Zechariah Chapter 9 Treasures
From The Book of Zechariah
Zech 9: [1]
The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach,
and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the
tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD. [2] And Hamath also shall border thereby;
Tyrus, and Zidon, though it
be very wise. [3] And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver
as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. [4] Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power
in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire. [5] Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be
very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall
be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be
inhabited. [6] And a bastard
shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. [7] And I will take away his blood out
of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be
as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite. [8]
And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth:
and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with
mine eyes.
1. The Human Conqueror (1-8)
After 70 years of Babylonian captivity, around 50,000 of
the Jews return home to Jerusalem.
The Jews were led of God to rebuild the Temple and laid
the foundation of the Temple.
The Jews became discouraged and for 15 years worked
stopped on the Temple.
God sent two prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, to encourage
the people to return to the work.
God promised His help in the rebuilding of the Temple and
of the city of Jerusalem.
The Jews did return to the work.
Just
as God promised, the Temple was rebuilt and Jerusalem will also be rebuilt and
replenished.
Zechariah prophesied not just about the immediate rebuilding of the Temple but the restoration of the kingdom of God.
One of the greatest proofs of the Bible is the fulfillment of prophecy.
As
we begin chapter 9, the Temple rebuilding project is completed, just as God
said.
Zechariah
is now in old age and shares the burden of the word of the Lord in
480 BC.
This
prophecy is concerning Hadrach and had means
sharp while rach means soft.
Therefore
Hadrach is representative of the kingdom of the
Medes and Persians.
We
know the kingdom of the Medes and Persians was defeated in 333BC by Alexander
the Great.
Then
Zechariah mentions Damascus which is representative of Syria
When
Alexander was finished with Medo-Persia, he attacked
and conquered Syria.
This
human conqueror causes such fear that men looked to the Lord.
In
verse 2, Zechariah mentions Hamath which is
the next city in Syria which was conquered.
After
Alexander was done with Syria, he came to Tyre and
Sidon.
·
Remember
Zechariah is prophesying what will happen and it came to pass 150 years later.
Tyre and
Sidon were cities of Phoenicia and were powerful commercial cities.
The
Assyrians could not conquer them.
Nebuchadnezzar
and the Babylonians took 13 years to conquer them.
When
Tyre and Sidon were conquered they moved ½ mile off
shore to an island.
According
to verse 2, they were considered very wise to exist though conquered.
In
verse 3, Tyre built walls 150 feet high and made
herself a stronghold.
The
people felt invincible and their economy was the strongest of its day.
But
in verse 4, God says He will cause Tyre to be
defeated.
When
Alexander came, Tyre and Sidon refused to heed his
warnings.
He
furiously used rubble to build a causeway to the island from the mainland.
In 7
months Tyre and Sidon were destroyed
In
verses 5 through 7, the Philistine cities of Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron and Ashdod were defeated too.
Alexander
thoroughly wiped out Lebanon.
The
King of Gaza rebelled and was dragged to his death through the streets.
This
caused the remnant of the Philistine cities to look to the Lord.
God
allowed Alexander to be an instrument to purge the nations.
In
verse 8, God says that He will encamp about mine house.
In
other words, the next city for Alexander to attack is Jerusalem.
But
God promised to protect and defend His house and the city from Alexander.
The
historian Josephus, in the writings of Josephus volume 11 section 8-3 we will
learn.
Jaddua,
the High Priest and the Jews were very concerned about the advancements of
Alexander.
Jaddua
caused the people to pray and seek the Lord. Jaddua
offered many sacrifices unto the Lord.
God
warned Jaddua in a dream to take courage, adorn the
city and open the gates.
Jaddua
was to cause the people to dress in white.
The
High Priest was to led a procession out of the city to
welcome the coming forces without fear.
As
the forces approached, the High Priest went out in a great procession to meet
the king.
Alexander
the Great stopped and saluted the High Priest.
The
second in command asked why do you adore the High Priest of the Jews?
Alexander
said I did not adore him, but that God had honored him.
Alexander
said I saw this very person in a dream. I saw the very habit of this
procession in a dream.
Alexander
said Therefore I bring this army under divine conduct.
