Zechariah 12
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CHAPTER 12
Jerusalem’s Enemies to Be Destroyed (12:1–9)
1–5 Here begins the second of the two oracles that complete the book of Zechariah. (The first oracle is recorded in Chapters 9–11.) As with the first oracle, the second one contains material that relates both to Christ’s first coming and also to His second coming—mainly the latter. This oracle concerns Israel (verse 1)—that is, the northern and southern kingdoms—but its main focus is on Jerusalem and Judah.
The previous chapter ended on a note of judgment:because the Jews rejected the good shepherd (the Messiah), they were condemned to fall into the hands of a worthless shepherd (Zechariah 11:17). Here in this chapter,however,the Lord gives Israel a word of hope and encouragement: the enemies that will surround Judah and Jerusalem in the last days will be destroyed. Jerusalem will be like a cup of strong drink that makes the nations drunk; it will be like a rock on which the nations injure themselves (verses 2–3).
6–9 The enemy nations attacking Jerusalem will be like sheaves attacking a blazing fire; the fire will consume them (verse 6). The Lord will give special protection, special honor, to the poorest people living in Judah’s countryside (verse 7); He will not allow the people of Jerusalem to have more honor than their rural brethren (see 1 Corinthians 12:21–26).
on that day (the day the enemies attack), the feeblest resident of Jerusalem will be a warrior like David (verse 8). And the house of David—David’s royal line—will be like God, like the Angel of the LORD, who represents God and gives the people guidance and protection (see Exodus 7:1; 23:20).
Mourning for the one They Pierced (12:10–14)
10–14 Even as Jerusalem (representing all Israel) is being delivered physically, it will also be delivered spiritually. The Lord will pour out on His people a spirit of grace and supplication (verse 10)–a spirit of repentance and prayer. For on that day, says the Lord, they will look on me—God the Son—the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child or a firstborn son. These words clearly apply to Jesus at His first coming. Jesus was pierced as He hung on the cross (see Isaiah 53:5; John 19:34,37); He was a firstborn son (see Luke 2:7; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:6). But Zechariah’s prophecy will be completely fulfilled when Jesus comes again, and the Jews look with FAITH upon the “one they have pierced” (see Revelation 1:7). On that day, there will be mourning and true repentance among the Jews (verses 11–14). All will mourn, including the descendants of David and David’s son Nathan (see 2 Samuel 5:14; Luke 3:31). Such a spirit of mourning and repentance is always a gift of God’s Holy Spirit (verse 10).
But let us not think that this mourning and repentance is required only of the Jews; it is required also of us. We too, by our sins, have pierced Christ; we too, by our sins, have placed Him on the cross. As we repent of our sins and look to Christ in faith, God will forgive us—Jew and Gentile alike—and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).