Zechariah Chapters 12,13,14/Commentary

Zechariah Chapters 12-14 Chapter 12

12:1 God not only stretches out the heavens, but He continues to keep the creation intact (Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:3), and He still keeps firm the foundations created so long ago. The three verbs, stretch forth, lay, form, and are participial forms in the original text, denoting characteristic, habitual action. In like manner, God stills forms every human spirit (Genesis 1:26,28; James 3:8).

When a child is conceived, God is there forming a spirit that will exist forever.

Conceiving children is an awesome responsibility; for we are bringing into this world a soul that will either end up in heaven or hell for eternity.

12:2 To help pinpoint the time period for the fulfillment of this chapter, notice the repeated expression, “in that day” (12:4,6,8,9,11). This expression continues into chapter 13 (13:1-2,4). The day under consideration in chapter 13 is clearly the New Covenant Age, when remission of sins is a reality (13:1), and when Jesus has been slain (13:7). Hence, the “Jerusalem” which is being protected from enemies in chapter 12 is not literal Jerusalem, but the Church, the people of God under the New Covenant. Hailey notes, “It should be clear that this does not refer to physical Jerusalem, as no such confederacy of nations against Palestinian Jerusalem was ever formed (12:9)” (p. 389).

12:2 “A cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around”: First of all, the world will oppose the church (Acts 28:22). “Satan and his hosts regard this Church as a cup easily drained and cast away. This cup, however, shall prove to be a cup of trembling to them. They shall tremble with disappointment and helpless rage at their failure to destroy the Church” (Laetsch p. 479). The world views the Church as a large bowl of wine, which they think, can be drank with ease. Yet instead, it would be a basin filled with God’s wrath, to which they would put their lips only to stagger back, reel, fall, and be no more. Rome

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persecuted the Church and Rome is no more! The same will be true for all who attempt to oppose God’s people.

12:3 “A heavy stone”: Anyone who attempts to move the Church off of her solid foundation of biblical truth will be severely injured. Individual Christians can be lead astray, congregations can also stray (Revelation 2-3), but the Church will never cease to exist (Hebrews 12:28). All who seek to corrupt her are doomed to failure and condemnation (1 Corinthians 3:16). The Lord once more states the universal enmity of the nations against the Church (Daniel 2:44; Luke 2:34f; Romans 9:32f; Acts 14:22; John 15:18-20; Matthew 5:10-12). A popular philosophy of evangelism today is to avoid offending anyone with the gospel message. That is, if the church is going to grow, then we need to make the church popular with non-Christians. Yet notice that the prophets, Jesus, and the apostles all noted that Christianity would not be popular with the world.

12:4 “The cavalry and the chariots were the most formidable means of attack and are here named as a type of the entire machinery of war directed against the Church” (Laetsch p. 480). Instead of being intimidated by the resources, which are possessed by both secular society and apostate religious groups, Christians need to realize that all such resources are nothing compared to the power of God. Those who seek to destroy the truth, will suffer bewilderment, confusion, consternation, panic, moral and mental blindness. On the other hand, God would carefully watch over His people. An interesting study is to examine the lives of those who sought to corrupt the New Testament Church and see where they ended up morally and spiritually. Make a mental note of those who tried to introduce error into the church and see where they are 20 years from now (2 Timothy 3:13).

12:5 The “clans of Judah” are the leaders among God’s people. While the enemy is confused, the leaders among God’s people are confident. They know they can rely on the faithful co-operation of Jerusalem’s citizens, the members of the Church. Can the elders count on you? Are you a strong support for the elders in keeping the church pure, in opposing error, and in saving the lost? (Hebrews 13:17).

12:6 “Like a firepot”: Supported by faithful members of God’s kingdom, elders, deacons, and preachers will devour the enemy. Error will still exist in the world, but it can be so exposed among God’s people, that it must look for someone else to deceive (Titus 1:9-11). Every error is consumed when the gospel arrives.

