People of the Promise: Exile & Return – Lesson 22

 

 

Zechariah 12-14

Israel Will Respond – Zechariah 12-13

Verse 1 stresses Zechariah’s words of authority of prophecy, because he declares his words come from the Lord.  The Lord is the sovereign creator and sustainer of the universe.  It’s a reminder of God’s power and relationship with humanity.

Verses 1-9 the phrase “On that day” refers to a future time when God will judge, protect, and restore Israel.  God will protect Israel and bring judgment on the enemies of His people.  It’s “the day of the Lord” refers to Jesus’ return, when God’s ultimate judgment and establishment of His kingdom.

Verses 1-9 reveal:

The key places – Jerusalem.

The circumstances of the battle – nations that come against Jerusalem, this will be the last battle.

The Lord’s response and the outcome of the battle – He will supernaturally empower the people to defend the city.

God’s relationship to His people and personal interest in the world – He is the creator and sustainer of the world.  Without Him nothing would have come into being.  He chose Israel to be His chosen people.  He established a covenant with Abraham and promised to make him a great nation, bless him, and through him, bless all the people of the earth.  He loves all people, but used Israel in His plan of salvation for all humankind.

In Zechariah 12:10-14; 13:1 God said He would pour out His Holy Spirit on Israel bringing grace and repentant prayer to each person and to the nation.  They will turn to Jesus, the pierced One, in repentance.  They will realize that they crucified the Savior and they will mourn and repent that they rejected. Him.  It will be a great time of sorrow and deep grief for their sins.  God will refine a remnant of His people through trials leading them to call upon His name.  Only a portion, 1/3 will survive the refining process.

Being sorry for sin and repentance from sin brings spiritual cleansing.  2 Corinthians 7:10 tell us that “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret…”  1 John 1:9 tell us that, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  When we are cleansed of sin, we are restored to a personal relationship with God.

We all have a part in Christ’s death. He bore our sins on the cross so we might die to sins and live for Him.  “… But he was pierced for our transgressions…” – Isaiah 53:4-6.  “… by his wounds you have been healed.” – 1 Peter 2:24.   He died for us all.

This passage relates to Romans 11:25-27 in that God has allowed a partial hardening of Israel’s heart until the full number of Gentiles has come to faith in Christ.  God has a plan for both Gentiles and Jews.  Salvation of the Gentiles is part of a larger plan that will lead to the salvation of Israel.  This has not happened yet.

Zechariah 13:7-9 speaks of striking the shepherd and scattering the sheep.  This shepherd is Jesus who was stuck down in death.  Then the scattering is His disciples fleeing when He was arrested.

Principle:  God is at work in history and in the future; He is always in control.

The Lord Will Return – Zechariah 14

In the future on the Day of the Lord there will be conflict and judgment.  There will be a great battle against Jerusalem.  The city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped.  Half of the city will go into exile, the rest taken from the city.  The Lord will fight against those nations.  The Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a valley.  The Jews will flee to the mountain.

Revelation 22:1-2, 5 tell us changes to nature will accompany the Lord’s return.  There will be a river of life flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city.  On each side will be the tree of life with 12 crops of fruit yielding fruit for every month.  The leaves are for the healing of the nations.  There will be no longer any curse.  The throne will be in the city and His servants will serve Him.  They will see His face and His name will be on their foreheads.  There will be no light because the Lord will give the light.

A glorious truth is declared in verse 9.  The Lord will be king over the whole earth and there will be one Lord, and His name the only name.  We can live out that truth today by making Jesus our King and submitting to Him.

In verses 12-15 God will judge the people who oppose Him.  He will strike all the nations that fight against Jerusalem.  Their flesh will rot, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.  There will be great panic and they will attack one another.  A similar plague will strike the horses, mules, camels, donkeys, and all the animals of the enemies.  Judah will fight against the enemy nations and the wealth of the nations will be collected – great quantities of gold and  silver and clothing.

Life is described in verses 16-19.  The nations’ survivors will worship the King and celebrate the yearly Feast of Tabernacles.  If they don’t, God will withhold rain and bring plages on them.

