Year 2, Week 26, Day 1 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 26, Day 1

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Zechariah 12-14.

Today’s reading still takes us away from the Book of Ezra in order to look at some other readings that coincide with the historical material thus far covered in Ezra. Today’s reading completes the Book of Zechariah. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah were raised up by the LORD to stir up the returnees to resume the work of completing the Temple. Zechariah 12-14, like Zechariah 9-11 is a prophetic declaration that provides greater detail in reference to the LORD returning to His people. Zechariah 12 declares that a future attack against Jerusalem would result in the attackers being defeated: “On that day the LORD will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the LORD, going before them. And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem” (Zechariah 12:8-9). Zechariah 13 declares that the LORD would thoroughly cleanse His people: “And on that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, so that they shall be remembered no more. And also I will remove from the land the prophets and the spirit of uncleanness” (Zechariah 13:2). Zechariah 14 declares that the LORD would mightily reside in Jerusalem as the city will be safe and set apart: “And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one and his name one…But Jerusalem shall remain aloft on its site…And it shall be inhabited, for there shall never again be a decree of utter destruction. Jerusalem shall dwell in security…And on that day there shall be inscribed on the bells of the horses, “Holy to the LORD” (Zechariah 14:9-11,20a).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the LORD reversing the fortunes on Jerusalem:  “Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah. On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it” (Zechariah 12:2-3). The judgment that the LORD will unleash upon the nations that attack Israel is likened to a “cup of staggering.” The nations will be punished as though they were staggering drunk. This imagery was once used of the judgment that the LORD unleashed on Judah: “Wake yourself, wake yourself, stand up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the LORD the cup of his wrath, who have drunk to the dregs the bowl, the cup of staggering” (Isaiah 51:17). Isaiah used the imagery as a referent to the punishment upon Jerusalem when the city was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. In Zechariah this is reversed and Jerusalem will be the agent of God’s wrath against those who come against it. Jerusalem had staggered under the LORD’s judgment through the nations; but now the nations would stagger under the LORD’s judgment through Judah. Zechariah speaks of a future reality for Jerusalem, but he is clear as to the outcome: “On that day, declares the LORD, I will strike every horse with panic, and its rider with madness. But for the sake of the house of Judah I will keep my eyes open, when I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. Then the clans of Judah shall say to themselves, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the LORD of hosts, their God” (Zechariah 12:4-5).

While the LORD would judge the nations, He would deliver His people: “And the LORD will give salvation to the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not surpass that of Judah” (Zechariah 12:7). The house of David would be stored: “He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Samuel 7:13). But there is an important twist to the restoration of the house of David. The restored King would be pierced: “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn” (Zechariah 12:10). Great weeping will occur as they witness the piercing: “On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning for Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. The land shall mourn, each family by itself” (Zechariah 12:11-12a). This statement of someone from the house of David being pierced and the people weeping would be reminiscent of King Josiah’s death: “And he died and was buried in the tombs of his fathers. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. Jeremiah also uttered a lament for Josiah; and all the singing men and singing women have spoken of Josiah in their laments to this day. They made these a rule in Israel; behold, they are written in the Laments” (2 Chronicles 35:24b-25). 

However, Zechariah is not merely looking back to reflect on Josiah’s death; he was looking forward to preview the death of a greater Son of David, Jesus: “But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced” (John 19:34-37). But Christ was raised from the dead where He now reigns as Lord: “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:7-8).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe