STUDIES IN ZECHARIAH- PART 29

                      Feb. 1, 2006

 

    The opening of ch.13 brings us to more material on the national conversion of the people of Israel.  Chap.13,  verse 1 “In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David…Jerusalem, for sin and uncleanness.”

This follows 12:10 in that it stresses the necessary removal of sin as part of the conversion experience.  This is in agreement with part of the New Covenant of

Jere.31:31-34- “I will forgive their iniquity and their sin I will remember no more.”  This is quoted in Heb.10:17 as indicative that the old covenant is ended and the new covenant is in effect.  Further, it is consistent with Rom. 11:27 on

taking away their sin along with Zech.3:9.

    From this verse, William Cowper would give us the hymn THERE IS A FOUNTAIN FILLED WITH BLOOD.

    “House of David” is here representative of the entire nation of Israel.

“sin”-chat-tawth-  to miss or go wrong (Num.19:9,17)

“uncleanness”- nid-da- filthiness, menstruous (Ezk. 36:17)

  Together, these words speak of both intentional and unintentional wrongdoing

showing Israel’s deep guilt as a people.

Chapter 13:2-3 describe the subsequent work of removing idols and the accompanying false prophets from the nation following conversion.  The phrase

“I will cause….the unclean spirit to depart from the land” indicates

that the millennial reign of Christ will be a period without demonic activity.

I Cor.10:20-21 seems to reveal that the dynamism behind idolatry is demonic

power and deception which will be restricted according to Rev.19:20 and 20:3.  The precepts of the Law are seen in vs.3 as in Deut.18:20, 22.

  The language of vs.3 also reveals the depth of spiritual passion for the LORD

and earnest seeking to serve Him wholly.  Family ties will not obstruct fidelity

to the LORD.  Verse 4 speaks of the “shame” that would accompany any

attempt to foster a false “vision” on God’s people, even using the customary

dress of a prophet to aid the deception—this robe or mantle was used by

Elijah- I Kings 19:13.  The genuine fear of the LORD will move men to deny (vs.5) any connection with the office of a prophet (deceiving).  Remember that according to Joel 2:28-29, there will be valid revelation given to the people of Israel following their conversion.

   Verse 6 is often used to speak of false prophets due to the context; yet,

it is likely that vs.6 resumes from 12:10 !  That there is an extended parenthesis

from 12:11-13:5 does not stretch the interpretation that vs.6 refers to the

Messiah Himself.  Extended parenthesis may be found in gap between the 6^th seal of Rev.6:12-17 and the 7^th seal in Rev.8:1 as well as the extended parenthesis between the 69^th and 70^th “weeks” of Daniel in 9:24-27.  Actually the question of vs.6 could well be expressive of the work of grace in 12:10.  And it introduces us to the True Messiah-Shepherd of vs.7=Jesus Christ.

 

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   The “wounds” would be the piercing of the crucifixion (12:10 and Psa.22:16-18) as noted with Thomas in John 20:24-29.  “house of my friends” is a term of irony that would clearly be the people of Israel—while the term is used of illicit lovers, here it applies to those who love Him.  While the leaders of Israel hated Jesus at His first coming, the attitude before of many in the “house” of Israel before his betrayal was that of love and affection—Abraham- John 8:56.

   Chapter 13:7 brings us to a call from the LORD that violence is to be visited upon One called a Shepherd and the man who is my companion [KJV has

“fellow”].  This shepherd is in contrast with the one in 11:16-17.  This Shepherd

is the Lord Jesus as seen in His own application of this to Himself in Matt.26:31.

Obviously, we have moved from a context of millennial righteousness with Israel in vs.2-6 back to the occasion of the arrest, crucifixion and death of the Messiah.

Actually, it might be suggested that the context is Israel in vs.2-6 and vs.7 is simply describing the scattering of the sheep (Israel).  Attendant to this scattering is the smiting of the Shepherd of Israel.

  “man who is my companion” is a strong statement on the deity of Christ,

as in John 10:30.

   The “sword” is a term used to convey divine permission for suffering and death  to be visited upon this Shepherd.  It supports the concept of Christ dying under both

(1) human agency- Acts 2:23 and

(2) Divine intervention- John 5:19, Heb. 2:9,14 as well as Jesus’ own willingness- John 10:11, 18.

   “the sheep will be scattered” expresses the dispersion of the people of Israel after the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD (the scattering of the disciples at the arrest of Jesus serves as a type).  “then I will turn my hand against the little ones”  carries the idea of how the suffering of the Shepherd is extended to the suffering of His people – John 15:20 and Lk.21:12.