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 While the books of Maccabees are important historical references, they are not inerrant nor inspired scripture.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