Latest / Journey Elgin / Journey Through Scripture- Zechariah 9-14
Transcript
- Phillip Thomas: Hey, it's good to see you today. My name is Philip Thomas, Pastor of Journey here in Elgin, Texas. This is our ⁓ Tuesday edition of our journey through scripture. ⁓ as we continue to walk chronologically ⁓ through ⁓ the Bible, ⁓ we're getting close to kind of another transition period. We're getting very close to the end of ⁓ the the time of the exile and the return of the exiles. ⁓ so today we're going to be looking at ⁓ Zachariah, Chapters nine through fourteen. So Zechariah nine through fourteen. Now Zach we've we've read some of Zechariah before that ⁓ there's there's lots of visions, ⁓ you know, prophecy in Zachariah. ⁓ a lot of that, especially in the first eight chapters, would actually be fulfilled ⁓ in that that time frame. They were they were talking about ⁓ governors and things like that that that that would happen relatively soon. Then you get ⁓ Zechariah nine through fourteen and it's clearly looking to the f ⁓ future. There's all kinds of debate on ⁓ exactly w who these prophecies are about, when they are about. ⁓ w we're not gonna be able to solve that today. I I think one of the most important things when you're looking at prophecy and and things like that, especially apocalyptic, ⁓ right, looking to the future of how things are going to end up. The most important thing to do is kind of to look at the bigger picture of of why that is happening, of looking at what are the people doing that is leading to the ⁓ calamity that is to come. ⁓ that's part of it. ⁓ so we can see signs of when things are headed that direction and we should try to push back against that. so that's one of the things that we can do with apocalyptic right. And we don't have to get get ⁓ buried in all the details of ex well, exactly when is this happening? Has it already happened? Is it going to happen? ⁓ it eventually God is going to come and make things right. And that's another aspect of apocalyptic writing that it brings hope that eventually everything will be held to account and God will make things right. But as far as our focus goes on you've got to be careful getting too caught up in in trying to to just ⁓ interpret all of these things on a and and make them fit into a certain ⁓ timeline or historical setting. ⁓ there's a lot that we can learn from it without getting ⁓ caught up in that too much. but we had so we have ⁓ Zechariah nine through fourteen are clearly things looking to the future. Some say that a lot of this was fulfilled during the time of Alexander the Great, so in the three hundred BCs. ⁓ you you definitely see some prophecies that point towards the coming Christ. And then you also see prophecies of the day of the Lord that appears to not have happened yet. Right? So all of those things can can be be true. we we don't know for sure, but we can still gain ⁓ some ⁓ valuable insight ⁓ by looking at this. So as you look at ⁓ chapter nine ⁓ of Zechariah, it ⁓ it says the burden of the word of the Lord against the land of Hadrach, Damascus, its resting place, for the eyes of men and all the tribes of Israel are on the Lord, also against Hamath, which borders on it against Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise. And then it this is interesting, it says for Tyre built herself a tower, heaped up silver like dust, and gold like the mire of the street. Behold, the Lord will cast her out. He will destroy her power in the sea, and she will be devoured by fire. Tyre was a very prominent and powerful city. It was a port city that ⁓ had was had lots of wealth and power. Alexander the Great did come in and basically destroy Tyre ⁓ completely. ⁓ so is that what it was talking about? Who who knows? But What Zachariah is predicting is all of these places and peoples ⁓ who have ⁓ inflicted damage against Israel, ultimately they are going to be held accountable as well. ⁓ and ⁓ then ⁓ verse nine it's talking about the coming king. It says, Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion, shout, O daughter of Jerusalem. Behold, your king is coming to you, he is just in having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey. The colt, the fold of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem. The battle bow will be cut off. He shall speak peace to the nations. His dominion shall be fr ⁓ from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. Sounds like a Messiah figure. Sounds like maybe what who Jesus is. Jesus did not bring the sword. he he brought peace. ⁓ now eventually he will bring the sword. ⁓ when he returns again. But ⁓ so we we see the is Zechariah there talking about ⁓ the coming Messiah. I I think very well could be. ⁓ it you continue on and ⁓ it will always talk about how God will save his people, how the people will be restored. ⁓ verse two of chapter ten, ⁓ for the idol speak delusion. The diviners envision lies and tell false dreams, they comfort in vain, therefore the people win their way like sheep, they are in trouble because there is no shepherd. My anger is kindled against the shepherds, and I will punish the goat herds, for the Lord of hosts will visit his flock, the house of Judah. And so what is he talking about here? The people would continue to be led astray, and they would start following the old gods, ⁓ the the pagan gods of the day, and And ⁓ God is saying those are th those are worthless idols. ⁓ they they tell false dreams, they comfort in vain, right? So they ⁓ you know, to the point of these old gods, these pagan ⁓ gods would require child sacrifice in order to bring comfort. ⁓ you know so these interesting and and very disgusting pagan practices. ⁓ the people of Israel unfortunately would begin to adopt and that led to their downfall. ⁓ but then God is going to push those gods out as well. ⁓ He will destroy them, He will destroy those cultures eventually. verse six of of there of chapter ten says, I will strengthen the house of Judah and I will save the house of Joseph, I will bring them back because I have mercy on them. They they shall be as though I had not cast them aside, for I am the Lord their God, I will hear them. Those of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, their heart shall rejoice as if the wine as if with wine. Yes, their children shall see it and be glad, their heart shall rejoice, and the Lord I will whistle for them and gather them, for I