1917: General Allenby enters Jerusalem

A fascinating article concerning some of the topics I recently preached on...

Zechariah 10:1-5

 

Zechariah 10:1-5

Beware of False Shepherds

Zec 10:1  Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. 

Zec 10:2  For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd. 

Zec 10:3  Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle. 

Zec 10:4  Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together. 

Zec 10:5  And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded. 

 

          1.     It is God Alone Who is the Provider for His People – vs. 1

a.      Joel 2:23-27 

          2.     Beware of the Counterfeit Providers – vs 2

a.      Beware of idolatry in all its forms

                                               i.     Isaiah 44:15-20 

b.     False prophets teach people to disobey God’s laws

                                               i.     Deuteronomy 13:1-5 

c.      A false prophet is exposed by a single inaccurate prediction

                                               i.     Deuteronomy 18:20-22 

d.     False prophets come clothed in sheep’s clothing

                                               i.     Matthew 7:15 

e.      False Prophets are creeps

                                               i.     Jude 1:4 

f.      False prophets are self-serving

                                               i.     Jude 1:10 

g.     False prophets are like clouds without water

                                               i.     Jude 1:12  

         3.     God is Angry with Counterfeit Spiritual Leaders – vs. 3a

a.      Jeremiah 23:1-2 

         4.     God Will Punish Ungodly Political Leaders – vs. 3b

a.      Psalm 2:10-12 

         5.     God Will Restore the People of Israel – vs. 3c

a.      Romans 11:26      

         6.     God Will Restore Israel Through the Followers of the Logos or Jesus Christ – vs. 4-5

a.      The People of the Logos will make Him the Cornerstone of their faith – vs. 4a

                                               i.     Romans 9:30-33 

b.     The People of the Logos will make Him the center of all of Society – vs. 4b

                                               i.     Isaiah 22:23-25 

                                             ii.     Isaiah 9:6-7 

c.      The People of the Logos will make powerful weapons of war – vs. 4c

                                               i.     Weapons that can bring down mighty wicked strongholds

1.     2 Corinthians 10:4-5 

d.     The People of the Logos will produce powerful political leaders – vs. 4d

                                               i.     People like William Wilberforce, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Martin Luther, Abraham Kuyper, Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria and so many more who changed the world for the better. People who believed this truth from Colossians.

1.     Colossians 1:15-17 

e.      The People of the Logos will be unstoppable in battle – vs. 5a

                                               i.     Isaiah 31:1-3 

                                             ii.     Romans 16:20 

f.      The People of the Logos will fight against Israel’s enemies and overcome in the power of God – vs. 5b

                                               i.     When approaching Jerusalem during his campaign through Palestine, General Allenby asked his superiors in London how he was to take the city. Knowing the seriousness of the moment they instructed him to take it without a shot. To which he asked how that could be possible. They instructed him to pray. Shortly afterwards Allenby was made aware of a prophesy in Isaiah that might have an answer for him. He followed the biblical instruction to the letter and mustered every available aircraft to drop leaflets on the city telling them to surrender. With more and more Ottomans leaving by the day, the Mayor of Jerusalem surrendered to the British Army without a shot fired.

1.     Isaiah 31:4-5 

g.     Yet the true People of the Logos will enter the city of Jerusalem with humility – vs. 5c

                                               i.     When General Allenby humbly walked into Jerusalem on December 11, 1917, he opened the door for the regathering of the Jewish people back to their homeland in Israel. The same day that Haggai tells the Jews will always be a special day, the commemoration of the temple, Hanukkah and the day of Jerusalem’s liberation from nearly 1000 years of Muslim rule.

                                             ii.     "I wouldn’t ride my horse into the city into which my Lord rode a donkey" – General Allenby

                                            iii.     Haggai 2:18 

                                            iv.     Psalm 45:3-6 

Zechariah 9:11-17

 

Zechariah 9:11-17

The Logos is the True Shepherd of His People

Zec 9:11  As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. 

Zec 9:12  Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee; 

Zec 9:13  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. 

Zec 9:14  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. 

Zec 9:15  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. 

Zec 9:16  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. 

Zec 9:17  For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids. 

          1.     Jesus Is the Good Shepherd of His People – vs. 11-12

a.      The Rightful King is willing to die for His People – vs. 11

                                               i.     Hebrews 9:11-14 

b.     The Rightful King is the stronghold of His People – vs. 12

                                               i.     Acts 3:19-21 

        2.     Jesus Is the One Through Which the Right Prevails – vs. 13

a.      It is often thought by Christian and Jewish scholars that this verse is a prediction of the temporary, and at times fractured, peace achieved by the Maccabean Revolts.