Verses 20-21 describe life in God’s kingdom.  God’s holiness will permeate every aspect of life.  “Holy to the Lord” will be inscribed on the bells of the horses and the cooking pots will be like sacred bowels in front of the altar.  All will be set apart to God and His purposes.

Sometimes we withhold God’s influence from certain areas of our lives by giving in to angry outbursts when we lose patience with others or when things don’t go our way.  Sometimes we can be stubborn, indifferent, insensitive, and selfish.  We can even be lazy with activities that don’t help us grow spiritually or glorify God.

Zechariah’s description of the future challenges us to trust in God’s ultimate victory, proclaim the gospel boldly, and live in holiness, anticipating the day when the Lord will return and be King over all the earth.

Principle:  The day of the Lord is coming and Jesus will be King over all the earth.

Next week we will continue our study in Nehemiah. -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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People of the Promise: Exile & Return – Lesson 21

 

Zechariah 9-11

Judgment on Israel’s Enemies – Zechariah 9

God will bring judgment on Israel’s enemy nations.  He will protect Jerusalem and His people  with His power and authority.

Psalm 91 is encouraging.  It tells us that God is our refuge and our fortress.  He is our shelter and shield.  If we trust in Him, He will command the angels to guard our ways.  He loves us so He will rescue us.  He knows each of our names and when we call upon Him, He will answer.

Zech. 9:9 points to Jesus’ first coming telling us that King Jesus is coming righteous, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.  We are to rejoice and shout of His coming.  Zech. 9:10 foretells His return.  He will end military power and war.  He will bring peace, free the prisoners, and rule the world.

Phrases in Zech. 9:11-17 tell us that God is our protector and deliverer.  He will free prisoners, give hope, restore, and will shield.  Verse 14 tells us He alone has complete authority over the world.  Verse 15 says happiness will overflow.  Verse 16 says God will protect.  Verse 17 says prosperity will be restored.  These verses are encouraging.  What God says He will do, He will do!  

Principle:  What God says He will do, He will do!        

Caring for Judah – Zechariah 10

In Zech. 10:1-3 God promises to care for His people.  He promises to bring rain for their crops and there will be equality for everyone.  He warns His people that there is no help from idols or their godless leadership.  He promises to transform His people to be like war horses, ready for battle and they will defeat their enemies.

There are phrases in verse 4 that point to Christ: 

Jesus is the cornerstone, the foundation and standard.

Jesus is the tent peg, holding all things securely.

Jesus is the battle bow, a strong fighter for good.

Jesus is the leader over every ruler of His people.

Promises God made to His people in verses 5-12:

He will save and bless Israel.

He will have mercy on them.

He will return joy to them.

He will gather them back to the land.

He will strengthen them and they will walk in freedom.

God strengthens me each time I study God’s Word, He gives me strength to trust Him.  He changing my wrong thinking and helps me to understand.  He brings me peace and revives my spirit.  He fills me with hope and increases my faith.

Principle:  God promises to care for and protect His people.

The Good Shepherd – Zechariah 11

The destructive armies are coming to Israel.  He describes Israel’s future judgment.  He refers to Israel as a flock marked for slaughter.  He describes those in authority over the people as false shepherds who exploit their sheep (the people) and betrayed them for personal gain. They were more concerned with making a profit; they say, “praise the Lord I am rich”.  Because of this God pronounces judgment on the wicked shepherds.

Through God’s great mercy, He sends Zechariah as the new shepherd to the flock.  Zechariah focused on the weak and wounded and led them to places to find rest.  God used 2 staffs, Favor and Union and got rid of the 3 bad shepherds.  The Favor staff symbolizes God’s favored status of Israel as His chosen people and the Union staff symbolizes the harmony of the people that was lost when Jerusalem was sieged.

Principle:  God will allow foolish shepherds to come to His people, but judgment will come on them.

Resources:

Bible.org

Easyenglish.bible

Thebiblesays.com

Next week we will continue our study in Zechariah.  -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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