Bible Study Materials

SEE, YOUR KING COMES TO YOU

by   02/26/2010  

Question


1. On what is the eye of the LORD? (9:1-2; See footnote) What will happen to Tyre (9:3-4)? And to the cities of the Philistines? (9:4-7) What will God do for his people? (9:8) 2. Read verse 9:9. What command is given? Why? What kind of King comes? What does the announcement of this king’s coming mean to the returnees of the Israelites? How is this king related to us? (Mt 21:4,5) How will peace come to the nations? (9:10) What will God do for his people? (9:11-13) At the LORD’s appearing, what will happen to his people? (9:14-17) 3. How are the LORD and the idols different? (10:1-2a) What will the LORD Almighty do for his people? (10:2b-3) What will come from Judah? (10:4) How are these related to the Messiah? (1Pe 2:6; Isa 22:23-24; Ps 45:4-5) Together what will they be like and do? (10:5) 4. How is the LORD’s compassion on his people revealed? (10:6-10) What will God do with the strong enemies of his people? (10:11) What is assured for them? (10:12)


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Message


Thank God for his mercy and grace that the fasts become happy and joyful festivals in Christ Jesus. May we keep the joy in love relationship with him and grow in life with him. Now we are going to study Zechariah II, chapter 9-14, which probably had a more direct influence on the writers of the Gospels than any of the other Old Testament passages. Today’s passage includes God’s judgment, the coming messianic King and the blessing and victory of his people. May we especially see God’s promised messianic King and newly accept him. First, God’s judgment on Israel’s enemies (9:1-8). Look verse 1a. “An Oracle (A prophecy:) The word of the LORD is against the land of Hadrach and will rest upon Damascus…” In Net Bible 9:1 it is “An oracle of the word of the Lord concerning the land of Hadrah, with its focus on Damacus.” Hadrach – an area in northern Assyria that encompassed Damascus and neighbouring Hamath. So verse 2a says, “and upon Hamath too, which borders it, and upon Tyre and Sidon, though they are very skillful.” In short it is God’s judgment upon Hadrach, Damascus and Hamath of Assyria and Tyre and Sidon, from north to south. And verse 1a says, “—for the eyes of men and all the tribes of Israel are on the LORD—“ It tells us a time when all the people of the world, especially the Israelites, would be looking toward the Lord. As history would show, this was when Alexander the Great was rapidly moving south toward Egypt after defeating the Persians at Issus in 333 B.C. The whole world was worried about what he would do next, especially the residents of the cities of Palestine that lay in his path. All these people would have their eyes on Alexander, but he was only the Lord's instrument, so Zechariah could say that they were really looking to the Lord. Look at verse 3. “Tyre has built herself a stronghold; she has heaped up silver like dust, and gold like the dirt of the streets. But the Lord will take away her possessions and destroy her power on the sea, and she will be consumed by fire.” The surprising thing is that this prophecy came true at the conquest by Greek armies under the command of Alexander the Great. At one time Tyre stood on the mainland, but in order to secure Tyre’s greater safety, a new city had been constructed on an island located about a half mile offshore. This island was surrounded by a double wall 150 feet high. This wall, plus the surrounding sea, seemed to make the city impregnable. Tyre prospered from this secure position. The city had withstood a five-year siege by the Assyrians and a thirteen-year siege by the Babylonians (Ezek 29:18). But Alexander took the city in just seven months! Alexander destroyed Tyre by building a land bridge from the mainland to the island city and levelling it. Tyre had gained great wealth through commerce. Nevertheless the Lord would take away her wealth casting it into the Mediterranean Sea. The parts of the city that would not go down into the water would go up in flames. Look at verses 5-6. “Ashkelon will see it and fear; Gaza will writhe in agony, and Ekron too, for her hope will wither. Gaza will lose her king and Ashkelon will be deserted. Foreigners will occupy Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.” The Philistine cities farther south along the Mediterranean coast would observe Tyre’s fate and fear. Ekron was in the northernmost of the four cities, and then Ashdod, Ashkelon and Gaza. God would also destroy these cities and populate them with a mixed group of citizens. Thus He would humble the pride of the Philistines. This too happened when Alexander swept south. Look at verse 7. “I will take the blood from their mouths, the forbidden food from between their teeth. Those who are left will belong to our God and become leaders in Judah, and Ekron will be like the Jebusites.” Here the