would resemble the plagues of Egypt. They were free to choose to come worship or not, but the nations could no longer receive the blessings of God and reject Him.
"Holiness to the Lord' was the inscription on the headpiece of the priest. This was only place it was found. Now it will even be engraved on the bells of horses who were once unclean. The pots of the Lord's house for common use and deemed unclean shall now be clean and holy. Even every pot will be holiness to the Lord. And in the final picture of redemption, there won't be any Canaanite in the Lord's house. The Canaanite, the Egyptions, the Jew, the Greek and all other nations will be one with the Lord; holiness, sacred and set apart for Him.
***
In Zechariah's first vision; the nations were content while Israel was in a shambles. By the end of Zechariah, we see a complete reversal. Israel is content, the Lord is on the throne, the cares of the world, it's thrones, it's politics and all it's sinful ways are gone.
In fact, all of Zechariah's visions have come about.
1. A craftsman has been raised up; the nations and failed powers of this world will be no more.
2. The many nations that war, and will war with Israel & God across the ages will be either be joined to the Lord or they will not exist.
3. The final priest will come and remove the iniquity of the land.
4. In the coming time, the Spirit of the Lord will flow freely among the kings & priests of land; among the saints of God.
5. The Word of God will be held in the highest regard.
6. Wickedness & idolatry will be gone.
7. People will willingly choose obedience to the Lord; relationship over empty religious practices.
What a day that will be! Does your longing for this day overwhelm any thoughts or concerns of this world? Do you like the idea, but not yet; do you desire it, but someday? This may well be a sign of your love for sin and the things of the world. This is our flesh and an indication that there is much room to grow. As we grow in righteousness, we mourn over our sin and the one who was pierced because of our sin. In time, we weary with the world and the many times it has let us down. We cry out, come quickly Lord Jesus!
©2018 Doug Ford
[1] The New King James Version. (1982). (Zec 2:8–13). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[2] The New King James Version. (1982). (Am 1:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[3] The New King James Version. (1982). (Zec 14:5). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[4] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 19:11–16). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[5] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 19:19–21). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[6] The New King James Version. (1982). (Dt 6:4–5). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
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