Zacarias 12
Steven Cole · Citado em PreceptAustin
Zacarias 12
Cole - Before we look at several aspects of the spiritual salvation that God promises to bring to His chosen people, note that it is entirely of God. God does not say, “I would like to save My people someday, but they must exercise their free will in order for the process to happen.” Nor is this prophecy based only on God’s foreknowledge of what will happen, but rather on His mighty power that causes it to happen. In other words, God isn’t looking down through the centuries here and exclaiming, “Finally, after all these years, I can see that the Jews will soften their own hearts by their own free will and trust in Me! I’ve always wanted them to do this, but I couldn’t do anything about it because of the sovereignty of human free will. I’m so glad that they finally decided to follow Jesus!” That is how many evangelicals view salvation in our day, but it is definitely not what the Bible teaches. It shows that salvation is of the Lord, from start to finish. While we must trust in Jesus Christ and repent of our sins, neither saving faith nor repentance originates in the fallen human heart. They are God’s gift, so that none can boast (Eph. 2:8-9; Acts 5:31; 11:18). As Cole says the Jews are prepared for this incredible event by a severe three and one-half year tribulation (aka, the Great Tribulation - synonymous with several other time phrases = 1260 days, 42 months, "middle of the week," "time, times, and half a time", Time of Jacob's Distress "a time of distress" - Da 12:1-note) - "Before God saves the Jews spiritually, He will take them through the awful events of the Tribulation, culminating in the horrifying campaign of Armageddon. Lest you think that God is merely describing what will happen in the future, apart from His causation, in 14:2, He states, “For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle....” Those nations will be accountable for their hatred against the Jews, but behind all events is God, “who works all things after the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:11). When you encounter trials, you are prone to doubt either God’s love or His sovereign power. You may even go so far as to doubt His existence: “If there is a loving, all-powerful God, then why are these terrible things happening to me?” But our text is clear that God is by far stronger than the most powerful armies in the world and that He cares for His people, whom He will save. There are Christians who say that anything bad that happens to us is from the devil and that it was not God’s will (imagine!). But the implication, then, is that Satan got one over on God! The Bible is clear that God sometimes uses Satan to carry out His will, but Satan can go no farther than God permits (Job 1-2). It brings far more comfort to know that even severe trials are under God’s sovereign will, than to think that somehow they are not. In the chemistry lab, every substance has its melting point. The same is true of the hard human heart. God graciously brings trials into our lives to soften us and prepare us to receive His grace. Before the trials, we didn’t know that we needed God. We thought that we were in control. So God yanks the rug out from under us by bringing all the armies of the world against us to cause us to cry out to Him for help! AN OUTPOURING OF THE SPIRIT OF GRACE In Hebrews 10:29 we see the Spirit is designated as "the Spirit of grace." Herbert Lockyer - The Holy Spirit is styled— • The Spirit of Grace, since He is the Dispenser of the divine favor to all men. • The Spirit of Supplication, because He teaches us how to pray and for what to pray. • The Spirit of Revelation, because He reveals Christ to the eye of faith. • The Spirit of Wisdom, because He imparts wisdom from above. • The Spirit of Adoption, because He certifies the believer's sonship. • The Spirit of Christ, because He was sent by the Father through the mediation of the Son. • The Spirit of Truth, because He makes the Word of Truth and "The Truth" real to us. "Theology without the Holy Spirit," said Professor Beck of Tūbingen, "is not only a cold stone, it is a deadly poison." • The Spirit of the Lord God, because He shares the sovereignty of the Godhead. • The Seven Spirits of God, because of the plenitude of His power and His diversified activity. I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication: The Messiah is still speaking. It is notable that before Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave His Jewish disciples a promise "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you (THE HOLY SPIRIT); but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Lk 24:49-note, cf Acts 1:8, Acts 2:33, Jn 14:16, 26, Jesus said "Whom I will send" Jn 15:26) So at Pentecost Jesus poured out the Spirit on the Jews and the church was born. Here in Zechariah 12:10 Jesus promises