THE MESSAGE OF ZECHARIAH
Number 26
CHRIST'S VICTORY FOR HIS PEOPLE
Zechariah 9:9:11-17
******

THESE verse speak of great deliverance for the people of God. These verses have a reference to history in a prophecy of victory to come, but they also have a spiritual dimension, and are descriptive of the victory and blessing Christ's people receive and enjoy through faith in his work for them. We need to see the historical reference first, as far as we can determine it. Then we can look at the spiritual dimension contained in these verses.

THE HISTORICAL DIMENSION.

This prophecy looks forward to the troubled time for the Jews during the time between the Old and New Testaments which came to a head in the time of the Greek ruler Antiochus Epiphanies, who ravaged Jerusalem and tried to destroy the faith of the Jews. These times are spoken of in the book of Maccabees, and the prophecy probably has reference to the deliverances achieved by the Maccabees at that time.

In temporal terms the prophecy speaks of God's faithfulness to his covenant people in times of trial when God's people are faithful to him.

UNDERSTANDING THE VERSES OF THIS PROPHECY.

In verse 11 the prophet speaks of God's people. God speaks to his people and assures them he will stand by the covenant he has made with them. The blood of the covenant surely refers to the sacrificial system which God appointed for the purging of sin and for his continuing to bless his covenant people. God promises to be faithful to the covenant he has made, and because of it he comes to free his people from those who afflict and imprison them. The waterless pit must refer to the pit in most ancient prisons where prisoners were placed without food or water. The promise is, therefore, that God would deliver his people from such severe affliction.

In verse 12 the reference to returning to their fortress must have reference to returning to Jerusalem, and the promise is that God would defend this city and keep his people safe from harm there. For this reason God's people are called prisoners of hope because they have this sure hope in God. The rest of the verse is a promise that God's deliverance would mean a return to greater blessing and prosperity than before.

In verse 13 the thought turns towards Israel's enemies, which were are this time the Greeks, and speaks of turning his people into a mighty bow, and filling the bow with Ephraim, so Ephraim is likened to arrows for the bow. God would rouse his people - sons of Zion. He would make them like a warriors sword - that is a mighty army, who would fire the arrows to defeat the Greeks who were oppressing them. Verse 14 continues this theme with the assurance that God would appear over the enemy, and his arrows would flash in devastating power against the enemy. Lightening describes the swiftness of the arrows of God in defense of his people, which move so fast that there is no opportunity to avoid them. God would sound the trumpet to terrify the Greeks, and he would march against them with great power like storms of the south. The picture is a vivid one, given in these concrete images, and speaks of God coming with great power to overcome Israel's enemies.

This prophecy surely refers to the victories won against Antiochus during the time of the Maccabees.

From verse 15 the prophecy speaks of the peace and blessing resulting from God's defense of his people. God would be a shield to his people. This speaks of God defending his people from the weapons of the enemy against them, and not allowing these weapons to hurt his people. The reference to destroying with slingstones probably refers more to making the enemies weapons ineffective, so that they are like slingstones on the ground which have no effect or power, rather than weapons in the hands of Israel overcoming the enemy. The rest of verse 14 is a picture of God making his people strong and terrifying and powerful against their enemies, and so overcoming them and terrifying them.

Following this power and strength for battle given by the Lord there will follow a time of peace. God will save his people, and his people as God's flock will feed in peace and joy. Also God will make his people to sparkle like jewels in a crown, which is a vivid picture of the prosperity and riches he will bestow on them in this time of peace. So in verse 17 through God's blessing and protection God's people will be made attractive, and they will thrive. The young and the old will prosper because there is nothing which will hinder their peaceful growth.

Such is the picture which is promised, and in some measure this was fulfilled in the time of the Maccabees, but no earthly prosperity can do justice to the blessing promised here, and so generally these verses are interpreted as referring to the blessings poured out on God's faithful people in Christ, and speak of the final deliverance and blessing which is comes to them through  Christ in heaven. when the strife of this world is over.

THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSION.

