The history of Jerusalem is full of interest to God’s people for it was there His house was built, and there His glory abode. What an amazing sight it must have been when the glory of God filled the house that Solomon built, when everything in the house answered to the mind of God, and set forth His thoughts of glory and blessing. Alas! the day came when, on account of the idolatry of God’s people, the glory departed from the temple and from the city, and the judgment of God fell on the city and its wicked inhabitants. In God’s mercy and goodness a remnant was restored to Jerusalem, and the walls of the city and the temple were rebuilt, but there is no mention of the glory returning at that time, and there was not the magnificence that marked the earlier days, nor was there the restoration of the throne although the priesthood was brought back.
When the Son of God came to earth Jerusalem again comes into prominence for the faithful, though there was little outwardly to draw attention to the city. True, the temple had been rebuilt again by Herod, and the priests carried out the divine service, but the people were under the dominion of Rome, How blessed it is to trace the links the Son of God had with Jerusalem, seeing Him brought there with the offering the law required, finding Him as a boy of twelve in conversation with the doctors of the law, beholding Him cleansing the temple and opening the eyes of the blind man as He goes out of the temple, and entering into the city in triumph just before He is condemned there to die outside the city walls.
Zehariah 1.
How deeply interested God has ever been in Jerusalem, and of this we learn when, “the angel of the Lord said, O Lord of hosts, how long wilt Thou not have mercy on Jerusalem…against which Thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?” The Lord’s answer was, “I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.” God had punished the people for their sins, but His interest in them, and in His city, had not abated. Although He had used the heathen as His instrument to punish His people, He was “very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease;” and the time had come for Him to act on behalf of His people, so He says, “Therefore…I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it…and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem,” indicating that there was preparation for its rebuilding.
Although there was a fulfilment of this in the days of Zechariah and Haggai the prophets, there can be no doubt that the full fulfilment awaits the coming day. This is clearly seen in the words that follow, “Cry yet, saying, Thus says the Lord of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem” (verse 17). God’s judgment is then announced on the nations that had been used by Him as instruments to chastise His people, a judgment already carried out, and that shall be carried out again at the close of the dispensation.
Zehariah 2.
In vision the prophet sees a man with a measuring line in his hand, who tells him that he is about to “measure Jerusalem,” and the angel that talked with him said, “Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: for I, says the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her” (verses 1–5). The former part of this has had a partial fulfilment, but the latter part will surely have its answer in the day to come when Christ returns as King.
What is written in verses 10–13 has not yet been fulfilled, for the Lord has not since dwelt in Jerusalem. The house was owned as His by the Lord when He was here, and the Lord visited the city, but He did not dwell there. Instead of choosing Jerusalem again, how very sad it was that the Lord had to weep over the city and speak of its coming judgment.
Zehariah 3.
When Satan stood to resist the Lord in blessing Joshua the high priest, the adversary of His people was rebuked with the words, “The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that has chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee” (verse 2). Whatever might be the state of God’s people, as represented by Joshua, God will not allow others to interfere with them. If He has chosen Jerusalem, He may have to chastise His people, but He will find the means of recovery and bless them according to His sovereign choice. The very restoration of that time was God’s preparation of the people for the reception of Messiah, and it was through His coming and death that the basis was laid in redemption for the fulfilment in the coming day of all the blessing that has been prophesied concerning Jerusalem and Israel.
Zehariah 7.
There was the grave danger that the remnant brought back to the land under Zerubbabel were content with what was merely formal in their religious exercises, so that when they enquired of the Lord, “Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?” the word of the Lord asked whether their fasting, mourning, eating and drinking was for Him or for themselves, and directed them to what the prophets had spoken to the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the days of its prosperity (verses 1–7). It is so easy for us to seek credit for ourselves for what is largely formal, and for what is for our own pleasure and not for the pleasure of God.
Zehariah 8.
It was the jealousy of the Lord for the affections of His people, and for the honour of the city called by His Name, that had brought the divine judgment on their rebellion and idolatry, but this could not set aside the purpose of God for the blessing of Israel, and His determination to dwell in Jerusalem. Therefore the Lord said, “Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Lord of hosts the holy mountain” (verses 1–3). There will yet be the conditions necessary for God to dwell there, even truth and holiness, In that day, not far distant now, there will be nothing to disturb the rest of the aged dwelling in the streets of Jerusalem, or the play of the children who fill the streets of the restored city. From the east and from the west God will bring back His people to dwell in His chosen city (verses 4–8).
Not only will Israel be brought back from distant lands, but “many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord,” knowing that the Lord God of Israel is at Jerusalem with His people (verses 22-23).
Zehariah 9.
In the first eight verses of this chapter we learn of God’s dealings with the nations around the land of Israel, and there has already been a partial fulfilment of this, but verse 8 shows that the last days are in view, for God says “no oppressor shall pass through them any more.” Today, the nations around the land would fain destroy the Israelis, and they will yet join together to carry out the judgment appointed of God, but there is a limit to their oppression, and the day has been fixed by God when it shall cease.