to again pour out the Spirit, which will result in one-third of the nation of Israel being redeemed (Zechariah 13:8-9-note). Pour (08210)(shaphak) means to pour out literally (of fluid - Ex 4:9, Deut 12:16) or blood on the altar (Ex. 29:12; Lev. 4:7; Dt. 12:27). Shaphak describes the casting up of a mound against a city to form a siege ramp for attacking it (2 Sam. 20:15; Ezek. 4:2; Dan. 11:15). A dependent prayer is described as the pouring out of one’s soul (1Sa 1:15; Ps. 42:4), one’s heart (Ps. 62:8]; Lam 2:19); or one’s inner parts before the Lord (Lam 2:11). God poured out both His wrath (Ps. 69:24; Isa. 42:25; Jer. 6:11; Hos. 5:10); and His grace (Joel 2:28, 29; Zech. 12:10) on people. Joel uses shaphak in a parallel passage demonstrative of God's grace being poured out on Israel... Joel 2:28, 29-note “It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions. “Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. The Spirit of God will pour out the Spirit on Jews at Pentecost but the final fulfillment of this outpouring will be on this terminal generation of Israel described in Zechariah 12-14. The Spirit will convict them of sin, righteousness and the judgment to come which will drive the Jews to a time of national believing prayer, confession and repentance. They will supplicate the LORD for His forgiveness and favor. PROPHECIES OF THE OUTPOURING OF SPIRIT UPON ISRAEL There are several OT passages that allude to the pouring out of the Spirit of grace on the Nation of Israel Isaiah 32:15 (context - Isa 32:13-20) Until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high, And the wilderness becomes a fertile field, And the fertile field is considered as a forest. Moody Bible Commentary - The prophets frequently link the establishment of the millennial kingdom with the coming of the Spirit upon God’s people (Ezek 36:27; Joel 2:28–32). God’s Spirit will perform a reversal of fortune, transforming the city and the people and all that has been destroyed. The progression from desert to fertile field to forest is similar to that in Isa 29:17 and appears to denote extraordinary growth
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Cole - “Burden” means a message from God that is weighted with important words of judgment and deliverance. We might say, “That’s a heavy message.” It is a burden “of the word of the Lord concerning Israel.” This is further underscored by “Thus declares the Lord...” So before he even describes who the Lord is, Zechariah wants us to know that this is not his human word; it is the word of Almighty God. Burden (oracle) (04853)(massa' from nasa' = lift up to carry or to bear) means that which is carried and thus primarily means a burden or load, focusing on the effort needed to transport something. Massa' is used in a figurative sense to refer to a prophetic utterance in Zechariah 9:1 and Zechariah 12:1. And "Since massa' derives from a verb meaning “to carry,” its original nuance was that of a burdensome message, that is, one with ominous content." (NET Note) In the present context the message has ominous overtones regarding Jerusalem but these evaporate into a victorious message when the Messiah returns to in essence "remove the burden!" But until He comes Zechariah presents this prophecy as a "burden," something that weighs him down, because before the nation of Israel experiences their "national day of atonement," they will have to experience a time of grief, of trouble, of distress (cf Jer 30:7+). Concerning Israel - Do not miss this -- this prophecy is ALL about Israel and not about the Church. If you miss this truth and replace Israel with the Church, this prophecy will become meaningless and incomprehensible! The Septuagint has "for Israel," which is significant because so much of the OT history (and subsequent world history) has been not "for" but "against" Israel. This is Yahweh's prophetic pronouncement of a new day for His Chosen People! And so it is clear that these profound prophecies deal with the nation of Israel in the end times. Notice also that the prophecy addresses not just Israel but Judah, so even if you are of the mindset that the Church is the "Israel of God", you still have to deal with the prophecies directed to Judah (Judah is mentioned 9x - Zech 12:2, 4, 5, 6, 7, Zech 14:5, 14, 21). HISTORY IS "HIS STORY!" Zechariah begins this incredible prophetic section with a description of Jehovah that leaves no doubt that He is in complete control and able to complete what He begins. As Joshua said in his parting words to Israel "not one word of all the good words which the LORD your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed." (Joshua 23:14+).And not ONE WORD and NOT ONE OF THE GOOD PROMISES (cf Josh 21:45) which Yahweh gives to Israel in Zechariah 12-14 will fail - all will surely come to pass! Thus declares the LORD