It is through the blood of the covenant in Christ that great spiritual blessings flow from God to his faithful people. Christ sealed God's covenant by his blood. Christ's blood speaks of the full atonement for sin which he made for the sins of his faithful people when he died on the cross. It is on account of this blood shed in atonement for sin for those who believe that God is gracious, merciful and forgiving to those who believe in Jesus. The blood of Jesus cleanses from all sin, and so God's covenant, which he must uphold, is that all who are hiding in Jesus are forgiven all their sins and are accepted as children of God. Because of this God defends and blesses his children.

Through Christ we are freed from a worse prison than any earthly prison. Before we believed we were in the devil's waterless pit, where there is no hope and no joy. This might be hidden by the deceptive charms of the world, but it is a waterless prison because there is not real satisfaction of soul in the world, and this is what Christ's people were brought to understand and appreciate at the time when God saved them because of his covenant in Christ, and we believed in Jesus and received salvation of our souls.

This spiritual salvation is a blessing twice as great as that which Adam lost by his original sinning. Adam was in Paradise, and walked with God. In Christ we are made kings and priest before God, and are given the privilege of sons and daughters, and are welcomed into the family of God. Adam had a provisional immortality, we are given in Christ eternal life, and nothing in earth or heaven can take this from us. It is our eternal possession because it is given on the basis of Christ's work for us. In the spiritual battle which believers have to face in this life, God makes his people in Christ strong for the conflict, and makes them victorious over all the wiles of the devil. The Lord is like the pillar of fire was between the Israelites and the Egyptian army, when Israel was escaping from bondage in Egypt. He stands over the enemy, Satan, and does not allow him to tempt or test us above what we are able to bear, and he gives us the victory by bringing us through all the trials and temptations in life, until he brings us to his everlasting kingdom. Although Satan is allowed to attack us, our God will never let Satan have the victory over us. Many battles will be lost on the way, but the victory in the war is sure, for Christ is our shield, and fighting for us. He has promised that nothing will pluck his believing people from him.

By the power of God the weapons of Satan will fall to the ground and become impotent slingstones in the mud. We are given the armour of God, which is the gospel of our salvation which is put on by faith, and the flaming arrows of the  evil one will have no power against us.

Our salvation in Christ is truly wonderful. The Lord will save us, his people. He has pledged his word that on account of Christ we are redeemed and we belong to him, and he is our Father, and he will never let us go. Because of this he will be there on the days of trial, and he will keep us in his love by his invincible power. However much we feel defeated, we can't be finally defeated because of the covenant of blood in Christ. We are secure in Christ, and though we will be more happy in heaven, we will not be more secure that we are in Christ now.

The wonder of this salvation which God bestows upon us through Christ is that he makes us beautiful, and he is working by his Spirit to make us beautiful. He is working so that we may be jewels in his crown, showing forth his glory for all eternity. In Christ we are born again a new creation, which is created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness, and this new holy character will not be defiled by the sin caused by our sinful nature, and will come into its own when we reach Christ's eternal glory, and this sinful body will be left in this fallen and corrupt world.

Further this spiritual dimension gives us the assurance that by the power of God and his victory he wins in and through us, we will thrive spiritually, and by the operation of the Holy Spirit we will grow in spiritual blessings, and in holiness of life. The Holy Spirit makes us increasingly beautiful in the eyes of God. As believers we have already been clothed with the righteousness of Christ, so that God sees not spot or stain in us. By the Spirit we are sanctified and are caused to grow in grace and in the knowledge of God.

Finally we are blessed with great spiritual blessings in Christ so that we sit in heavenly places with Christ, dwell in his love, and find in communion with Christ a deep joy and peace which is better than anything the world can offer.

APPLICATION.

So we see that such a prophecy as this which has temporal significance in the history of Israel, has relevance for believers today and every day. It is the covenant promise in Christ to all who believe. We can read our spiritual heritage in the prophecy, and be assured that God will never leave us or forsake us, because he will never forsake his covenant and promise to us in Christ.

We may find in this prophecy assurance for our lives that whatever the circumstances in which we find ourselves; whatever the trials and temptations we have to endure; whatever service we are called to perform; whatever the enemy may dream up to throw against us; God is with us in covenant power and love. In Christ we are his children, and he is our Father, and he will never leave us or forsake us, and nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ.

When trials beset us, we can come to this prophecy and be assured and comforted that God is with us, and in covenant love he will shield us in his arms, and he will bring us to victory. The road of life has many trials, but God is with us and will bring us to his eternal glory.