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People either convert or flee (John 3:19ff). The faithful preacher of the gospel is like a torch and false ideas are like dry sheaves.

12:7 Usually the open country and small towns of Judah were first to be taken by the enemy. But first God would intervene on behalf of the defenseless and less prestigious populace outside the city walls. The Messiah was born not at Jerusalem, but at Bethlehem; He did not grow up in Jerusalem, but in Nazareth; not Jerusalem, but Capernaum and Galilee were the center of His activity. In the New Covenant, all stand before God on an equal basis (Galatians 3:28). “Not locality or size, but Christ and His Word represent the true glory of congregations and churches” (Laetsch p. 481). Everyone needs the same salvation, all have sinned (Romans 3:23), so there can be no boasting (1 Corinthians 1:31).

12:8 In the Church, even the feeble are mighty spiritual warriors like David. The prayer of the babe in Christ is very effective as well as the member who in limited by bodily infirmity. The ‘house of David’, leaders in spiritual Jerusalem would be ‘like God’, that is, endowed with supernatural powers. We see this clearly in the early church, where the apostles performed mighty wonders (Acts 2:43). Such leaders will be to God’s people in the New Covenant, like the Angel of the Lord had been to God’s people in the Old Testament.

12:9 If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) “Those who set themselves as enemies of the church of Christ have charted their course to destruction” (Smith p. 602). God doesn’t overlook or treat lightly those who oppose the preaching of the truth. God doesn’t view our opponents in saving souls as simply seeing things differently. If one opposes the true church, then one is opposing God. The last thing we need to do is make excuses for the denominations, for they are one of the main hindrances in our attempt to save people.

12:10 In the Old Testament, Kings (1 Samuel 10:1), priests (Exodus 40:12-15), and sometimes prophets (1 Kings 19:15f), were anointed. In the New Covenant the Spirit is poured out on every member. The Spirit is here called the “Spirit of grace”, because His work in declaring the grace available to mankind. The tool He uses to tell us about God’s grace and convict and persuade us concerning that grace, is the New Testament (Titus 2:11f). “He is called ‘the Spirit of supplication’ because encourages sinners to call upon the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16)” (Smith p. 603).

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12:10 “So that they will look on Me whom they have pierced”: Notice that God (“I”), speaks of Himself as being pierced. Here is a clear reference to the deity of Jesus Christ. The Lord God who speaks through Zechariah, speaks of Himself being pierced. More than 500 years later the Lord used a Roman soldier as the unwitting agent to fulfill this prophecy (John 19:34,37). The verb “pierced” means to thrust through, to slay by any kind of death whatever.

12:10 “So that they will look on Me…and they will mourn for Him”: Observe that the “Me” becomes “Him”. There are at least two members of the Godhead in this verse. In the same verse we also have a reference to the other member, i.e., the Holy Spirit. The term “look” here means “look attentively, hopefully, trustingly”. On the day of Pentecost, people responsible for the death of Jesus, were convicted by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, that they had crucified the Son of God (Acts 2:37). “As they realize the enormity of their sin, they mourn in bitter anguish for Him, as parents lament bitterly the death of any only child or a firstborn son” (Laetsch p. 484). Here is a great definition of repentance and the sorrow that should be present. Do we mourn over our sins, like we would mourn the death of one of our children?

12:11 The term “Hadadrimmon” (HAY dad RIM mahn), apparently was a city located in the plain of Megiddo. Here king Josiah of Judah was killed and his army defeated by Pharaoh Necho (2 Chron. 35:24). This was probably one of the greatest national tragedies in Israel’s history. For years there was a national lamentation over this event. Therefore, the mourning that will occur in those who realize they are sinners will be intense.