who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him - (cf Isa 42:5; 44:24) It is fitting that God first gives His "credentials" that underscore He is able to carry out the incredible judgments and deliverance which are described in Zechariah 12-14. One of my favorite descriptive phrases of God is "He is able!" (See God is Able). That is what Jehovah is attesting at the very outset of this awesome prophecy - He is able to fulfill what He predicts! Praise Him! Praise Him! Genesis 2:7+ Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. To reiterate, the God Who began and completed the work of creation is in full control and has the power to fulfill what He predicts. God is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. (Rev 21:6, cf Rev 1:8) God made it all and He will end it all, but not before He saves His chosen remnant in Israel. Indeed, He is "mighty to save." (Play the song Mighty to Save). It is also notable that in the Hebrew text the verbs stretches out, lays and forms are all present participles which emphasizes that God is still actively, presently involved with His Creation. The false teaching of Deism (which included adherents like Benjamin Franklin) states that after God created the universe, He in effect backed away from Creation and let it continue on its own, so to speak. Deism was one of the "benefits" of the so-called age of Enlightenment which saw the popularization of anti-supernaturalism, deism, and, biblical criticism. So much for what the enlightened mind of man can accomplish! When Yahweh states what is going to transpire in the future, He has the the power and the sovereign authority to bring it to pass. Charles Feinberg - The majestic picture of the Lord as Creator and Preserver is presented to dispel all doubt and unbelief concerning the things predicted here. God is abundantly able to carry out what He purposes to do. (See Is 42:5;) (Borrow The Minor Prophets) Walter Kaiser - There must be no doubt about the certitude of what is about to be announced, for it comes from the mouth of the Lord—the same Lord who demonstrated His creative power in creation and who formed everything that now exists. (Zechariah’s use of the three participial verbs “stretches out” [the heavens], “lays the foundation” [of the earth], and “forms” [the spirit of man within him] are very reminiscent of Isaiah’s style, e.g., Isa. 42:5.) The God who worked in creation in the past is the same Lord who continues to work in revelation, providence, and deliverance in the present and future. He who formed us and shaped us right down to our spiritual being is the One who will continue to shape and guide us by His Word and His Spirit up to the end of the age. He is Sovereign over the cosmos, over the earth, and over man himself. (Preacher's Commentary Series) Perowne - In view of the wonderful and almost incredible promises that, follow, an appeal is made to the creative power of Jehovah, that so the people may not “stagger at the promise of God through unbelief,” but be “fully persuaded that what He has promised, He is able also to perform.” (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) Feinberg adds "Every day God spreads out the heavens, every day he lays the foundation of the earth, which would wander from its orbit and fall into ruins if it were not upheld by his power." (Borrow The Minor Prophets) Stretches out the heavens - The Hebrew verb for stretches is natah which can mean to “put up a tent” as in Ge 33:19. The heavens refers to the atmosphere above the earth. It was idiomatically spoken of as an inverted bowl of stretched skin. Isaiah uses this verb repeatedly to emphasize God's omnipotence. And if you are a believer, you need to let this truth greatly encourage you, for you have access to His resurrection power as you learn to rely on His Spirit Who indwells you. Do you feel weak today? Good! You are in a perfect position to receive His power! (2 Cor 12:9-10-note)! Read these descriptions of Your mighty God's power and be encouraged... Isaiah 40:22; It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. Isaiah 42:5 Thus says God the LORD, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its offspring, Who gives breath to the people on it And spirit to those who walk in it, Isaiah 45:12 “It is I who made the earth, and created man upon it. I stretched out the heavens with My hands And I ordained all their host. Isaiah 51:13 That you have forgotten the LORD your Maker (THIS IS ONE OF OUR MAJOR PROBLEMS WHEN WE LET FEAR CREEP INTO OUR MIND - WE HAVE FORGOTTEN!), Who stretched out the heavens And laid the foundations of the earth, That you fear continually all day long because of the fury of the oppressor, As he makes ready to destroy? But where is the fury of the oppressor? Lays the foundation of the earth - Yahweh (and in the context of this section Jesus Himself) is describing the fact of His creation