In That Day -- Salvation.

Jerusalem’s Enemies to Be Destroyed - Part 1

"Zechariah 12:1–13:6 represents an oracle from God that outlines his comprehensive plan for the renewal of his people . . . This salvation from God is only the first step in his plan for his people. He promises to produce penitence, provide cleansing, and remove idolatry and false prophecy from the land." [1]

The events in this passage seem to follow this order:

1. A siege and then a deliverance for Jerusalem and Judah (vv2–9); 
2. A spiritual renewal of Israel and the arrival of the Messiah (12:10–13:1); and 
3. The removal of wickedness and idolatry from Israel (13:2–6).

A key feature of this section of the repeated phrase "on that day":

• Zechariah 12:3 (NIV) ³ On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.
• Zechariah 12:4 (NIV) ⁴ On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness,” declares the Lord. “I will keep a watchful eye over Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations.
• Zechariah 12:6 (NIV) ⁶ “On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among sheaves. They will consume all the surrounding peoples right and left, but Jerusalem will remain intact in her place.
• Zechariah 12:8 (NIV) ⁸ On that day the Lord will shield those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the Lord going before them.
• Zechariah 12:9 (NIV) ⁹ On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem.
• Zechariah 12:11 (NIV) ¹¹ On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be as great as the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.
• Zechariah 13:1 (NIV) ¹ “On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.
• Zechariah 13:2 (NIV) ² “On that day, I will banish the names of the idols from the land, and they will be remembered no more,” declares the Lord Almighty. “I will remove both the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land.
• Zechariah 13:4 (NIV) ⁴ “On that day every prophet will be ashamed of their prophetic vision. They will not put on a prophet’s garment of hair in order to deceive.

Those verses outline the storyline.  "The consistent use of the phrase “in that day” (17 times in 44 verses) demonstrates the eschatological nature of the oracle." [2]  Many expositors [3] view this apocalyptic prophecy in keeping with salvation of the nation of Israel, e.g. “and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”” (Romans 11:26–27, NIV).

The question that we are left to consider is this: Is this about ethnic Israel being restored and saved; or is the subject about the eschatological Israel of God, ultimately saved from her enemies?  Is it the Jerusalem of Palestine that is preserved; or is it the New Jerusalem - the Church?  We will pursue that in this very difficult passage in the next Blog.

Thank you Father, that in spite of our human weakness and uncertainty about such things as who and when, there is no doubt in Your eternal and perfect mind.  You are a God that says, "In that day;" and You know exactly what day.  And there is another thing that begs no doubt: You will save Your people.  This is for sure: “The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.” (Psalm 33:10–12, NIV).  You are the eternal God “. . . who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the human spirit . . ..” (Zechariah 12:1, NIV).  There is none like You.   Grant grace and mercy today.  Save us from the Wicked One.  Work in us what is pleasing to You. And because of Your grace may we be found to work for Your Kingdom even more diligently, not that we are working, but You are working within.  Amen!

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1. Boda, Mark J. (2009-05-26). Haggai, Zechariah (The NIV Application Commentary) (Kindle Locations 9497-9500). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
2. Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Zec 12:1–9). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
3. The spiritual conversion of Israel is described in 12:10–13:6. God’s ultimate deliverance of Jerusalem is not political favoritism. Rather it is rooted in a spiritual renewal, which itself is an act of God’s grace. Out of deep conviction and as a result of the action of God’s Holy Spirit, the Jewish people will turn in national and individual repentance to accept the One whom they had previously rejected (11:12). - Believer’s Study Bible. 1991 (W. A. Criswell, P. Patterson, E. R. Clendenen, D. L. Akin, M. Chamberlin, D. K. Patterson & J. Pogue, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (Zec 12:10). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Conquest Complete! Victory Verified!

A Vision of Four Chariots

"The eighth and final vision illustrates the universal reign of Yahweh. This vision parallels the opening vision (1:7–17); both visions feature the number four, horses of various colors, a valley—all with an emphasis on the entire earth. The two visions function as an inclusio, bracketing the sequence of visions in chaps. 1–6." [1]  This eighth vision is found in Zechariah 6:1-8.  

So the prophet sees four chariots emerge from two bronze mountains. They were drawn by strong horses, red, white, black and dappled.These chariots had been before the Lord and now they were going out to the four strong winds. The black and white horses go north.  The dappled horse goes south. (The red horse isn't mentioned.)   Their mission was to patrol the earth.  And then we read: “Then he called to me, “Look, those going toward the north country have given my Spirit rest in the land of the north.”” (Zechariah 6:8, NIV).

"The chariots seem to represent angelic spirits (cf. v.5), while the variegated horses evidently signify divine judgments on the earth (cf. v.8) . . . comparing Revelation 6:1-8, suggests that the red horses symbolize war and bloodshed; the black horses, famine and death; the white horses, victory and triumph; and the dappled horses, death by plagues and other judgments." [2] They range universally to patrol the earth.  "The mountains probably symbolize the gate to heaven, though some suggest that the bronze reflects the bronze pillars of the temple (1 Kin. 7:13–22) . . . Here the chariots are God’s emissaries of judgment who emerge from between the bronze mountains . . . The north is here representative of Israel’s enemies because the geography of Palestine demanded that anyone attacking from the east, including the Persians, had to come by way of the north." [3]

What does it mean that the Spirit (spirit) is at rest?   "A clue is offered by another passage that speaks of the four winds: Jeremiah 49: 36– 37. There too God uses the four winds to enact judgment. In 49: 37, this mission is linked to “my fierce anger.” It is interesting that ruaḥ can be used to signify anger (Judg. 8: 3; Prov. 16: 32; 29: 11) . . . Thus the wind of God as an expression of his wrath has been spent against the land of the north, the Babylonians." [4]

This all speaks to a final outcome that God's enemies are defeated and his wrath is expended.  And there is peace. God has brought all things under His feet.  The defeat of God's enemies means that Christ can rule universally in a consummated Kingdom.

Summary

The first five visions bring comfort to Israel's prophet (Zechariah), priest (Joshua) and king (Zerubbabel). The last three reveal God's plan to deal with personal sin, idolatry and His enemies. The eight visions takes us from the Babylonian captivity to the New Heaven and New Earth. 

Father, the end of the story has been written.  Today we live in the days of the riding horses.  The Cross has nailed sin once and for all.  Christ has come as the exact image of God, in whom we worship. You rule in the midst of Your enemies.  Grace abounds. Victory is assured.  Jesus lives and reigns.  Hope is secure. You win!  Praise God.  One day the trumpet will sound for His coming, One day the skies with His glory will shine; Wonderful day, my beloved ones bringing;   Glorious Savior, this Jesus is mine! Amen!

 

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1. Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Zec 6:1–8). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
2. Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Zechariah/Exposition of Zechariah/II. A Series of Eight Night Visions (1:7-6:8)/H. The Eighth Vision: The Four Chariots (6:1-8), Book Version: 4.0.2
3. Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). The Reformation study Bible: Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture: New King James Version (Zec 6:1–8). Nashville: T. Nelson.
4. Boda, Mark J. (2009-05-26). Haggai, Zechariah (The NIV Application Commentary) (Kindle Locations 6283-6298). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.