Zechariah 12:1-14
Q.1. How did God describe Himself? What point was He making in the context? When will this calamity befall Jerusalem? Will they be destroyed? – (Zech.12:1-5)
God is the sovereign ruler of Heaven and earth, and the Creator of the humanity He formed – Thus declares the Lord who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him (Zech.12:1). He has the absolute right to do what He pleases, and to execute judgment on all rebels. When will all this happen? – It will come about in that day … and all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it (Zech.12:3). Though Israel has undergone extraordinary persecution in the past, this particular antipathy against Jerusalem and Judah is yet future (Zech.12:2-3). However, these enemies will not succeed, because the Lord will protect her and – In that day,” declares the Lord … I will watch over the house of Judah, while I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness (Zech.12:4).
Q.2. What will God do to the opponents of Judah? Why did God single Judah out for special treatment? – (Zech.12:6-9)
Judah and Jerusalem will be surrounded by limitless enemies – 6 “In that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot among pieces of wood and a flaming torch among sheaves, so they will consume on the right hand and on the left all the surrounding peoples … 9 And in that day, I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem (Zech.12:6 & 9). God gave much glory to the inhabitants of Jerusalem because it was the centre of Israel’s worship and religion, that foreshadowed the One Who would be the Perfect Lamb. However, it would never eclipse the glory of the house of David, who was destined to produce the Lion of the tribe of Judah. So – The Lord also will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem will not be magnified above Judah (Zech.12:7). Hebrews reveals that David’s Greater Son, the Lord Jesus, will be both King and the eternal High Priest (Heb.7:1-25). The Lord looks further ahead to when – In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the one who is feeble among them in that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the Lord before them (Zech.12:8).
Q.3. How will God grace the house of David in the last days? What will be the catalyst? Will this be restricted to Judah? What will be the result? – (Zech.12:10-14 & 13:1)
Students of the New Testament will be aware of the mystery unfolded by Paul in Romans 11:25-27 when – all Israel will be saved (Rom.11:26). History reveals that the early church started out completely Jewish. Even during the Great Tribulation, there will be a resurgence of twelve tribes of Israel, who are blood-bought (Rev.7:4-14). Zechariah announced another day of grace to the house of David – I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn (Zech.12:10). We are not left to wonder who this Pierced One might be. Isaiah also described in detail about this One, and His substitutionary sacrifice for sinners – 5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. 6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him (Isa.53:5-6). The apostle John also saw this Pierced One – Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen (Revelation 1:7). John pinpointed this event as the public Second Coming of Christ. He was told by the Pierced One – 17 … “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades (Rev.1:17-18). The royal and priestly families are the most broken hearted with their treatment of their Messiah (Zech.12:10-14). The repentance will be genuine. God declared – In that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity (Zech.13:1). What a day of rejoicing that will be. (c.f. Rom.11:12 & 15).