as described in Job 38:4–6; Ps. 102:25–26 (quoted in Heb. 1:10–12), Ps 104:5; Isa. 48:13; 51:13, 16. The Hebrew word erets is translated earth here and is used repeatedly in this great predictive section - Zech 12:1, 2, 12, Zech 13:2, 8, Zech 13:9, 10, 17. The meanings of erets in these passages include (1) all the earth, Zech 12:1, 3; 14:9, 17, (2) inhabitants of a region, Zech 12:12; 13:8 and (3) a region, Zech 13:2; 14:10. The inspired word of God in this verse refutes Deism by showing that God is actively, continually involved with His Creation! Paul affirms this truth writing of Jesus Christ that... By Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together (the perfect tense describes the permanence of His holding hand!).(Col 1:16-17+) Comment: This passage reminds me of the well known traditional American spiritual song "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands." If Jesus “let go” of the universe it would self-destruct! This is the same God who will deliver the nation of Israel in the end times! The writer of Hebrews echoes Paul describing Jesus' ongoing power related to Creation... And He (Jesus) is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and (present tense = continually) upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (Heb 1:3+) Henry
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Cole - Just outside of Madrid is a famous old monastery, the Escorial. The kings of Spain have been buried there for centuries. The architect who built the church made an arch so low that it frightened the king. Fearing that it would collapse, he ordered the architect to add a column to uphold the middle of the arch. The architect protested that it was not necessary, but the king insisted and so the column was built. Years later, the king died and the architect then revealed that the column was a quarter of an inch short of touching the arch, and that the arch had not sagged in the slightest. I have heard that tour guides still pass a lath between the arch and the column as mute proof of the architect’s knowledge (Donald Barnhouse, Let Me Illustrate [Revell], p. 245). That arch illustrates our salvation, which comes totally from the Lord. It stands because of God, not because of anything that fallen sinners can add to it. But, like the Spanish king, people want to add something to help God out. The idea that salvation is totally from God is an affront to our pride. So even many that profess to believe in Christ as Savior are prone to think that their salvation rests at least partially on something that they must do, rather than completely on what God has done. We keep adding our columns, but God’s Word clearly shows that God’s salvation does not need our human support. Zechariah 12:2 "Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah. a cup: Ps 75:8 Isa 51:17,22,23 Jer 25:15,17 49:12 51:7 Hab 2:16 Rev 14:10 16:19 18:6 that causes reeling: or, slumber, Jer 51:57, or, poison, Jer 8:14 when the (KJV): Zec 14:14 NLT "I will make Jerusalem like an intoxicating drink that makes the nearby nations stagger when they send their armies to besiege Jerusalem and Judah." NET "I am about to make Jerusalem a cup that brings dizziness to all the surrounding nations; indeed, Judah will also be included when Jerusalem is besieged. Septuagint - “Behold, I set Jerusalem as a doorway to be shaken by all the surrounding people, and in Judah there will be a fortified enclosure against Jerusalem. (Note - A bit misleading for Jerusalem and Judah will be on the same side, not opposed to one another). A GREAT ATTACK ON JERUSALEM Kaiser entitles this verse "His intoxicating enemies." God is also Sovereign over Israel and her enemies. The Hebrew text emphatically begins “Behold I, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup of reeling to all the surrounding peoples.” Verses 2 and 3 contain two metaphors for Jerusalem: an intoxicating cup and a heavy stone that will hurt all who try to lift it. (Ibid) Steven Cole - If all that we had to go on was Zechariah 12:2-9, we might conclude that the battle will not be too bad for Israel. These verses show how God will strengthen the nation for battle so that her enemies will be defeated. But Zech 13:7-9 and Zech 14:2-3 reveal that things will get pretty desperate for Israel before the Lord intervenes. The city will be captured, houses plundered, women raped, and half of the city exiled before the Lord fights against the nations. Two parts of the land will be cut off and perish and the third part will be brought through the fire. Only after this will Israel be delivered. God will make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the nations (Zech 12:2). The nations will greedily consume Israel like a cup of wine, but instead of satisfying them, it makes them stagger and fall to the ground. Behold - God is saying in essence "Hear ye, hear ye!"
