November 06, 2023 – Monday
Zechariah 12:9-10 AKJV
9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Zechariah 12:9-10 NIV
9 On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem.
10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
Comments
Note that the book of Zechariah began about 520 B.C. The Pulpit Commentary states about verse 9, It shall be always my aim and my care to destroy the enemies of the Church, that they shall never prevail against it. The words cannot apply to the literal Jerusalem, against which no such confederacy of nations was ever formed. Matthew Henry disagrees and looks at verse 9 along with verse 10, The day here spoken of, is the day of Jerusalem’s defence and deliverance, that glorious day when God will appear for the salvation of his people. In Christ’s first coming he bruised the serpent’s head, and broke all the powers of darkness that fought against God’s kingdom among men. In his second coming he will complete their destruction, when he shall put down all opposing rule, principality, and power; and death itself shall be swallowed up in that victory.
I will go with the latter as the first seems to be a form of replacement theology where the church takes the place of Israel. But Israel is here. and replacement theology makes no sense with this reality in mind. Instead what we have here in Zechariah is a glimpse of the end times written about in greater detail in the book of Revelation.
What is perhaps not so surprising here is the high correlation between this and Isaiah 53. The difference here is that Jesus is returning as the spirit of grace and of supplications is pour[ed] upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem then finally they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. Yes, Israel, and they will acknowledge Jesus. Compare this to Romans 11:26-27, 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. A note tells us the And so may be translated as In the end, how fitting. The quote as written is derived from both Isaiah 59:20-21 and Jeremiah 31:34b.
Returning to verse 9, 9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. God will not be restricting and controlling but bringing down and destroying every single nation that sought to destroy Jerusalem – From the River to the Sea. God will treat them as they sought to treat Israel.
Bottom Line: Once again, God’s promises stand, and I believe Him. Thus, I continue to stand with Israel.
Prayer: Almighty God, It is You and Your word that we can trust. We are grateful that You reveal so much to us in and through Your word. It is Your timing and not ours, but our faith remain in You. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Still writing and working for the Glory of God