Introduction
The twelfth chapter of Zechariah presents the familiar theme of Israel’s final deliverance and salvation. Zechariah has been predicting it throughout and now gives a description of its coming to pass.
Today it is relatively easy to imagine Israel as the focal point of the world. I imagine if we had been living a hundred years ago that would seem somewhat obscure. But since its reappearance as a nation in 1948, the eyes of the world have focused on that little plot of ground known as Israel. Seemingly indomitable, it exists as an island in a sea of nations endeavoring to drown it. God is not yet finished with Israel. The Bible teaches there is coming a great day for the nation of Israel– a day of tremendous spiritual salvation and political victory. That has been prophesied repeatedly in the Old and New Testaments, and is detailed for us in Zechariah 12. The tragic history of Israel will be reversed to culminate in a future of unprecedented joy. This chapter is full of truths that are exciting not only for anyone who is Jewish, but also for anyone who knows that God is in control of history.
Lesson
I. THE SIEGE OF ISRAEL (vv. 1-3)
“The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, who stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the peoples round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all peoples; all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the nations of the earth be gathered together against it.”
A. The Burden for Israel (v. 1)
1. Its object
This prophecy is directed toward Israel. It begins by describing a siege against the nation. A siege is a military attack by an army, usually in the form of a blockade, against a city. There will be a great attack by the Gentile nations against Israel in the future. It will be another world war– the battle of the centuries, the greatest war of history. It is commonly referred to as the Battle of Armageddon. All the nations of the world will converge on Israel in an effort to destroy it and prevent the Messiah’s return to establish His Kingdom.
Verse 1 says this is “the burden of the word of the Lord for Israel.” More specifically, verse 2 says this is directed toward Judah and Jerusalem. That is supported through such phrases as “the governors of Judah” (vv. 5-6), “the inhabitants of Jerusalem” (vv. 5, 7-8, 10), “the tents of Judah” (v. 7), and “the house of David” (vv. 8, 10).
The Hebrew word translated “burden” comes from a term that is used frequently in prophetic literature. It’s used in Zechariah 9:1 for a prophecy against the Gentiles. It signifies a prophecy of grief or anxiety that burdens the prophet who is obliged to proclaim it and the people who must receive it. There’s going to be grief before there will be wholesale repentance and conversion in Israel.
2. Its source
Furthermore the burden is from God Himself. He is proclaiming in the first person through Zechariah what He will do. He says, “Behold, I will make” (v. 2), “In that day will I make” (v. 3), “I will smite … and I will open mine eyes” (v. 4), and “In that day will I make” (v. 6). God sovereignly directs the course of events of history, whether through raising up a false shepherd or establishing His messianic Kingdom.
God is making a promise that in spite of a siege set against Israel, He will bring about the deliverance and salvation of His people. His active role is emphasized so that those who hear this prophecy will have the confidence to believe it will come to pass. It doesn’t depend on men, but upon an unchanging God, who doesn’t make plans and scuttle them, or who isn’t thwarted by some other power. When God plans to do something, it will be done. To confirm that ultimate power rests with God, verse 1 reminds us that He is the One “who stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.” The point is beautifully made that the God who made history will be the One to bring it to a close. That truth is a solid basis for confidence in the ultimate destiny of history.
The divine element is expressed in three ways in verse 1. First, “burden of the word of the Lord” indicates a divine message involving judgment. Second, “saith the Lord” specifically indicates this is a message from God. Third, the description of God as the omnipotent Creator of the world emphasizes that He is in control of history.
“This article originally appeared here at Bible Bulletin Board.”