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Cole - God promises to “deliver the defenseless country [“tents of Judah”] before the fortified and well-defended capital, so that both may realize that the victory is of the Lord” (Charles Feinberg, God Remembers [American Board of Mission to the Jews], p. 225). Merrill Unger observes, “The Lord will manifest Himself in such deliverance as will honor faith, unite His people, and cause them mutually to make their boast wholly in the Lord, instead of partially in themselves” (Zechariah: Prophet of Messiah’s Glory [Zondervan], p. 212, italics his). God promises further that the weakest of the inhabitants of Jerusalem will be like David and the leaders (“the house of David”) will be like God, further described as like the angel of the Lord going before them. So that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem will not be magnified above Judah - The Septuagint translates "glory" (tipharah) with kauchema which describes a boast or something to be proud of, suggesting that there would be a minimization of the natural tendency of the lineage of David (the dynastic line or "royal line" as in the NLT) to boast in their choice as the tribe from which Messiah originated. Similarly this would suppress the tendency of the inhabitants of Jerusalem to boast that they were the city of the King and His throne. Zechariah 12:8 "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. In that day the LORD will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Zec 2:5 9:8,15,16 Joe 3:16,17 the one who: Isa 30:26 Jer 30:19-22 Eze 34:23,24 Joe 3:10 Mic 5:8 7:16 Heb 11:34 feeble among them: Isa 49:7 53:3 Jer 27:10 Mic 7:8 the house of David will be like God: Ps 2:6,7 45:6,7 110:1,2 Isa 7:13,14 9:6,7 Jer 23:5,6 33:15,16 Eze 37:24-26 Ho 1:7 3:5 Mic 5:2-4 Mt 1:23 Joh 17:21-23 Ro 1:3,4 9:5 1Ti 3:16 Rev 22:13,16 like the angel of the LORD before them: Zec 3:1,2 Ge 22:15-17 48:15,16 Ex 23:20,21 Jos 5:13,14 2Sa 14:17-20 Isa 63:9 Ho 12:3 Mal 3:1 Ac 7:30-35 DIVINE DEFENSE AND POWER In that day - The day when the Lord intervenes directly in world history to rescue His Chosen People from the Anti-Semitic Gentile nations. As discussed above, this day is generically the Day of the LORD, and in this context specifically is describing the last part of the last 3.5 years of the Time of Jacob's Distress, when the nations of the world initiate their campaign of Armageddon in an attempt to obliterate Israel from the map. Speaking of maps, BMW and Merecedes-Benz published maps without Israel. Perhaps these companies need to review their German history! The LORD will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem - Divine defense will be given to Israel in that day! Defend (01598)(ganan) means to protect or defend and all uses have Jehovah as its subject and either Jerusalem or the remnant of Judah and Israel as the recipients of the protection. The root idea of this word is "to build a hedge around." Thus the derived idea is one of protection or defense. It's use in 2 Kings, Isaiah and Zechariah is exclusively of God defending the inhabitants of Jerusalem. In six of eight occurrences the term is used to describe God's protection of his people from the Assyrian invaders (2 Ki. 19:34; 20:6; Isa. 31:5; 37:35; 38:6). Four uses are found in the account of Hezekiah's healing from a fatal disease in two parallel accounts (2 Ki. 19:34; 20:6; Isa. 37:35; 38:6). In response to Hezekiah's prayer, Yahweh promises to extend Hezekiah's life and protect the city of Jerusalem for fifteen years from Assyrian conquest. Two other usages appear in the context of the same historical crisis, as Isaiah proclaims to the people that they do not need Egyptian aid to protect them against Assyria, because Yahweh will protect the city (Isa 31:5). The Septuagint translates ganan with huperaspizo which literally means to hold a shield over hence protect, preserve, keep someone safe (James 1.27) Ganan - 8x in 7v - defend (6), protect (2). -- ; 2 Ki. 20:6; Isa. 31:5; Isa. 37:35; Isa. 38:6; Zech. 9:15; Zech. 12:8 2 Ki. 19:34 ‘For I will defend this city to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.’” 2 Kings 20:6“I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.”’” Isaiah 31:5 Like flying birds so the LORD of hosts will protect Jerusalem. He will protect and deliver it; He will pass over and rescue it. Isaiah 37:35 ‘For I will defend this city to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.’” Isaiah 38:6 “I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city.”’ Zechariah 9:15 (v14 for context - Then the LORD will appear over them, And His arrow will go forth like lightning; And the Lord GOD will blow the trumpet, And will march in the storm winds of the south. ) The LORD of hosts will defend them. And they will devour and trample on the sling stones; And they will drink and be boisterous as with wine; And they will be filled like a sacrificial basin, Drenched like the corners of the altar. David had given a prophetic promise that God would help Israel writing God is in the midst of her (i.e., Jerusalem, God’s chosen earthly residence cf. Ps 48:1, 2; Is 60:14 = Ps 46:4 "the city of God, the holy dwelling places of the Most High"), she will not be moved; God will help her (Zech 14:3-note) when morning dawns. 6 The nations made an uproar (a commotion among the Gentiles who are in distress), the kingdoms tottered (Heb = mot = will shake and fall)(This will be fulfilled when the Stone, Christ, crushes the statute, the kingdoms of this world - cf Da 2:34-35, 44-45-note,); He raised His voice, the earth melted. 7 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. (Ps 46:5-7) And the one who is feeble among them in that day will be like David - David was known as a strong warrior and in that day in the Campaign of Armageddon, the feeble would be supernaturally enabled. Recall the song Israel sang when David was victorious "Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands." (1 Sa 18:7). These feeble ones would be supernaturally enabled to fight like Israel's great warrior David. Feeble (03782)(kashal) means to stumble, stagger, totter, cause to stumble, to overthrow, to make weak. Kashal is used literally of individuals falling or figuratively of cities and nations falling (Isa 3:8; Hos 14:1). People can fall by the sword (Da 11:33); or because of evil (P. 24:16); wickedness (Ezek 33:12); and iniquity (Hos. 5:5). R Laird Harris on kashal - The verb is usually used of physical falling, but numbers of times the figurative use of failing or ruin occurs (Psalm 64:8; 2 Chr 25:8). However, the root is rarely used in the sense of the NT skandalidzō "cause one to fall into sin." The nearest to this is Malachi 2:8 where the priests by their teaching "have caused many to stumble" (NIV). In Jerh 18:15 it says the idols made the people "stumble in their ways," but here the figure is the frequent one of a path representing the path of life. Pr 4:16 says the wicked cannot sleep "till they make someone fall" (NIV) which probably, like Jeremiah, refers to stumbling in the path of life. It is perhaps from this figure that the idea of causing someone to stumble into sin arose in the NT and in the Syriac usage of this root. (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament) The Septuagint translates kashal with the verb astheneo which means to be weak or powerless. That the Lord supernaturally enables these feeble, weak, powerless Jews is a good reminder of from where our strength to fight the good fight comes - the LORD God Almighty, even as Paul had to learn and did learn to lean on (Who are you leaning on? Self or Savior?)... And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore (term of conclusion) I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor 12:9-10-note) Kashal - 58v - bring you down(1), bring down(1), brought down(1), cast down(1), downfall(1), fail(1), failed(1), failing(1), fall(4), fall down(1), feeble(3), feeble*(1), overthrown(1), stumble(26), stumble badly(1), stumbled(12), stumbles(2), tottering(1), weak(1). Lev. 26:37; 1 Sam. 2:4; 2 Chr. 25:8; 2 Chr. 28:15; 2 Chr. 28:23; Neh. 4:10; Job 4:4; Ps. 9:3; Ps. 27:2; Ps. 31:10; Ps. 64:8; Ps. 105:37; Ps. 107:12; Ps. 109:24; Prov. 4:12; Prov. 4:16; Prov. 4:19; Prov. 24:16; Prov. 24:17; Isa. 3:8; Isa. 5:27; Isa. 8:15; Isa. 28:13; Isa. 31:3; Isa. 35:3; Isa. 40:30; Isa. 59:10; Isa. 59:14; Isa. 63:13; Jer. 6:15; Jer. 6:21; Jer. 8:12; Jer. 18:15; Jer. 18:23; Jer. 20:11; Jer. 31:9; Jer. 46:6; Jer. 46:12; Jer. 46:16; Jer. 50:32; Lam. 1:14; Lam. 5:13; Ezek. 33:12; Ezek. 36:15; Dan. 11:14; Dan. 11:19; Dan. 11:33; Dan. 11:34; Dan. 11:35; Dan. 11:41; Hos. 4:5; Hos. 5:5; Hos. 14:1; Hos. 14:9; Nah. 2:5; Nah. 3:3; Zech. 12:8; Mal. 2:8 And the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the LORD before them- God promises to be with them, go before them, and give them supernatural strength. It is good for us to be reminded of what David learned in the day of battle This day the LORD will deliver you (GOLIATH) up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S and He will give you into our hands.” (1 Sa 17:46-47) NET Note on be like God - The statement the dynasty of David will be like God is hyperbole to show the remarkable enhancements that will accompany the inauguration of the millennial age. The Angel of the LORD is a reference to the pre-incarnate Jesus found 53x in the OT (see below). He went before Israel for 40 years in their wilderness wanderings.