Alexander
said I shall therewith conquer King Darius of the Medes and Persians.
Alexander
was shown the book of Daniel written 200 years before.
Daniel
prophesied of the King of Grecia who would defeat Medo-Persia.
Alexander
supposed that he was that very person.
Alexander
left Jerusalem went south and conquered Egypt; returned north and passed
Jerusalem again.
The prophesy
of a Human Conqueror was fulfilled 150 years after Zechariah recorded it.
Zech 9: [9]
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold,
thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding
upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. [10] And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse
from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace
unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from
river even to the ends of the earth. [11]
As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners
out of the pit wherein is no water. [12] Turn you to the strong hold, ye
prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto
thee; [13] When
I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons,
O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.
[14] And the LORD shall be seen
over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the LORD GOD
shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south. [15] The LORD of hosts shall defend
them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall
drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls,
and as the corners of the altar. [16]
And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people:
for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.
[17] For how great is his
goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make
the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.
2. The Heavenly Conqueror (9-17)
The fulfillment of prophecy of a Human Conqueror is the
pledge and proof of the Heavenly Conqueror.
A. The Coming
of the Conqueror
Rejoice
greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold thy King
cometh unto thee.
There should be a great reception for the Heavenly
Conqueror who is coming.
We know Jesus is this Heavenly Conqueror who came the
first time born to a virgin.
B. The Character
of the Conqueror
1. Royalty - Thy King cometh Jesus is the King
of Kings!
2. Righteousness - He is just Jesus is without sin and
will do what is right!
3. Redeemer - Having
salvation Jesus shall save His people from their sin!
4. Reputation - Lowly
Jesus is meek and lowly! He is humble!
Riding
upon a colt the foal of an ass Jesus is coming in Peace!
Matt 21:1-9
[1] And when they drew nigh unto
Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount
of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, [2] Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and
straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and
bring them unto me.
[3] And if any man say ought
unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will
send them. [4] All this was
done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, [5] Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting
upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. [6] And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,
[7] And brought the ass, and the
colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.
[8] And a very great multitude
spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. [9] And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried,
saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of
the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
C. The Conquest of the Conqueror
In verse 10, we are reading of the Second Coming of
Jesus.
When He comes, He comes in power and glory. After
Armageddon there will 1000 years of peace.
God says I will cut off the chariots and the
battle bow shall be cut off.
His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.
This is also a quote of Psalm 72:8
The rule and reign of Jesus will be universal during the
Millennium.
D. The Covenant of
the Conqueror
In verses 11-17, the Conqueror refers to the covenant.
In Genesis 15, God made a blood covenant with Abraham to
bless the Jews.
In Exodus, God made a blood covenant to Passover
all the houses marked by the blood.
In Jesus, we have a covenant in blood that He will save
us and deliver us.
In verse 11, God will rescue and deliver the Jews as
prisoners set free from a prison of a dry cistern.
This reminds me of Joseph who was placed in a pit by his
brothers.
There will come a day in which the Jews will no longer be
bound in the pit of trouble, suffering and war.
In verse 12, God will restore Israel and restore unto the
Jews double.
In verse 13, God will use Judah as a bow and Ephraim as
an arrow to defeat Greece.
This
is an encouragement that though Greece will dominate the area, God will give
victory.
After
Alexander the Greats death other Kings would attempt
to defeat the Jews.
In
163 BC Antiochus Epiphanes the King of Greece was
defeated by the Jews.
In
verse 14 and 15, the Lord will blow the trumpet, He
will lead in the battle and attain the victory.
God
will give the resources of the nations to the Jews and they will walk in peace
on the slinging stones.
The
Jews will shout for joy because of the victory and the bloody defeat of their
bitter enemies.
In
verse 16, The Lord assures victory and will save His people.
The
Jews will be as precious jewels in His crown.
In
verse 17, God will cause the Jews to enter into the Millennium as His people.
God
will cause the Millennium to be the greatest time of prosperity the world has
ever known.
God
mention the corn of prosperity and the new wine of joy and blessing.
The
earth will be fruitful.
There
will be no more death, no more disease and nothing to dread! Amen!
Thank
God for His promises. Bless His Name for His pledge of peace!