will redeem them, and they shall increase as they once increased. And so this all the always this reminder that God is going to restore. ⁓ that that he never is going to abandon his people. Then you get to chapters 11 through 13. ⁓ this is the vision of the shepherds. There are three shepherds. shepherds are the rulers. ⁓ this is not talking about shepherds like in the fields ⁓ during Christmas. ⁓ shepherd was is talking about different rulers. Again, there's been different ideas as to who these rulers are, ⁓ but basically they are leading the flock astray. And you ⁓ get to chapter twelve, ⁓ it says, Thus says the Lord who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against J Judah and Jerusalem, and it shall happen in that in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all the peoples. All who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces. In that day, says the Lord, this is verse four, I will strike every horse with confusion, its rider with madness, I will open my eyes on the house of Judah, will strike every hor ⁓ horse of the people with blindness. ⁓ just c continues to go on verse seven, the Lord will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall not become greater than that of Judah. In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David. And the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the Lord before them. It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. ⁓ So it's talking about that Jerusalem at this point, right, is is kind of pathetic on the world stage. It is returning from exile, but it is not powerful, it is still being ruled by foreign ⁓ powers, and that would continue for hundreds of years. ⁓ so this is clearly talking about a time ⁓ when the Lord will restore and ⁓ you know whether you can make that case that that's already happened or is still to come, ⁓ we don't know, but it does talk about God's faithfulness, his faithfulness to his people, ⁓ to the to to Israel, ⁓ things that we we need to at least consider and take seriously. ⁓ verse ten is interesting, it says, And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and supplication, that they will look on me whom they pierce. Yes, they will mourn for him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for him as one grieves for a firstborn. In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the morning at Hadad Rahman on the plain of Megido. So it Is that referring to a time where Jerusalem, ⁓ where Israel will recognize that Jesus is the one, is the Messiah? ⁓ is that a future date? ⁓ but there were also many, remember, all of the early church were all Jewish. So did they recognize it? Is that what it's referring to? We we don't fully know, okay, and some people will, you know, be very confident in this. I I I do not I do not know the answer, but I believe that that one day all will come to remember and to know who who the Messiah is, how God continued to reach out to the people. chat chapter thirteen cu talks about how idolatry will be will be cut off. ⁓ and then ⁓ we we have the the shepherd savior, right? There's the the three shepherds who had these visions, they are corrupt rulers But the shepherd savior is d ⁓ different in verse seven of chapter thirteen. It says, Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is my companion, says the Lord of hosts. Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. Then I will turn my hand against the little ones, and it shall come to pass in all the land, says the Lord, that two thirds in it shall be cut off and die, but one third shall be left in it, and I will bring the one third through the fire, will refine them as re silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name and I will answer them. I will say, This is my people, and each one will say, The Lord is my God. Right? Well kind of viewing up what does that mean exactly? We we don't know, but don't you want to be part of the one third? The one who goes through the fire, who remains faithful, who does not abandon the truth of God, who continues to strive. ⁓ to speak the truth of God, to live out the truth of God no matter what may be going on ⁓ around us. ⁓ so that we can say the Lord is my God no matter what. Then you have chapter fourteen. ⁓ chapter fourteen ⁓ is clearly kind of looking looking forward ⁓ as as ⁓ it it's maybe we would call it Armageddon. It's the day of the Lord ⁓ is coming ⁓ and it it Talks a lot about what that will look like, that it it is mass chaos. It is Armageddon, ⁓ right, that that God will ⁓ will ⁓ bring an account to to ev everyone. And then in verse sixteen it says, And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the king, the Lord of hosts, to keep the feast of tabernacles, and it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come. up to Jerusalem to worship the king, the Lord of hosts. On them there will be no rain. So what is this saying? That ultimately all people will come to recognize the one true God, right? And that they will be worshiping the one true God. Verse 20, in that day holiness to the Lord shall be engraved on the bells of the horses, the pots in the Lord's house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yes every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the Lord of hosts. What what is this saying? Saying no longer do you have to go to the temple, ⁓ but every pot is is ⁓ as sacred. ⁓ so that ⁓ it it's removing some of those barriers ⁓ and that all will be welcome ⁓ to come into the holiness ⁓ of the Lord. ⁓ kind of kind of interesting. Again, has this happened yet? I don't I don't think so. I think this is probably still referring to something ⁓ in the future. ⁓ but don't get bogged down in in trying to make this match our timeline. There is mystery to this, ⁓ but we can still learn a lot about it. ⁓ that when we see society moving in a direction like Israel was moving, we should stand up and and warn and and make sure that we do not give in to those ungodly directions. ⁓ and we also take hope and comfort in knowing that God He will make things right. ⁓ He He will bring justice and thankfully it will be His justice. So it will be holy, it will be true. but it it it will be uncomfortable. ⁓ so ⁓ we'll we'll stop there. let's ⁓ go more kind of futuristic visions. We're gonna go Daniel eight ⁓ through twelve. Yeah, eight through twelve, ⁓ in the the book of Daniel. All right. So we'll see you on