Zechariah 10
Notes
Transcript
Continuing on
Continuing on
Like I mentioned last week I had thought briefly of trying to combine chapters 9 and 10 because they seem to flow together so well it’s like one unit. We know that it’s unlikely for me to get that much bible into one night so that was laughable but I wanted to bring it up so that we’re in the same thought coming from chapter 9. Pretend there isn’t a chapter division and we went from judgment to the coming king of Zion to the coming salvation right into where we’re at now.
Restoration
Restoration
Ask rain from the Lord
in the season of the spring rain,
from the Lord who makes the storm clouds,
and he will give them showers of rain,
to everyone the vegetation in the field.
For the household gods utter nonsense,
and the diviners see lies;
they tell false dreams
and give empty consolation.
Therefore the people wander like sheep;
they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd.
At it seems like it’s great telling them to ask for blessings but then it gets to this idolatry that is quite negative. The whole thing is sort of an exhortation that has both negative and positive aspects. An exhortation for anyone not totally up on their church lingo means “an earnest attempt at persuasion” I googled that so that I would know what it means. Zechariah is trying to persuade the people to call to God where all blessings come from instead of their dead idiotic household statues they call gods.
Weren’t we at the these things flow together stage how does this make sense as step 4? Judgment on nations, then promise of a King, promises of salvation from their suffering, and now a call to respond in faith by trusting God. This is what these things lead to. The salvation is not the END. We get that as Christians right? Christ’s work on earth, death on the cross, resurrection and ascention to heaven is not the end it’s just he beginning. If it were the end why would we be here? The glory of God is not yet finished. We are called to glorify him, respond to all those things he’s done just as the people here were expected to respond to what Zechariah laid out in chapter nine. There are those who are far mor accountable to what’s happening, though the people aren’t off the hook. The shepherds aren’t there largely because people followed these false dreams and nonsensical diviners. But some who should be true shepherds are poor ones.
We see this play out in Ezekiel
they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.
“Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As I live, declares the Lord God, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.
There are people called by God to shepherd his people and when they don’t listen to the Lord His anger will be against them. The behaviour of the people certainly didn’t make those who were called excited about going out as shepherds but they were still supposed to do it. I think this is what we see at play here in Zechariah.
“My anger is hot against the shepherds,
and I will punish the leaders;
for the Lord of hosts cares for his flock, the house of Judah,
and will make them like his majestic steed in battle.
Sometimes we think of shepherds as just teachers and spiritual leaders because of how we use that word in the church. In the old testament it’s just as often if not more often used for Royal and civil direct leadership.
Fun note here that a lot of translations don’t bring out but in verse 3 that word leaders that will be punished is actually the insulting word for a he goat.
In verse 3 we shift from dealing with the poor shepherds to the Lord’s plan for a good shepherd to come from Judah
From him shall come the cornerstone,
from him the tent peg,
from him the battle bow,
from him every ruler—all of them together.
This is the Messiah that’s coming. We know the Messiah will be from the house of Judah.
The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
until tribute comes to him;
and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
Now… There are some several hundred year old records that indicate the Sanhedred cried aloud saying the scriptures had been broken because of this verse. You see in 28 AD the Romans told the Jews they were not allowed to decide capitol punishment. Anything that serious had to go through them. The ruling body of Israel cried out saying that obviously this meant the scepter (power of rule) had been taken from them. Little did they know that Jesus was already there and the scripture had not been broken.
So… what comes of the house of Judah? The Messiah who will be a Cornerstone, Tent Peg, and Battle Bow. The first of these seems familiar right we’ve heard of Christ the Cornerstone Psalm 118:22 “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” but… Christ the tent peg? Another use and translation of this word is a firm place. This is how it’s used of Eliakim and it shows how the people are supported by the one who can handle the weight of the people to stay upright. Isaiah 22:23–24 “And I will fasten him like a peg in a secure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his father’s house. And they will hang on him the whole honor of his father’s house, the offspring and issue, every small vessel, from the cups to all the flagons.” Then lastly the Battle Bow might not be familiar but it probably makes a bit more sense that the Messiah would certainly be one who will have victory in any battle. This also represents and models what the ruler and leader over the people should be. A cornerstone that sets a firm boundry, a tent peg that can hold up to the weight tied to it, and the battle bow that brings victory.
We see that vicory emphasized in vs 5
They shall be like mighty men in battle,
trampling the foe in the mud of the streets;
they shall fight because the Lord is with them,
and they shall put to shame the riders on horses.
No we change pronouns to help us see a perspective shift from Zechariah’s prophecy of what will be to what the Lord IS doing.
“I will strengthen the house of Judah,
and I will save the house of Joseph.
I will bring them back because I have compassion on them,
and they shall be as though I had not rejected them,
for I am the Lord their God and I will answer them.
Then Ephraim shall become like a mighty warrior,
and their hearts shall be glad as with wine.
Their children shall see it and be glad;
their hearts shall rejoice in the Lord.
These are things God is doing. We just saw what God wanted from the people, from the shepherd/leader but God also says He will do it.
God is the redeemer and he says so throughout the Bible Zechariah is no exception.
“I will whistle for them and gather them in,
for I have redeemed them,
and they shall be as many as they were before.
Though I scattered them among the nations,
yet in far countries they shall remember me,
and with their children they shall live and return.
A note that scatter probably gives the wrong idea. The word is the word for sow, like scattering seed but with the intent of harvest. God certainly scattered the people like he said he would but it was also a sowing where he would reap a bountiful harvest when he brought them in.
I will bring them home from the land of Egypt,
and gather them from Assyria,
and I will bring them to the land of Gilead and to Lebanon,
till there is no room for them.
He shall pass through the sea of troubles
and strike down the waves of the sea,
and all the depths of the Nile shall be dried up.
The pride of Assyria shall be laid low,
and the scepter of Egypt shall depart.
Anyone notice the chiasm? Egypt - Assyria : Assyria - Egypt I think there is just a poetic reminder here of historic salvation for the people.
I will make them strong in the Lord,
and they shall walk in his name,”
declares the Lord.
It is God who does the work.
ADVERTISEMENT