CRITICAL NOTES.] This chapter begins the first half of the second prophecy concerning Israel’s future and the nations of the world. The conflict against Jerusalem and Judah will issue in the destruction of the enemies (Zechariah 12:1-4). Burden] Implying distress to Israel and destruction to their foes; explained by reference to God’s creative power, which removes all doubt concerning the thing predicted.
Zechariah 12:2. Cup] Causing those who drink to reel; a symbol of Divine judgments, which intoxicate and cause nations to fall and perish (Isaiah 51:17; Jeremiah 25:15). Against] Lit. “also with Judah it shall be thus in the siege of Jerusalem,” i.e. Judah with Jerusalem will be a cup of wrath; the country and capital will be involved in the same conflict.
Zechariah 12:3. Burden.] Another figure, borrowed from the custom of young men lifting up stones to test their strength. Nations will fail and suffer. Cut] They will wound themselves by the sharp edges of the stones.
Zechariah 12:4. Horses] and riders represent warlike forces, confused and injuring one another; but God exercises great care over his people. Madness] (cf. Judges 7:22; 1 Samuel 14:20). Open] i.e. to protect (1 Kings 8:29; Nehemiah 1:6; Psalms 32:8).
HOMILETICS
THE OMNIPOTENT SUPREMACY OF GOD.—Zechariah 12:1
To remove doubt concerning the promises in this chapter, God prefixes his name, proves his omnipotence, and declares his supremacy over matter and mind.
I. God is supreme in the physical world. Power is displayed in its creation and constant government.
1. He formed the earth. He “layeth the foundation of the earth,” fixed it on its basis, and revolves it on its axis. He not only made, but rules and judges in it, and those mistake who say, “The Lord hath forsaken the earth.”
2. He stretched out the heavens. Like “a curtain” he can stretch them out or draw them together. God not only created at first, but continually sustains all things. But the power which created the world must be unlimited and ever present to uphold it. Without him the earth would wander from its orbit, and the universe fall into ruin. “Upholding all things by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3).
II. God is supreme in the spirit world. He “formeth the spirit of man within him.” God is the Creator and sustainer of man’s spirit. “The Father of spirits.” The human soul is the breath of the Almighty (Job 33:4); and spiritually we are of Divine parentage (Acts 17:28). “Behold, all souls are mine.” He created them all, endowed them with powers and faculties necessary to constitute them subjects of moral government (cf. Hend., Ezekiel 18:4). He controls men’s hearts and purposes “as rivers of water,” encourages his people and dispirits their enemies, and will save his chosen by quickening grace and eternal life. Thus in creation and human experience we have proofs of God’s power, refutations of doubt to perform his promise, and hope in seasons of trial and difficult enterprise. “I am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; … that confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers” (Isaiah 44:24; Isaiah 44:26).
GOD’S PEOPLE RUINOUS TO THEIR ENEMIES.—Zechariah 12:2-4
Here we have promise of security to the Church of God. Nations may attack Jerusalem, but will fail, whatever be their forces and fervour. Three figures are used to indicate this failure. They will be intoxicated by the “cup of trembling,” wounded by the “burdensome stone,” and consumed by the “hearth of fire” (Zechariah 12:6).
I. The enemies of God’s people will be rendered powerless in their efforts. They will gather together and besiege Jerusalem—thirst for spoil and blood, and be doomed to destruction. As the gods infatuated those whom they destroyed, so God will intoxicate them with the wine-cup of wrath, administer a potion to make them helpless and reel on the ground. Sennacherib’s army were stupefied and helpless in their assault. Persecutors may be excited to rage, but will be deprived of their precaution and power, made drunk in their fury, and exhausted in their efforts. “The stout-hearted (valiant) are spoiled, they have slept their sleep (of death), and none of the men of might have found their hands (were able to fight)” (Psalms 76:5).