12:12-14 “Every family by itself”: “There is no vicarious mourning or substitutionary repentance in God’s Church” (Laetsch p. 485). No one can mourn or repent for us and all must mourn, from the greatest to the least, if they are going to enter the Kingdom of God. Each man or woman individually, and all alike, must confess his or her sin and unworthiness.

Chapter 13

13:1 The term “fountain” is never used of cisterns or stagnant pools. It always denotes a reservoir fed by a wellspring, whose waters are always fresh. Clearly, this fountain was opened by the death of Jesus. This fountain is available for all men (John 3:16; Mark 16:16), but is only a reality for those who submit to Jesus.

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Such salvation is only found in the one body (Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:12-14).

Notice this fountain follows the Lord being pierced (12:10).

13:2 “That I will cut off the names of the idols from the land”: The “land” under consideration must be a spiritual land, for idolatry never has ceased from the world. True believers, those who become part of the Church will be people who reject all forms of idolatry. Christians who lapse into idolatry, either repent or are removed from the congregation (1 Corinthians 5). “An apostate church could yield to forms of idolatry, but the true church would not” (Hailey p. 392).

13:2 “Remove the prophets”: With the completion of the New Testament, there would be no further need for prophets among God’s people (1 Corinthians 13:813).

13:2 “And the unclean spirit”: “In the conquest of Christ over Satan and his forces, unclean spirits have ceased to control men as they did in the time of the ministry of Christ and the apostles” (Hailey p. 392). The “unclean spirit” may also refer to false doctrine, that is, those who have committed their lives to the pierced one will not tolerate false doctrine (Galatians 1:8; 2 John 9-11; Revelation 2:2).

13:3 The point is that the people in the true Church would be totally committed to the Lord. Jesus predicted that allegiance to Him would, in some instances, divide families (Luke 12:53). False teachers and false doctrine would not be tolerated among true believers (Titus 1:9-11). Are we this committed to God, or do we seek to excuse people who lead others astray? Are we this committed to the truth and Jesus? Being committed means being committed to His word (John 12:48).

13:4 Among true believers, the truth is taught so clearly that false prophets and teachers will be ashamed. They won’t be able to deceive and pretend that they are speaking the truth, even if they don all the apparel or outward things associated with true prophets. “They will be unable to deceive any who will compare their teachings with divine revelation” (Hailey p. 393). Jesus and the apostle warned us that false teachers will seek to look like honest proclaimers of the faith (Matthew 7:15; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 2 Peter 2:1ff).

13:5 “When his teaching proves to be false, the lying prophet will endeavor to cover his error by denying that he was a prophet at all; he is a farmer, a slave of the soil from his youth” (Hailey p. 393). A good example of false prophets 5

actually converting to the faith would be Acts 8:9-13 and 19:13-20. Smith says, “Those who embrace the truth do not hesitate to admit the hypocrisy and outright lies of their sinful past” (p. 607).

13:6 Who is being addressed in this verse? Some feel it is the false prophet, that is, the false teacher may continue to wear the scars of his error through life.

Others see it as a reference to Jesus, the pierced one, Who was wounded by those He loved, i.e. Judas, and put to death by His own people 13:7 The Lord summons the sword, not in defense of the Shepherd (Jesus), but to awake and rise up against Jesus. Jesus is here called “My Shepherd” and “My Associate”. He is the associate of the Father, the second person in the Godhead.

From eternity, He has been “with” God (John 1:1). Clearly, the verse is reminding us that it was God’s purpose for Jesus to die for our sins (Acts 2:23).

The death of Jesus was not an accident or mistake.

13:7 “Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered”: Jesus quoted this and applied it to Himself and the scattering of His disciples (Matthew 26:31-32; Mark 14:27).

