God's Rejection of Ethnic Israel

The Rejection of the Messianic Shepherd-King (Zechariah 11:1-17)

After the hopeful and assured future prophesied for God's people Zechariah picks up, again, the subject of the leaders.  

“Open your doors, Lebanon, so that fire may devour your cedars! Wail, you juniper, for the cedar has fallen; the stately trees are ruined! Wail, oaks of Bashan; the dense forest has been cut down! Listen to the wail of the shepherds; their rich pastures are destroyed! Listen to the roar of the lions; the lush thicket of the Jordan is ruined!” (Zechariah 11:1–3, NIV)  

Expositors debate whether this solemn forecast belongs to Chapter 10 or if this starts a new thought. I side with the latter.  As the commentary notes: "The names in the text—Lebanon, Bashan, and Jordan—seem to favor this approach. Part of the fulfillment would be the destruction and further subjugation of that whole area by the Romans, including the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 under Emperor Vespasian and General Titus, as well as the later fall of Masada. This action quelled one of several Jewish rebellions against Rome." [1]

The prophet then turns to one shepherd (vv4-17), who previously appointed acts on behalf of the flock before abandoning them.  "Verses 4–14 (especially 8–13) describe the reason for the coming devastation—Israel rejects their Good Shepherd." [2]  

“So I shepherded the flock marked for slaughter, particularly the oppressed of the flock. Then I took two staffs and called one Favor and the other Union, and I shepherded the flock. In one month I got rid of the three shepherds. The flock detested me, and I grew weary of them and said, “I will not be your shepherd. Let the dying die, and the perishing perish. Let those who are left eat one another’s flesh.” Then I took my staff called Favor and broke it, revoking the covenant I had made with all the nations. It was revoked on that day, and so the oppressed of the flock who were watching me knew it was the word of the Lord.” (Zechariah 11:7–11, NIV)  

The two staffs, maintaining the shepherding metaphor obviously refer to covenants. "Favor or no'am symbolizes God’s blessing on His people (Psa 90:17) . . .  union (chovelim) is the outcome of leadership guided by divine favor." [3]  This likely refers to the lifting of God's protection over the nation and also predicts the dividing of the nation.  "God set aside His kind and gracious protection and His providential care for His people, allowing Rome to invade and destroy Israel (cf. Luke 19:41–44; 21:24)." [4]

“I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the house of the Lord.” (Zechariah 11:12–13, NIV)  

Thirty pieces of silver was "according to Exodus 21:32, was the price to be paid to the master whose slave had been gored by an ox! A sound slave was considered to be worth twice that amount . . . To cast something unto the potter is idiomatic for throwing away something of little value to one who deals in things that are of insignificant value." [5]

This is the ultimate insult—Messiah, God’s Good Shepherd, rejected and worth only the price of a ruined and disabled slave.  Now, in this highly poetic chapter, Zechariah describes the foolish shepherd that will replace the Good Shepherd.  He will allow ungodly rulers to come in and destroy the nation, particularity pointing to the destruction of Israel at a future date; possibly in A.D. 70.

So the big picture is important.  Because Israel rejected the Messiah, in His place, God will send a Destructive Shepherd who will decimate the land.  But we need to remind ourselves of the previous prophecies: this Messiah will return and gather all who believe: both Jew and Gentile into one people who He will Shepherd and bring into His eternal kingdom. 

Jesus clearly spoke of this reality when He entered into Jerusalem for the last time.  Matthew 21:42–44 (NIV) records these solemn words:

⁴² Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? ⁴³ “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. ⁴⁴ Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”

Father, had not we received the hope of Your eternal Kingdom under the reign of King Jesus, this chapter would be emotionally crushing.  Thank you that you always give hope and grace, even in the view of decimating and debilitating news.  The physical nation of Israel had and has rejected You and You have rejected them.  But You have not rejected Your plan of redemption.  From the beginning You chose to draw out from Israel and the rest of the world a people -- a people who would bear fruit.  By the Spirit, through the blood of Christ and by means of faith in the Gospel, this people is being built.  Praise God.  Lord, may today prove, in my life, to be an enriching, Gospel-centered day that bears much fruit -- fruit that will remain.  For Your glory and Your Kingdom.  Amen.