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Cole writes that in this verse "when the Lord says [literally] that He “will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem,” it is not as if there is any doubt about the outcome! Zech 12:1 shows us God’s omnipotent ability to do whatever He purposes to do. Rather, it is using human language in the sense of focusing full attention on the matter, so as to say, “When God sets His mind on doing it, it’s a done deal!” (See Unger, p. 213.) God’s reason for delivering His Chosen People physically (Zech 12:2, 9) is so that later He can save them spiritually (Zech 12:10-14), and all of this is for His glory. Many of God’s people can testify that God saved their lives from physical death years before He later saved their souls from spiritual death. John Newton, the wicked slave trader, who was saved to become a pastor and hymn writer (“Amazing Grace”), more than once narrowly escaped death before his conversion. Once he fell overboard when he was drunk and was harpooned to get him back on deck, but he survived! If God has spared your life, but you have not yet come to Christ, He wants you to turn in faith to Him today! There is another lesson here: The safest place for any of God’s people is in the center of His will and purpose. When Zechariah wrote, many Jews were still in Babylon. Perhaps they thought, “It’s just not safe to move back to Jerusalem. There is no army there and no wall around the city. The place is surrounded by hostile neighbors. I’ll just stay here in Babylon.” But Zechariah is showing them that even if all the hostile nations in the world are lined up against Jerusalem, it is the safest place in the world to be, because Almighty God has promised to destroy the nations that come against Jerusalem. This doesn’t mean that we should throw caution to the wind, or that there are not times when God’s servants should flee for their lives. But it does mean that God watches over His people (Zech 12:4), and that no one can touch them unless it fits with God’s purpose. All the armies on earth can line up against God’s people, but they will not thwart God’s mighty purpose to save His people for His glory. Henry
Zacarias 12
Cole observes that "There is no way to explain it apart from the incarnation, death, and resurrection of one who is both God and man. The speaker throughout this passage has been God, who now says, “They will look on Me Whom they have pierced.” “Pierce” is consistently used of someone being run through by a sword or spear (Nu 25:8; Jdg 9:54; 1 Sa. 31:4). No one can pierce God, unless God first takes on human flesh. And the Jewish nation cannot someday look on this One Whom they pierced unless He is then living, having been raised from the dead. When the soldier thrust his sword through Jesus’ side as He hung on the cross, he inadvertently fulfilled this prophecy in remarkable detail (Jn 19:36-37)!...Israel will “look on Me whom they have pierced.” As I said, the only way that this can be explained is if the one pierced is both God and man. In the 16th century, John Calvin fought against the same errors that we face in Unitarianism and the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who deny that Jesus is fully God.
Zacarias 12
Cole applies the truths of this incredible predictive prophecy by first asking - Why did God give this remarkable prophecy to people who lived at least 2,500 years before it would take place? It was not so that they could draw up prophecy charts and read books about how soon these things would take place. He gave these prophecies to comfort His people as they went through trials and faced threatening enemies with the solid truth that He is a mighty Savior, and that no one can touch His elect apart from His purpose. That’s how He wants us to apply it. If you have not yet repented of your sins and trusted in Christ as your Savior, God may have kept you alive until now so that today you would look on Him whom you pierced and mourn. If you have trusted in Christ, He wants you to know that no enemy, whether “tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword,” or even death itself, will be able to separate you from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:35-39)! Feinberg sums up Zechariah 12:10-14 - "LOOK UNTO ME” How simple yet how glorious is the way of salvation provided by our God. It is a looking away from self and man-made plans and endeavors to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. In Israel’s glad conversion hour she will come into the knowledge of sins forgiven by looking unto her rejected and pierced Messiah, the crucified Saviour of sinners.