                                               i.     The Maccabean revolts begin with Mattathias and his five sons who resist being forced to participate in idol worship. Mattathias soon dies and his eldest son Judas takes over the leadership. God grants the Maccabeans a victory over their oppressor Apollonius and Judas takes his sword in the battle. While the books of Maccabees are important historical references, they are not inerrant nor inspired scripture.

1.     “10 Then Apollonius gathered together the Gentiles, along with a large army from Samaria, to fight against Israel. 11 When Judas learned of it, he went out to meet him and struck and killed him. Many fell wounded, and the rest fled. 12 They took their spoils, and Judas took the sword of Apollonius and fought with it the rest of his life.”                                                                                                     - 1 Maccabees 3:10-12

                                             ii.     The Prophet Daniel predicts the rise of Antiochus Epiphanies, who is a foreshadowing of the coming Anti-Christ. Daniel also predicts the godly resistance to Antiochus’ and his defilement of the temple.

1.     Daniel 8:9-13 

         3.     Jesus is the One Who Saves His People – vs. 14-17

a.      While verse 13 and some of the other details seem to fit the Maccabean revolts it seems to be an impossible stretch to say that all of what is described in this passage of Zachariah is completely fulfilled in those historical events. God does miraculously deliver and provide for his people during the inter-testamental period, but it seems impossible to limit the complete fulfilment of these words to this time or any other time in history. Which leaves us to wonder what might happen in the future to completely fulfil Zechariah’s words.

b.     Nothing will stand against the triumphal return of Christ – vs 14

                                               i.     While there are mentions of angelic armies in the book of 2 Maccabees, Revelation more accurately points us to the future fulfillment of these words.

1.     “And it happened that, for almost forty days, there appeared over all the city golden-clad cavalry charging through the air, in companies fully armed with lances and drawn swords—troops of cavalry drawn up, attacks and counterattacks made on this side and on that, brandishing of shields, massing of spears, hurling of missiles, the flash of golden trappings, and armor of all kinds”                    - (2 Maccabees 5:2-3).

2.     Revelation 6:2

c.      Christ will completely destroy His enemies and tread in their blood – vs 15

                                               i.     Again, the Maccabean victories were great, often against much larger forces, yet they were never very complete. The Jews during this time were very divided often forced to pick a side and fight each other in the volatile political situation. There is no sweeping victory for the Maccabeans and their influence was temporary. Later the Hasmonean dynasty, which the Maccabean revolts produced, would be utterly dependent on its Roman allies.

                                             ii.     Jesus on the other had completely crushes His enemies and they are never able to rise again.

1.     Revelation 14:19-20; Revelation 19:11-15 

d.     Jesus is the True Shepherd of His people – vs. 16

                                               i.     While the Maccabeans were fierce fighters, often willing to die for their country, they were merely flawed men who could not bring about lasting salvation for their people.

                                             ii.     Jesus on the other hand is the True Savior of His flock

1.     Zechariah 14:1-4; Ezekiel 34:22-24 

e.      Jesus is the only one who can be the Good Shepherd – vs. 17

                                               i.     The Maccabeans were able to secure temporary, external peace, but it did not last.

1.     Psalm 23:1-3 

                                             ii.     Jesus gives us a lasting joy that cannot be taken away

1.     Isaiah 62:6-12

Zechariah 9:9-10

 

Zechariah 9:9-10

Rejoice, O Daughter of Zion, Your King Comes!

 

Zec 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. 

Zec 9:10  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 the river even to the ends of the earth. 

 

         1.     All of God’s People are to Rejoice at the Coming of the True King – vs. 9

a.     Gentile believers are to rejoice at the coming of the King

                                               i.     Isaiah 60:1-5 

b.     Jewish believers will someday rejoice at the coming of their King

                                               i.     Isaiah 44:21-24 

c.     Our King Conquers with Humility

                                               i.     Jesus is just

1.     He is both Just

a.     Psalm 98:9 

2.     And the Justifier

a.     Isaiah 53:10-11 

                                             ii.     Jesus brings salvation

1.     Isaiah 53:3-6 

                                           iii.     Jesus is humble

1.     Philippians 2:5-8 

                                            iv.     Jesus doesn’t conquer on a war horse but comes riding a donkey (a symbol of peace)

1.     Matthew 21:1-11 

           2.     The True King Conquers in Peace not with War – vs. 10

a.     The King’s army will not need any weapons of war to overcome

                                               i.     Judah was told a descendant of his would reign forever and there is no mention of an army

1.     Genesis 49:9-11 

                                             ii.     The Prophets foretold of a suffering Messiah

1.     1 Peter 1:10-11 

b.     The King comes in peace

                                               i.     Micah 4:1-3 

c.     The King will eventually reign over all

                                               i.     1 Corinthians 15:24-28 

                                             ii.     Philippians 2:9-11 

Zechariah 9:1-8

 

Zechariah 9:1-8

The Logos is the Rightful Savior of His People

Zec 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. 