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1. Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Zechariah/Exposition of Zechariah/V. Two Prophetic Oracles: The Great Messianic Future and the Full Realization of the Theocracy (9:1-14:21)/A. The First Oracle: The Advent and Rejection of the Messiah (9:1-11:17)/2. The rejection of the messianic Shepherd-King (11:1-17)/a. The prologue (11:1-3), Book Version: 4.0.2

2. 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 11:4). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

3. Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Zec 11:7). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

4. The MacArthur Study Bible. 1997 (J. MacArthur, Jr., Ed.) (electronic ed.) (1353). Nashville, TN: Word Pub.

5. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (1833). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

The Truth About Love.

2 John 1–2 (NIV),

¹ The elder, To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth—² because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:

So John, "the Apostle whom Jesus loved" (John 13:23) who has transitioned into the emerging role as "The Pastor" is writing to a local church known by God, chosen by God and owned by God -- and its members.  What does John say to them?

1. He says that he loves them in the truth.

2. He says that all who know the truth love them too.

3. He says that he and all those who love the truth, love them because of the truth that lives in them.

4. He says that this truth that lives in them, will live in them forever.

Is John saying that he loves them "truthfully"?  Or is John saying that his love is somehow expressed within the context of truth. The idea seems to be the latter based upon what follows.  Other people who have the truth also love them.  

Truth loves truth. Truth cannot be truth and at the same time embrace un-truth. When two people know the truth, the existential fact is that the truth in them magnetizes them to each other. Birds of a feather flock together.  People of the truth love each other.  This truth is eternal, so the love is everlasting.  Here's an important observation:

The community of love is as encompassing as the truth that is believed and lived. [1]

The perimeter that surrounds true Christians in mutual love is only as big as the truth that is known and believed in that context.

The background that John clearly has in mind is the issue of heretics bothering this local church.   So very likely the Church is constrained by its Savior's admonition to love all people.   But John is saying in this salutation that our love is bounded by true Truth. When people exist outside of that true Truth, it is impossible to express brotherly love.  Note I said "impossible".  Truth cannot embrace un-truth.  Let me give you an example. 

Why should I not embrace with warm affection the members of the Mormon church?  Answer?  They deny Christ.  The deny the eternal, deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, second Person of the Trinity.  Their un-truth does not open a conduit of love to the Truth that exists forever in me.  I love them as men and women that need to be saved.  I do not love them as brothers and sisters in Christ. 

"This emphasis on truth shows that authentic Christian love involves more than emotional sentimentality. The Christian community consists of those who 'know the truth.'" [2]  And not only that, the word "known" (γινώσκω [ghin·oce·ko/] ) "is perfect tense in the original, stressing the certainty of the fact of the knowledge; it does not mean all who have ever known the truth in any way, but rather all who “really know the truth,” that is, real believers." [3]

So really Real believers embrace and live out truly true Truth and their love is inherent and eternal. This flys in the face of contemporary rhetoric among left-wing, placid so-called Christians that we ought to all love one another and be unified.  People who have the Truth are unified.  And any attempt of Truth-knowing Christians to unite in mutual affection with liberal brands of christianity that deny the authority of Scripture, the lordship of Christ, etc.; or any attempts to unite with an idolatrous organization like the Church of Rome; or any attempt to embrace with Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses and the like is not just wrong -- it is impossible.  Truth loves truth and can do no other.

