Zechariah
9 – Israel Defended Against Enemies
Zechariah
speaks prophecies against specific nations, and in due time, these prophecies
were fulfilled. But He also foretells the Messiah’s arrival and the salvation
of His people. Those prophecies were fulfilled in Christ but will culminate in
His second coming.
God
would center His judgment on one of Israel’s longstanding enemies to the
northeast, with its capital (Damascus) as the bull’s eye. Judgment would also
fall on the Phoenicians to the north and the Philistines to the west. During
his short reign, Alexander the Great conquered all the territories mentioned
here.
Zechariah
compares powerful human rule with the peaceful first coming of the Messiah and
the eternal rule of the Prince of Peace upon His second coming. Kings were
often arbitrary and unfair in their actions, but the Messiah’s reign would be
just because He would do God’s will and have God’s law within His heart. In His
kingdom, the injustices of this world would be eliminated, and equity would
prevail (Isa. 11:1-10).
Donkeys
were royal mounts in the ancient Near East, but the fact that the messianic
King is pictured riding one of these into Jerusalem, rather than a war horse or
chariot, signals that His ultimate purpose was to inaugurate a worldwide
kingdom of peace (Matt. 21:5).
Prisoners
in ancient times were often kept in dry wells like Joseph was (Gen. 37:24,28).
The exiles of Israel pictured in a cistern of captivity, suffering, and despair
would be freed because of God’s unbreakable covenant with them. Christ offers
that freedom to all who believe in Him (Gal. 5:1).
Devour
and subdue with slingstones could mean God’s people would easily subdue their
enemies, as David did Goliath (I Sam. 17).
Please
read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.
If
you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at.
J.
Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary. The Jeremiah
Study Bible.
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