13:8-9 Judgment and refining follow the death of Jesus. Two parts, a major portion of the people would be cut off. The other part would continue, this lesser part would be separated from the others and would pass through the fire of trials and afflictions. Compare with 1 Peter 1:6-7; 4:12. Those who pass this test will be God’s genuine people. The New Testament reveals that most of the Jews rejected Jesus and the preaching of the gospel (Romans 9:1ff). Those who converted to Christianity were persecuted (Acts 8:4; 1 Peter; Hebrews 10:32-34). The way to life is narrow. Don’t let anyone convince you that Jesus offers a life of ease, and a relationship that doesn’t demand effort or sacrifice.

Chapter 14

14:1-3 Apparently in these verses we are still talking about the “fire” that Christians will endure as they seek to remain faithful. Outrage upon outrage will fall upon the church (Matthew 5:10-12; Hebrews 10:32-34), but God takes note and will judge all those who have persecuted His people.

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14:4-5 Here is a beautiful picture of God’s loving protection for His people.

“God stood by His saints as they were scattered from Jerusalem (Acts 8); He brought Jerusalem to an end by the Romans (Matthew 24:30-31)-but delivered Christians; He cast the beast, the Roman Empire, the false prophet, and paganism, into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:11-21). These incidents are only a few that illustrate the Lord’s fulfilling of the prophecy” (Hailey p. 396). The identity of the city of Azel is now lost, although some feel it was located near Jerusalem. The earthquake that occurred in the days of Uzziah was also mentioned by Amos (1:1), and it must have been of unusual severity to be remembered all these years.

14:6-7 Things will be gloomy when God intervenes to rescue His people, this will be a day of neither complete despair nor consolation, a day of turmoil and uncertainty. Compare with Joel 2:2,10 and Isaiah 13:10. This isn’t necessarily the Second Coming, for every judgment, whether temporary or final, is known by the Lord.

14:8 From the Church will flow living waters, i.e. the truth. This supply would never be diminished by seasonal changes. It would not dry up in summer as most brooks in that region do. The gospel would be preached throughout the world (Mark 16:16).

14:9 Jesus will reign as King, and He has been reigning since His resurrection (Matthew 28:18).

14:10 The Church would be prominent. All the land around the spiritual Jerusalem would be leveled, but the city itself would be elevated. This is a way of stressing the exaltation of the messianic kingdom (Isaiah 2:2). Geba was a city six miles NE of Jerusalem and Rimmon was near Beersheba in the south. The “plain” is the Arabah, the long valley through which the Jordan flows from the Sea of Galilee to the Gulf of Akabah. It is the lowest point on the face of the earth.

14:11-12 There will be security and peace to Christians, and a curse upon unbelievers. The defiant will experience a living death (1 Timothy 5:6).

14:13-14 Those who oppose the truth will not find peace and security. Here we are given an excellent description of what is going on inside the typical unbeliever who has rejected the truth. Unity will prevail among true believers.

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14:15-19 Out of the judgment upon those who oppose God’s people, some will convert. There is hope for God’s enemies, only if they repent. But some will not convert. Some of the families of the earth will not go up. In a spiritual sense, “rain” represents the grace and blessing of God. Grace and other spiritual blessings will be withheld from the rebellious (Romans 2:1-5).

14:20-21 The inscription “Holy to the Lord” appeared on the miter of the high priest (Exodus 28:26). The idea seems to be that everyone in the Church will be holy (1 Peter 2:5-10; 1:14).

In like manner, all “Canaanites” (unrepentant sinners) will be removed (Matthew 18:17). “These wonderful and glorious promises are realized in the church of today. Every individual and every principle of worship and service has been cleansed and dedicated by the blood of Christ (Matthew 26:28; Ephesians 5:2627)” (Hailey p. 400).

Closing Comments This is God’s description of the true church. Remember, even in the Old Testament, true Israel was always smaller than physical Israel, the same is true in the New Testament. God is here viewing true believers. They are holy and they do have unity. Secondly, this is God’s view of the Church and not man’s. The world doesn’t see this when it looks at the Church, for it looks at things from a worldly standpoint. Even the early church seemed small and despised in the eyes of ungodly men.

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