Nov. 30, 2005

 

  In 9:9-10, we saw the two advents of the Messiah; vs.9-his entrance into Jerusalem fulfilled in Matt. 21 and vs.10-his dismantling of armaments after his return- Rev.19-20.

  Ch.9, verses 11-13 is written to encourage those suffering during the time awaiting Messiah’s first coming.  “as for you also”-this is a verbal “aside” directed to suffering Israel before vs.10 is fulfilled.  The Lord desires to bolster

The heart of His people as they observe the contrast between their present limited circumstance and the expansive power of God’s future rule.

  “because of the blood of your covenant”- just which covenant?  Likely

it ties together both the Mosaic Covenant of Ex.24:8 and the New Covenant of

Matt. 26:26-28 using blood as the unifying factor.  Thus, it refers to both Israel’s privileges as a chosen nation to receive God’s Law and the deliverance offered through Christ’s suffering on the cross to establish the New Covenant.

  “I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit”- certainly, these

words suggest the “prisoner” status of Israel in the Captivity under Babylon and remind us of Joseph’s dilemma in Gen. 37:22 (pit).  But during Zechariah’s day,

Israel is no longer in captivity.  David Baron sees the language as ‘figurative’-

the oppressive state of Israel will be freed from humiliation to a nation of princes.  “return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope”- the stronghold is not literal, but used for God in His power to keep safe- Joel 3:16, Psa.40:1-2.

This is the only occasion in scripture where the definite article precedes the word “hope” [the hope]—from Acts 26:6 we see Paul referring to “the hope of the promise”.  It may be suggested that “set your prisoners free” reaches beyond physical deliverance, but to the greater truth of spiritual deliverance from sin and death- Romans 5-8.

  “I will restore double to you”- as Israel is viewed as the firstborn among the nations (Ex.4:22) and the firstborn received double blessing (Deut.21:15-17),

so the nation was the object of severe punishment- see Isa.40:2 and Jere.16:18.

Here in Zechariah 9, we see Israel promised double blessing- Isa.61:7.  These

words were of great comfort to the people.

   Chap.9, verses 13-17- speak of the victory of Israel over her enemies as

the LORD joins with them in battle and ‘crowns’ them with blessings.  The question is “when will these verses take place?”

   A key to the answer is found in the reference to Greece as well as words that

we have associated with the 2^nd advent (The LORD of Hosts will defend them….God will save them in that day).  As has been seen in earlier passages of Zechariah, the verses speak of both a historical incident that anticipates a future and greater incident.

   “for I have bent Judah…fitted the bow with Ephraim”- language is used to depict God joining with the southern and northern divisions of Israel to assault the enemy, which in this case is “your sons, O Greece”.  A review of history

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would be helpful:

1) After the death of Alexander,the Great in 330 BC, his kingdom was divided

into 4 parts (see Dan.8:21-22) each to a general.  The portion of the kingdom

of Greece that went to Seleucus was Syria, Israel and Mesopotamia.

2) Earlier in Dan.8:9, a “little horn” was mentioned that crafted an amazing

rise to power in about 175 BC; his name was Antiochus Epiphanes 4^th as son of

Seleucus.  He is a character of significance in the history of Israel as he attempted to force “Hellenization” of the Jewish people.

3) Hellenization was to bring culture and religion of defeated nations into the context of Greek culture/religion.  Antiochus Epiphanes 4^th viewed himself as

worthy of worship; “Epiphanes” means Illustrious One.  The Jews angered

by his prohibition of Temple sacrifices referred to him as “Epimanes”= the

Madman.  He had a sow offered in sacrifice on the Temple altar while placing a statue of Zeus there—Dan.8:12-13.

4) The Lord raised up Judas Maccabeus (The Hammer) to initiate guerrilla

and in 164 BC recovered the Temple and gave Israel almost 100 years of

independence (until Rome).

5) While vs.13-15 (possibly vs.16 & 17) refer to the historical situation with

Antiochus Epiphanes 4^th and Judas Maccabeus, it moves into a larger context of

another assault on Israel during the Tribulation that results in God’s direct

intervention and victory.  The leader of that assault will be Antichrist—

see Rev. 13:1-10.

6) As God gave safety to Israel under Alexander without war, so He gives

victory over A.E.4^th/Antichrist by warfare.