Zacharia 10

1 Begeert van den HEERE regen, ten tijde des spaden regens; de HEERE maakt de weerlichten; en Hij zal hun regen genoeg geven voor ieder kruid op het veld.

2 Want de terafim spreken ijdelheid, en de waarzeggers zien valsheid, en zij spreken ijdele dromen, zij troosten met ijdelheid; daarom zijn zij henengetogen als schapen, zij zijn onderdrukt geworden; want er was geen herder.

3 Tegen de herders was Mijn toorn ontstoken, en over de bokken heb Ik bezoeking gedaan; maar de HEERE der heirscharen zal Zijn kudde bezoeken, het huis van Juda, en Hij zal hen stellen, gelijk het paard Zijner majesteit in den strijd.

4 Van hetzelve zal de hoeksteen, van hetzelve zal de nagel, van hetzelve zal de strijdboog, te zamen zullen van hetzelve alle drijvers voortkomen.

5 En zij zullen zijn als de helden, die in het slijk der straten treden in den strijd, en zij zullen strijden; want de HEERE zal met hen wezen; en zij zullen die beschamen, die op paarden rijden.

6 En Ik zal het huis van Juda versterken, en het huis van Jozef zal Ik behouden, en Ik zal hen weder inzetten; want Ik heb Mij hunner ontfermd, en zij zullen wezen, alsof Ik hen niet verstoten had; want Ik ben de HEERE, hun God, en Ik zal ze verhoren.

7 En zij zullen zijn als een held van Efraim, en hun hart zal zich verblijden, als van den wijn; en hun kinderen zullen het zien, en zich verblijden, hun hart zal zich verheugen in den HEERE.

8 Ik zal hen toesissen, en zal ze vergaderen, want Ik zal ze verlossen; en zij zullen vermenigvuldigd worden, gelijk zij te voren vermenigvuldigd waren.

9 En Ik zal hen onder de volken zaaien, en zij zullen Mijner gedenken in verre plaatsen; en zij zullen leven met hun kinderen, en wederkeren.

10 Want Ik zal ze wederbrengen uit Egypteland, en Ik zal ze vergaderen uit Assyrie; en Ik zal ze in het land van Gilead en Libanon brengen, maar het zal hun niet genoeg wezen.

11 En Hij zal door de zee gaan, die benauwende, en Hij zal de golven in de zee slaan, en al de diepten der rivieren zullen verdrogen; dan zal de hoogmoed van Assur nedergeworpen worden, en de schepter van Egypte zal wegwijken.

12 En Ik zal hen sterken in den HEERE, en in Zijn Naam zullen zij wandelen, spreekt de HEERE.

Zacharia 10 Commentary

Chapter 10

Blessings to be sought from the Lord. (1-5) God will restore his people. (6-12)

Verses 1-5 Spiritual blessings had been promised under figurative allusions to earthly plenty. Seasonable rain is a great mercy, which we may ask of God when there is most need of it, and we may look for it to come. We must in our prayers ask for mercies in their proper time. The Lord would make bright clouds, and give showers of rain. This may be an exhortation to seek the influences of the Holy Spirit, in faith and by prayer, through which the blessings held forth in the promises are obtained and enjoyed. The prophet shows the folly of making addresses to idols, as their fathers had done. The Lord visited the remnant of his flock in mercy, and was about to renew their courage and strength for conflict and victory. Every creature is to us what God makes it to be. Every one raised to support the nation, as a corner-stone does the building, or to unite those that differ, as nails join the different timbers, must come from the Lord; and those employed to overcome their enemies, must have strength and success from him. This may be applied to Christ; to him we must look to raise up persons to unite, support, and defend his people. He never will say, Seek ye me in vain.

Verses 6-12 Here are precious promises to the people of God, which look to the state of the Jews, and even to the latter days of the church. Preaching the gospel is God's call for souls to come to Jesus Christ. Those whom Christ redeemed by his blood, God will gather by his grace. Difficulties shall be got over easily, and effectually, as those in the way of the deliverance out of Egypt. God himself will be their strength, and their song. When we resist, and so overcome our spiritual enemies, then our hearts shall rejoice. If God strengthen us, we must bestir ourselves in all the duties of the Christian life, must be active in the work of God; and we must do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 10

This chapter is a prophecy of the conversion of the Jews in the latter day, when the fulness of the Gentiles is brought in, spoken of in the preceding chapter Zec 9:1-17. It begins with an exhortation to ask rain of the Lord; denounces wrath upon his enemies; and consists of various promises to his people. The exhortation to ask rain is in Zec 10:1 to which encouragement is given from its being of the Lord, from his willingness to grant it, and from the fruitfulness occasioned by it. The vanity of idols, and idolaters, who can not give it, is exposed; and the distress and confusion they were thrown into is observed, Zec 10:2. The anger of the Lord against the principal of them is declared; and his gracious visitation of the people of the Jews, whom he will honour and glorify, is taken notice of, Zec 10:3 from whom the Messiah sprung, than which a greater glory can not be enjoyed, Zec 10:4 and then follow various promises, relating to them; as of victory over their enemies, through the presence of the Lord with them, Zec 10:5 of strength and salvation to them, as owing to his free grace and mercy, Zec 10:6 of inward spiritual joy in them and theirs, Zec 10:7 of their effectual calling and spiritual increase, in consequence of redeeming grace, Zec 10:8 of their having a name and a place in Gospel churches, where they will remember the Lord, and live with their children, being converted, Zec 10:9 which conversion of theirs is represented in terms alluding to their deliverance from Egypt and Babylon, Zec 10:10,11 and the chapter is concluded with a promise of spiritual strength, so that they shall continue in their profession of faith in Christ, and persevere therein to the end, Zec 10:12.