Father this passage has inflamed my passion.  I sense an anger -- a righteous outburst against the many cries I hear for love, acceptance, tolerance, unity, community and the like.  I feel sick with all this talk.  There is none of that -- and You have so governed the universe, that there can be none of that apart from Truth.  These twin sisters of love and truth are also joined at the hip.  They are inseparable.  I pray that this passion that explodes in this text of Scripture will result in holy boldness and courage to withstand the placid calls for mushy community that exist in our culture.  But Father, most of all I pray that I will know and be known for love in truth.  I pray that You will not find a duplicitous heart in me. Root out any falsehood in my life, I pray.  Grant me the grace today to walk in truth -- and love, both whom are great friends.  Amen.

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 1. Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:2 John/Exposition of 2 John/I. Introduction (1-3), Book Version: 4.0.2 

2. 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.) (2 Jn 1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

3. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (2642). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

The Standard of Relationships

Note John 5:16–30

 What an awesome description of the relationships within the Godhead!  Unity and diversity; submission and harmony; delegation and humility; and authority with cooperation.

V18	Jesus speaks in a way that makes Himself equal with God
V19	Equality of the Son & Father is so fused that the Son can only do what the Father does.
V20	The Son is shown all that the Father is doing because of the co-existent love
V21	The Father & Son both can give life to the dead if they will
V22	The Father has given all judgment to the Son
V23	To dishonor the Son is to dishonor the Father
V24	Belief in the Father who sent the Son brings eternal life

“Jesus provides compelling insight into His relationship with God. Jesus’ authority stems from His relationship with the Father, which is one of complete submission. In fact, He can do nothing on His own. Whatever the Father does, He does likewise. There is complete trust and openness—the Father loves the Son and shows Him all that He is doing. Both the Father and the Son give life. But with authority, the Father has also given the Son judgment.”^[1]

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^[1] Barry, J. D., & Kruyswijk, R. (2012). Connect the Testaments: A Daily Devotional. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

Ludi Incipiant -- Let the Games Begin!

A common question regarding Christianity from both non-Christians and Christians alike is the issue of the many denominations and variety of beliefs within the same brand of religion.  This is a good question.  We offer the world a faith whereby there is one God, one faith and one baptism.  It's in the Bible (Ephesians 4:4-6 ) our one source of authority.  This all sounds so confusing.  Why so many interpretations? 

Do you know what else is in the Bible?   Well we are told that individual Christians presently only understand in part (1 Corinthians 13:9,12).  We also know that sometimes truth takes awhile to dawn on us (Proverbs 4:18).  We also have the evidence of church councils wrestling with important issues (Acts 15). 

So first of all let's make sure we don't fall prey to a Satanic method of Biblical interpretation (Matthew 4:7) and forget that we shouldn't make a doctrine on solitary passages.  "It is also written" is an important inclusion in any Biblical discussion. The truth is we are fallen, dependent creatures and the New Birth does not make us omniscient and all-wise.  We will never be God (contrary to some religions!).  We will never (including the Final State) have the perfect knowledge that our God has.

Secondly, I somewhat relish the idea that within the confines of true and unabashed Christianity well-meaning Believers can still debate differences of opinion.  If you think about it, in our world of pluralism and relativism, where everybody is right and right is whatever you think it is, we may be experiencing a generation of people that truly are living the last and final great debate.

Now let it be known that there are subjects that are so blatantly clear in the Bible that debate is futile if not insubordinate.  But when I debate infant baptism with my Presbyterian brothers, or tongues with my Pentecostal friends, or eschatology with all my other Christians, we are entering into a sphere of discussion that our relativistic neighbors seldom enjoy. 

I think instead of showing contempt for our intramural differences we ought to count it a distinct privilege. People who hold to cardinal truths of Christianity get to differ, debate and defer to one another in a spirit of Christ-likeness that is unknown in many other religious systems.

So the next time you have a friendly argument with a fellow believer on ... say: the impeccability of Jesus, stop to give thanks that you still can do that.  Stop also to thank God that He has determined others to be a help to your faith.  Stop also to worship a God that in infinitely wise and true; and that the joy of knowing Him is in the journey.

Ludi incipiant.