The day of Israel’s deliverance from the oppressor will be a day of joy and salvation, even as it is written, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold thy King comes unto thee: He is just, and having salvation” (Verse 9). There was a partial fulfilment of this, a foreshadowing, in the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem just before He was crucified, as recorded in John 12:12–15; but when the Lord returns to Jerusalem there will indeed be salvation, blessing and joy for Israel; and the Lord shall deal with all their enemies, “and He shall speak peace unto the heathen: and His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth” (verse 9).
Zehariah 12.
When the nations around Israel besiege Judah and Jerusalem before the Lord comes to deliver His people, the Lord will make “Jerusalem a cup of trembling” to them, and “Jerusalem will” the Lord make “a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut to pieces” (verses 2-3). Even the nations that have of recent years sought to help Israel have found it a burdensome stone for them; but those who come against it will have a very severe judgment. The recent war of Israel and the surrounding nations has clearly shown what interfering with Israel can bring them, and they have not yet learned their lesson, but this will be taught them as these verses makes plain. Jerusalem’s inhabitants have a prominent place in God’s dealings with the nations that He judges (verse 5).
Verse 6 tells us that the governors of Judah are used by the Lord as His devouring flame against the nations that have sought to destroy His people, and He promises that Jerusalem shall again be inhabited as formerly. So that there should be no strife between the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Lord intervenes to save first “the tents of Judah,” (verse 7); but He also comes to defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, giving them surpassing strength as instruments of their deliverance (verse 8). Whatever the instruments, it is the Lord Himself who has intervened, for He says, “I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem” (verse 9).
Jerusalem was specially involved in the rejection and crucifixion of Messiah, so it is “upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem” that the Lord pours “the spirit of grace and of supplications” (verse 10). How very real and bitter is the mourning and repentance of that day when they look upon their long-looked-for Messiah and discover He is the One they rejected and crucified! The mourning begins at the house of David, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, but it reaches out to the land, where every family and individual mourns, but the mourning in Jerusalem is specially noticed (verse 11).
The royal house is named in David, the prophetical family in Nathan, the priestly house in Levi, and the common people in Shimei. Nathan no longer points the accusing finger to David, saying, “Thou art the man” for his family, like the others mentioned have all to plead guilty regarding the death of their Messiah. David had been guilty of the death of Uriah the Hittite, Simeon and Levi were united in blood guiltiness (Gen. 34:25-26; 49:6); but all were alike guilty of the death of Christ, and even the house of Nathan cannot escape.
Zehariah 13.
When the mourning has taken place, Israel will discover that God has resources to meet their guilt, for “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness” (verse 1). The sacrifice of Christ has enabled God to take away their sin, and they shall be blessed on the ground of the New Covenant founded on the blood of Jesus, and God will purify His people so that He can dwell among them and bless them.
Zehariah 14.
The capture of Jerusalem spoken of in verse 2 would seem to precede the events of chapter 12. Jerusalem is taken, “and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.” It may be at this time that antichrist is cast into the lake of fire; and those who are left, the half who are not cut off, are those used, in what is recorded in chapter 12, to defeat the nations who come the second time to take vengeance on God’s people, only to be met by the Lord Himself who has come for the deliverance of His beloved saints, and His beloved city. It may be that the godly remnant who escaped and fled return to Jerusalem to have part in the victory of chapter 12.
When all the judgments are over, “in that day, living waters shall go out from Jerusalem” half towards the Mediterranean Sea, and half towards the Dead Sea, bringing the healing foretold in Ezekiel 47. The Lord will then be King “over all the earth,” and “Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited” (verses 8–11). Great blessing will come to God’s chosen city when the Lord is there, and blessing will flow out even to the nations that came against Jerusalem, to all who have escaped the judgments that came from the Lord.
Verse 12 tells of the dreadful plague that shall smite the people that fight against Jerusalem; verse 13 shows that many shall die at the hands of their fellows, and verse 14 speaks of Judah’s part, both in fighting and in the gathering of the spoils.
The Lord in His sovereign mercy spares some of those who came against Jerusalem, and they are to go up from year to year to worship “the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.” If they do not come, the Lord will withhold His rain, and if Egypt do not come, who rely on the Nile for water, they will get the plague (verses 16–19).
“Holiness unto the Lord” will be proclaimed everywhere in Jerusalem, even upon the smallest details without, the bells upon the horses, and “every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah,” the pots in the Lord’s house being as holy to Jehovah as the bowls before the altar. Everything around the great King will bear His character in the holy, earthly city, and all will be for His pleasure, nor will there be any more a trafficker, or merchant to defile God’s house as when the Lord was upon the earth (John 2:14–16).
R. 18.3.68