“For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast,
And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed;
And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill,
And their hearts but once heaved, and for ever were still” [Byron].
II. The enemies of God’s people will be wounded in their efforts. This stone will be burdensome to all who seek to remove or carry it away. God’s Church is founded on the rock, and persecutors dash against it in vain. It is a rock of offence by virtue of its charter and power, a stone of stumbling to many. In times of persecution kings and rulers have tried to upset or remove this stone, but it has torn, lacerated, or ground to powder those upon whom it has fallen. Israel escaped, but Pharaoh was drowned in the sea. The Philistines captured the ark, but Dagon was broken to pieces. Diocletian built a monument to commemorate the extinction of Christianity, but he perished, and it survives. In a conference with Andrew Rivet, the King of France threatened severe measures against the cause of truth, but the Reformer answered, “May it please your Majesty, the Church of God is an anvil which hath broken a great many hammers” [cf. Lange].
III. The enemies of God’s people will destroy themselves by their efforts. Zechariah revives the words concentrated by Moses to express the stupefaction at their ills which God would accumulate upon the people if they perseveringly rebelled against him. Each expresses the intensity of the visitation [cf. Pusey].
1. They are smitten with blindness. Then they rush to their own ruin (Zechariah 14:12-13).
2. They are smitten with terror. The horses of the enemy were unmanageable by their riders, got entangled one with another, and became injurious only to themselves.
3. They are smitten with madness. “I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness.” The riders were deprived of self-possession and forethought. Thus all attempts will fail, and bring shame and discomfort upon those who are guilty of them. “I will sing unto the Lord; for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he cast into the sea.”
HOMILETIC HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Zechariah 12:1. Learn—
1. That the promises of God often seem incredible.
2. That doubt concerning these promises will hinder our comforts.
3. That the visible effects of God’s power should remove our doubt and strengthen our hope. Nothing can fail for lack of power and love. The Church, therefore, is perfectly safe, the enemies are in great danger. Pledges of Divine faithfulness:—The power of God, by which he stretched forth the heavens. The wisdom of God, by which he founded the earth. The goodness of God, by which he formed the spirit of man [cf. Trapp].
Zechariah 12:2. A cup of trembling. What it is, and who brings it, and who drinks it. “The cup is all bitter and full of sorrow,” saith Augustine: “the godly do often taste the top, and feel the bitterness, but then it is suddenly snatched from them; but the ungodly shall drink the very grounds and extremest poison” [J. Adams].
Zechariah 12:3. A stone. It is not a rock, or anything in its own nature immovable, but a stone—a thing rolled up and down, moved, lifted, displaced, piled on others, in every way at the service and command of men, to do with it what they willed [Pusey]. But notice its tremendous weight and injurious effects when abused!
Zechariah 12:4. The self-destruction of the enemy, and the perfect security of the Church; or the madness of men, and the special providence of God. I will open mine eyes, in contrast to the blindness with which God smote those arrayed against them—in pity, love, and guidance, in contrast to the cruelty and self-injury of the foes [cf. Pusey]. God seems to close his eyes sometimes, and leave his people in darkness and distress. The enemy thinks that God disregards them; but eventually he will notice the trials of the Church, and splendidly interfere to destroy her foes.
ILLUSTRATIONS TO CHAPTER 12
Zechariah 12:1. Heavens. Creation in all its length and breadth, in all its depth height, is the manifestation of his Spirit, and without him the world were dead and dark. The universe is to us as and burning bush which the Hebrew leader saw. God is ever present in it; for it the burns with his glory, and the ground on which we stand is always holy [Francis]. Spirit of man. The soul, immortal as its sire, shall never die [Montgomery].
Zechariah 12:2-4. A cup. There is no greater punishment than that of being abandoned to one’s self [Pasquier Quesnel]. Madness. There is no future pang can deal that justice on the self-condemned he deals on his own soul [Byron]. O, that way madness lies; let me shun that [Shakespeare].