In our study of Zechariah chapter twelve we will look at God's promise to make Jerusalem an immovable stone. When the nations oppose Israel and try to take control of his city, God defends them.
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A prophecy, the word of ADONAI concerning Isra'el - here is the message from ADONAI, who stretched out the heavens, laid the foundation of the earth and formed the spirit inside human beings:
Zechariah begins this prophecy with the fact that, since God is the creator, he has the right and ability to do as he wishes. When he speaks of Israel, he is talking about all of his chosen people and land and not just the northern kingdom.
"I will make Yerushalayim a cup that will stagger the surrounding peoples. Even Y'hudah will be caught up in the siege against Yerushalayim.
A cup is a vessel that can contain either good or bad. For some it contains a blessing while for others it has a curse. In this case, the nations will attack Jerusalem and Judah which will provoke God's wrath on them. In chapter 11, we saw the rise of the bad shepherd and he is like a cheerleader telling the people of the world that they can do anything if they just band together. In Hebrew, the cup is Kos Ha-Tar' elah' and it means cup of the poison. Satan's purpose in attacking Judah and Jerusalem is to wipe out the potential return of the Messiah. Muslims, Jews, and Christians all agree that the Messiah is going to return to Jerusalem. Satan has convinced the nations that they can band together and establish their own government to rule the entire world. The people have become sorta drunk with the notion that they could actually achieve this and so they descend on Judah and Jerusalem.
When that day comes, I will make Yerushalayim a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who try to lift it will hurt themselves, and all the earth's nations will be massed against her.
Now, the prophet uses the picture of a weightlifting contest that was common among young people of that day. The picture is of a young man who confidently steps up to the bar to do a big powerlift. The man finds that he cannot even get it off the ground and, in fact, tries so hard that he rips his muscles in the attempt. The people have been "psyched up" by the devil and whipped into a frenzy only to find that they really do not have the power to remove Jerusalem from the hands of God.
When that day comes," says ADONAI, "I will strike all the horses with panic and their riders with madness; I will keep watch over Y'hudah, but I will strike blind all the horses of the peoples.
In Deuteronomy 28:28, God told Israel that panic, madness, and blindness would be upon those who disobeyed his commands. We see the same things happen to those who have come against God's people and city.
The leaders of Y'hudah will say to themselves, 'Those living in Yerushalayim are my strength through ADONAI-Tzva'ot their God.'
Why does God allow the nations to attack his people and city? We see the answer here as it is so that all of the Jews would see that it is only the power of God that will deliver them. The nation of Israel has clung to their own efforts and alliances to defend themselves. On the final day, it will be obvious that their only defense (strength) is found in Yeshua Messiah.
When that day comes, I will make the leaders of Y'hudah like a blazing fire pan in a pile of wood, like a fiery torch among sheaves of grain; they will devour all the surrounding peoples, on the right and on the left. Yerushalayim will be inhabited in her own place, Yerushalayim.
Just as fire consumes wood, God's people which is a minority will overtake the nations. The result of this great strength test is that the unified world fails to stand up against the people of God and the efforts to seize control of his creation fail.
ADONAI will save the tents of Y'hudah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of those living in Yerushalayim will not appear greater than that of Y'hudah.
God will intervene to save the land outside of Jerusalem before turning to the city. We are told that the reason is so that it is perfectly clear that man's efforts had nothing to do with the victory. Those that were least able to defend themselves (those in the surrounding countryside) are saved before those that are protected by the city's walls. It is also a reminder to us that God places the same value on the poor and defenseless as he does on the rich and powerful.
When that day comes, ADONAI will defend those living in Yerushalayim. On that day, even someone who stumbles will be like David; and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of ADONAI before them.
God will defend Jerusalem and its people so that the weakest of God's people will be the mightiest of warriors. King David was the warrior that God used to defeat Israel's enemies and bring peace to the nation. The nation of Israel will have the very power of God Almighty.
"When that day comes, I will seek to destroy all nations attacking Yerushalayim;
Not only will God defend the Jews but he will also go on the offensive against their enemies. This corresponds to Revelation 20 where all rebellion is put down and the final judgment begins.
and I will pour out on the house of David and on those living in Yerushalayim a spirit of grace and prayer; and they will look to me, whom they pierced." They will mourn for him as one mourns for an only son; they will be in bitterness on his behalf like the bitterness for a firstborn son.
For those who only have one child, that child has a special meaning to them and the thought of losing them is almost unbearable. When the Jewish people realize that the one who saved them from the nations is the same one that they crucified, they will have the same deep sadness. This reminds us of the fact that the Great Tribulation is all about God demonstrating his love and power to the Jewish people. This demonstration of grace will bring them to repentance and salvation through Yeshua Messiah.
When that day comes, there will be great mourning in Yerushalayim, mourning like that for Hadad-Rimmon in the Megiddo Valley.
This verse speaks of the idolatry that occurred and the fact that human sacrifices were offered there. This was continual and there was mourning for the victims as well as for the mothers who lost their children. The mourning over the fact that they crucified Yeshua will be much greater than the mourning of those people.
Then the land will mourn, each family by itself - the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Natan by itself, and their wives by themselves;
The display of God's power and mercy will bring nationwide repentance to Israel but it will be a personal thing. Each family and each member of that family will have a personal conviction of their sin. The repentance will begin with the civil leadership (King David and his son Nathan).
the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shim'i by itself, and their wives by themselves;
Those of the religious establishment will mourn at the fact that they rejected the Messiah at his first coming. They will turn their hearts to the Lord and acknowledge him. This is in fulfillment of the words of the Lord found in Isaiah 45:23 & 24.
all the remaining families, each by itself, and their wives by themselves.
Once again, we see that it will be nationwide mourning but on an individual basis. From the least to the greatest, all will acknowledge Yeshua as their King.
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