Zec 9:2  And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise. 

Zec 9:3  And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. 

Zec 9:4  Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire. 

Zec 9:5  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. 

Zec 9:6  And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. 

Zec 9:7  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. 

Zec 9:8  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.     Zechariah Receives of a Vision of the Coming of a Great Man Who Will Make Many Mighty Conquests – vs. 1a

a.      This vision of Zechariah accurately predicts Alexander the Great’s conquest of Palestine 200 years before the events happened. It is a 2300-year-old battle plan given long before the birth of its commander. Alexander had a sense of Divine protection as he made his incredible conquest, yet he sought the help of many gods. He received many oracles from many different gods during his short life, yet only the One True God can accurately predict the future.

b.     Daniel the prophet also accurately predicts the rise of Alexander and the division of his kingdom after his death, 250 years before Alexander was born.

                                               i.     Daniel 8:20-22 

          2.     The Mighty Man Will be Used of God to Administer Judgment on the Enemies of Israel – vs. 1b- 5

a.      Alexander is going to be used by God to destroy the oppressors of Israel, and even though Israel was loyal to his enemy, the Medo-Persian Empire and Darus III, He will unexpectedly had mercy on them.

                                               i.     After destroying Darus III’s army at the battle of Granicus, Alexander proceeds to defeat Medo-Persian Santraps across Syria. – vs. 1b

1.     Daniel also prophesies that Alxander will destroy the Medo-Persian Empire

a.      Daniel 8:5-8 

                                             ii.     Alexander then turns south to destroy the cities on the coast of the Mediterranean. These city states are loyal to their ruler Darus III and hostile to Israel. The first of which is Zidon and Tyre  - vs. 2-4

1.     Tyre is a brilliant island city that is well-fortified with all kinds of creative ways to defend itself. – vs. 2

a.      Ezekiel 28:1-3 

2.     Tyre is extremely wealthy – vs. 3

a.      Ezekiel 28:5-7 

3.     Tyre, even though it seems an impregnable island, is defeated by a land-based army from the sea. Even though Alexander has no navy, he is undeterred by this and proceeds to build a giant causeway from the ruins of another city. Alexander burns and destroys Trye. – vs. 4

a.      Ezekiel 26:12 

                                            iii.     Next is the cities of Philistia – vs. 5

1.     Even though the Philistine cities have months to prepare for Alexander’s army, they to fall and their king is killed. Thus, forever ending their abuse of God’s people.

a.      There are 3 other pronouncements against the Philistines and there is no mention of any remnant.

                                                                                                     i.     Amos 1:7-8; Zephaniah 2:4-5; Ezekiel 25:15-17 

           3.     Although the Mighty Man is Great, He Illegitimately Clams to be the Son of God – vs. 6-7

a.      While there is much debate as to who or what this verse refers to, I believe it to make the most sense as possibly referring to Alexander himself. It could also be referring to Ptolemy, Alexander’s illegitimate brother, who ruled Palestine after Alexander’s death. Quite possibly it refers to Alexander’s spurious claim to be the son of a god. – vs. 6

b.     It was probably tempting to see Alexander as a terror. Yet, God instead advises His people to welcome him as a Jebusite or converted Gentile. Jaddua the High Priest, in the time of Alexander, welcomes him into Jerusalem. When Alexander witnesses this incredibly hospitable act he falls on his face before God honoring Him. – vs. 7

                                               i.     Psalm 9:20 

           4.     Jesus is the True Messiah and Deliver of His People – vs. 8

a.      Although Alexander was a great man, he is in no way the Messiah. He was a flawed man that worshipped many gods. Furthermore, his short life was filled with violence. He died at a young age, and his kingdom was fought over by his generals. He is vastly different from our loving, and humble Savior, Jesus Christ.

                                               i.     Jesus is our protector

1.     Man proposes, yet God disposes

a.      Daniel 2:20-21 

                                             ii.     Jesus causes evil to Passover us - Psalm 34:7 

                                            iii.     Jesus frees us from the Oppressor - Ephesians 2:1-5 

                                            iv.     I know this because I have seen it with my own eyes - Zechariah 9:9