Lord would remove the blood that these pagans ate, which was forbidden in Israel, from their mouths. He would take the unclean, detestable food that they ate from their mouths. Drinking blood and eating unclean food was part of Philistine pagan worship (Isa. 65:4; 66:3,17), and the Lord put an end to their idolatrous worship. Some remaining Philistines would turn to the Lord and become like the Israelites as the Jebusites became incorporated into Israel in David's day (2 Sa. 24:16; 1 Ch. 21:18). Look at verse 8. “But I will defend my house against marauding forces. Never again will an oppressor overrun my people, for now I am keeping watch.” Verse 8a refers to God’s protection that during this invasion of Alexander, Jerusalem and its people would be spared. And verse 8b refers to the future deliverance from oppressors when the Messiah rules the nations. This part shows that God is the sovereign Ruler of history, who fulfills his prophecies. Second, the coming of the messianic King (9:9-17). Look at verse 9. “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” What a sudden change in the flow of the prophecies! What an amazing prophecy now given! “Rejoice greatly…Shout…See, your king comes to you…” This king would not be like the invading Alexander or any other king. No king in history was righteous. No king brought salvation, rather all kings need salvation. No king was gentle, riding on a donkey. But the coming King would be the King, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt. When we think of the history of Israel, at first God was their king. God delivered them from the slavery in Egypt and brought them into the Promised Land. But in the land of promise they rejected God as their king and wanted to have a human king like other nations. God gave them what they desired. For the past about 500 years of her history kings were raised one after another. But the nation under the kingship of their kings resulted in Babylonian captivity ruled by the merciless Babylonian king (Jehoiachin and Zedekiah). After returning to their home land, at this point they had even no king of their own. They could survive so far only by God’s mercy. Now at this critical time of the nation the LORD Almighty is announcing the coming king, “See, your king comes to you…” But the important thing is that this king would not be a political king, but a spiritual king as the Messiah. To understand the concept of the spiritual king would not be easy. That’s why God gave them this unique vivid graphical prophecy with the emphasis of the king’s riding on a donkey, not a war horse. As we know, the Bible description is not redundant but concise. But here is a triple emphasis on what he rides on, his riding on a donkey, on a colt (not more than four years of age), the foal (not yet one year of age) so that when it actually happened, the people might believe the spiritual king prophesied. However, around 500 years later, when Jesus came and entered Jerusalem on what we traditionally call Psalm Sunday, riding on a donkey’s colt (which no one has ever ridden) before their very eyes, the people liked it and seemed to welcome him with shout. Yet, at that time nobody knew it was the fulfillment of God’s prophecy. Even his disciples could not understand the event. In truth the Israelites did not accept him as their spiritual king. In pursuit of their powerful political king according to their desire, they let him be crucified on the cross by the hands of Romans. But God confirmed that he is the spiritual king promised and prophesied to come for all mankind through his death and resurrection. God attested the truthfulness of the prophecy. Few prophecies were fulfilled in such detail as this prophecy. In fact the Gospel writer stresses that the Lord totally fulfilled the most minute details of the prophecy that Zechariah had foretold. Now indeed he is our spiritual king, righteous and giving salvation from sin and death to those who accept him. However, like the Israelites many people of the world desire their physical earthly king and human hero. They reject the spiritual king. Because of their desire and human expectation they are ignorant of the spiritual world. When people reject God’s anointed spiritual king, they are constantly under the rule of another king, the prince of this world, Satan. All people must know that in fact there are only two kings and each must choose between the two. As the world is a battle ground, so are the hearts and lives of people. God’s anointed Messiah king Jesus is a gentle king. He does not forcibly come into the heart of any individual. If anyone holds to his or her desire and ideas against God’s will and God’s word, the king cannot come into the heart of the person. But when people repent of their sins and their selfish and self-centred desires and yield to his will, he is willing to come into them personally and rule each of them with his love and truth. The coming of the messiah king is the constant teaching of the book of Zechariah. Look at verse 10a. “I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken.” Chariot, war-horse and battle bow are three primary assets in any ancient armory. God promised to eliminate them. Look at 10b.”He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.” Verse 10 clearly shows that the coming king is not the military conquering king, but the spiritual king, who does not need the chariots and the war-horses and battle bow. Rather he proclaims peace to the nations to win the hearts of people. He is truly powerful and his rule will extend to the ends of the earth. This prophecy and vision will be fully accomplished when the messianic King comes again and stand on the earth for his messianic kingdom. He is our personal king with salvation and righteousness and gentleness and the King of the earth. He is the King the people of all nations truly desire. This is the reason God wants us to rejoice and shout. May we live under his blessed kingship and proclaim his salvation and peace boldly to all people of the earth. We continue to pray, “Your kingdom and your rule come in this world.” After the insertion of verses 9 and 10 concerning the messianic king, the passage of Zechariah 9 goes back to the original flow of the story of God’s saving and giving victory to his people. Look at verses 11-12. “As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit. Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.” Because of his covenant in the blood the LORD would rescue them from any prisoner state and dark dungeon. In God they have hope despite their imprisoned condition and are fully restored. Look at verse 13. I will bend Judah as I bend my bow and fill it with Ephraim. I will rouse your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and make you like a warrior’s sword.” In NLT verse 13 reads, “Judah is my bow, and Israel is my arrow! Jerusalem is my sword, and like a warrior, I will brandish it against the Greeks.” This verse is the key to understand verses 11-17, though these verses can refer to any future Jewish victory. Since the only time in history that the Jews have been at war with Greeks was during the period of the Maccabean revolt, the passage must refer to those years. After the death of Alexander in 323 B.C., the empire divided into three parts: Greece itself, under a variety of rulers; the eastern lands, including Judah, under the Seleucides; and Egypt, under the Ptolemies. Among the kings the Seleucid kings ruled ruthlessly. Moreover, they repeatedly offended the Jews’ religious sensibilities. A climax came with the rule of Antiochus IV, known as Antiochus Epiphanes (175-163 B.C.). He suspended the daily sacrifices, abolished the Sabbath, destroyed copies of the Scriptures, forbade circumcision, and erected pagan alters. To crown it all, in December 167 B.C., he introduced the cult of the Olympian Zeus into the temple by setting up a pagan altar and offering swine’s flesh on it. Against this offensive and autocratic rule, the areas of Judah and Ephraim were indeed aroused, as Zechariah prophesied (9:13). The spark was struck in Modein, a little town in the hill country northwest of Jerusalem. A Syrian officer had demanded that the people make pagan sacrifices. But when a Jew came forward to make the sacrifice, a local priest named Mattathias rose up and killed both the Jews and the Syrian officer. Then he fled to the wilderness with his five sons: John, Simon, Judas, Eleazar, and Jonathan. Others gathered around them, and a guerrilla war commenced. When Mattathias died soon after the outbreak of the rebellion, leadership passed to Judas, who became known as Judas Maccabeus, which means “the hammer.” Judas won stunning victories against a number of Antiochus’ generals and eventually occupied Jerusalem and purified the temple. The Maccabees were able to achieve a century of Jewish independence that lasted until the coming of the Roman ruler Pompey in 63 B.C. Having this historical background in mind, let’s read verses 14-17, “Then the LORD will appear over them; his arrow will flash like lightning. The Sovereign LORD will sound the trumpet; he will march in the storms of the south, and the LORD Almighty will shield them. They will destroy and overcome with slingstones. They will drink and roar as with wine; they will be full like a bowl used for sprinkling the corners of the altar. The LORD their God will save them on that day as the flock of his people. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown. How attractive and beautiful they will be! Grain will make the young men thrive, and new wine the young women.” These words are glorious. And as it is mentioned, this description cannot be limited to only the Maccabees. It refers also to the future victory of God’s people. They can win the battle with slingstones, as David defeated Goliath. In God’s salvation and love through the Messiah they sparkle like the jewels in a crown. They are attractive and beautiful. It is as Apostle Paul said in Philippians 2:15, “…you may become…pure children of God and in a depraved generation shine like stars in the universe.” This is the picture of the people who have the messianic King in their hearts and lives. Third, the further blessing and victory in the LORD Almighty (10:1-12). The focus of chapter 9 is the coming King, the Messiah and his reign over the nations. However, the emphasis of chapter 10 is God’s people. It looks forward to a near and a far fulfillment in history. Look at 10:1. “Ask the LORD for rain in the spring time; it is the LORD who makes the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone.” In the past Israel looked to idols for rain such as Baal. Now the LORD urges his people to ask him for rain. It is reasonable to do so, because the LORD is the one who makes the storm clouds (Jer 14:22). He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone. God is the source of rain and all blessings for mankind. God wants his people to live in his abundant provision by asking him. Look at verse 2. “The idols speak deceit, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd.” People are deceived and misled and wander until they find the true God. Look at verse 3. “My anger burns against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders, for the LORD Almighty will care for his flock, the house of Judah, and make them like a proud horse in battle.” Here the shepherd and leaders who are the objects of God’s anger probably refer to all false prophets, kings, or other leaders, both Jew and Gentile. How blessed are those who are under the care of the LORD Almighty as his flock. The LORD will make the weak sheep like a proud horse in battle (majestic warhorse). They are empowered to be ready to fight and win. Look at verse 4. “From Judah will come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler.” “Cornerstone” (Ps. 118:22; Isa. 28:16; 1 Pet. 2:6), “tent peg” (Isa. 22:22-24; Acts 15:16; Eze 15:3), and “battle bow” (Ps. 45:5) all refer to the Messiah. He is also the Ruler over all the earth. In him our life has true foundation and becomes firm and victorious. So verse 5 says, “Together they will be like mighty men trampling the muddy streets in battle. Because the LORD is with them, they will fight and overthrow the horsemen.” Look at verses 6-7. “I will strengthen the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph. I will restore them because I have compassion on them. They will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them. The Ephraimites will become like mighty men, and their hearts will be glad as with wine. Their children will see it and be joyful; their hearts will rejoice in the LORD.” God’s people will become like David’s mighty men. And their hearts and the hearts of their children will be glad and rejoice in the LORD. Look at verses 8-10. “I will signal for them and gather them in. Surely I will redeem them; they will be as numerous as before. Though I scatter them among the peoples, yet in distant lands they will remember me. They and their children will survive, and they will return. I will bring them back from Egypt and gather them from Assyria. I will bring them to Gilead and Lebanon, and there will not be room enough for them.” This part is a more extended description of Israel’s restoration in the Messianic kingdom. Gilead had rich pastures on the east of the Jordan River, and Lebanon, mighty forest on the west of the Jordan. In the Old Testament, Lebanon is referred to as the symbol of strength, dignity and splendor, (2 Ki 19:23; Isa. 35:2), as are the mountains of Gilead. Here these two combinationed may be intended to demonstrate the future power and glory of the Messianic kingdom. Look at verses 11-12. “‘They will pass through the sea of trouble; the surging sea will be subdued and all the depths of the Nile will dry up. Assyria’s pride will be brought down and Egypt’s scepter will pass away. I will strengthen them in the LORD and in his name they will walk,’ declare the LORD.” The Messiah together with his people would pass through the sea of His people’s distress and banish it, as He had done to the Red Sea when the Israelites left Egypt in the Exodus. He would humble all Israel’s enemies, of which Egypt and Assyria were only representatives. The Gentile leaders of the world, symbolized by Egypt’s scepter, would pass away. The Messiah would also strengthen the Israelites in the Lord. They would walk all over the earth in his name. We praise God for the messianic King, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey’s colt. May we live under hiss blessed kingship! May his kingdom and his rule come in this world through the proclamation of his salvation and peace!


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