CRITICAL NOTES.]
Zechariah 12:5. Judah] Chiefs of Judah will see the foe smitten with madness, and recognize in the repulse of the enemy by the metropolis Divine security for the country.
Zechariah 12:6. Sheaf] In consequence of this trust in God the leaders consume their foes on every hand, as a basin of fire devours faggots, or a torch consumes sheaves. Jerusalem] i.e. the inhabitants. Again] After complete rout of the enemy shall dwell in (Jerusalem) peace.
Zechariah 12:7. Tents], shifting and insecure, and spread over the country, first saved; to prevent pride and self-exaltation in the inhabitants of the fortified and well-defended metropolis.
Zechariah 12:8. Defend] God’s people will be exalted to a degree of strength and glory surpassing anything in their experience. Even the stumbler, one who can scarce hold himself up, much less attack a foe, the feeble, shall be heroes like David; David’s house shall exceed its ancient fame, become like God; yea, like the angel] that guarded Israel in the wilderness; the highest type of glory and strength (Exodus 23:20; Exodus 32:34). This climax proves the beautiful style of the prophet, and contains stimulating consolation as a promise.
Zechariah 12:9. Seek] expresses the energetic purpose of the speaker, more humano [cf. Lange].
HOMILETICS
THE ENERGY OF ZION’S LEADERS.—Zechariah 12:5-7
God will not only preserve Israel, but raise up and qualify rulers to manage their affairs—holy men, putting confidence in the people, and rejoicing in the welfare of the country. Notice the energy of spiritual leaders.
I. Its elements are the unity and affection of the people. “The princes of Judah shall say in their heart, (lit.) ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem strength to me.’ The princes recognize in the unity and love to God found in the people their strength to endure and defend. The poor and weak are held in highest estimation, and confessed to be the hope of the nation, not as a matter of expediency nor policy, but from deep conviction.” In their heart the rulers confess this. God’s people may be ignored by worldly rulers, but they are the defence and glory of an empire.
II. Its origin is found in Divine grace. “In the Lord of Hosts, their God.” Few or many, holy or unholy people have no inherent worth. Rulers have no energy without God. Jehovah makes Jerusalem “a cup and a stone.” “On human principles, or according to the ordinary operation of cause and effect, the world would prevail. Often every advantage is on its side—arms, wealth, influence, state-craft, learning, prestige, and numbers. Yet the few, the weak, the unlettered, the lowly, the things that are not, brought to nought the things that are. The excellency of the power is not in man, but of God. The Lord will not give his glory to another. ‘Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubians a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet because thou didst rely upon the Lord, He delivered thee’ ” [Lange]. This should—
1. Aid the weak. “The Lord shall save the tents of Judah first.”
2. Humble the strong. That “the glory of the inhabitants do not magnify themselves against Judah.”
THE DANGER AND THE DEFENCE OF ZION.—Zechariah 12:6-7
The Church is looked upon by many as troublesome. They have spared no effort to destroy it. God has defended Zion, the city of our solemnities.
I. The danger of Zion. A mighty confederacy is formed against it. “All the people of the earth” (Zechariah 12:3) gathered to besiege Zion. “They shall be in the siege” (Zechariah 12:2). “To cut off the name of Israel, that it should be no more in remembrance.” Gathered against a defenceless people. In Zechariah 9:13 we have the bow, the sword, and the valour of the Maccabees under the direction of God; but here we have tents shifting and insecure.
II. The defence of Zion. The people and the princes make common cause, become one-minded, and each exalt the strength which the other was to him in Jehovah.
1. God helps them to defend themselves. Self-help first, and then help from others. “For they can conquer who believe they can,” says Virgil. “Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie which we ascribe to heaven” [Shakspeare].
2. God helps them by his own power. “The Lord shall save.” The defenceless first. The country people were more exposed, and needed greater protection. They might be forgotten or despised by the citizens of Jerusalem; but God specially protected them. This was to teach the great men—men of influence and position—“not to magnify themselves against Judah.” None must assume anything to himself. All, the meanest and mightiest are equal in the sight of God, and saved by grace Divine. Hence in every civil and religious community there should be no ill-feeling in the low towards the high, and no disrespect in the rich towards the poor. “He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
“Praise is only praise when well addressed” [Gay].
SPIRITUAL HEROISM.—Zechariah 12:8-9
As a consequence of Divine protection, the weak would be strengthened, the mighty endowed with supernatural vigour, and all their enemies would be scattered.
I. Spiritual heroism is Divine in its source. The strength is “as the Angel of the Lord before them.” “The Angel of Jehovah,” known as the manifestation of Deity in their history. The might of God in Christ Jesus. “I can do all things through Christ, who strengtheneth me.”
II. Spiritual heroism is different in its degrees. We have two classes mentioned—
1. The feeble become powerful. “He that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David.” He that stumbles and is ready to fall shall become a hero, a mighty man of valour. His feebleness and unskilfulness shall merge into strength, and God shall teach his hands to war and his fingers to fight. “Let the weak say, I am strong.”
2. The strong shall be more powerful. David’s house shall eclipse its former splendour, and be “as God.” He shall possess a superhuman courage and decision, perform exploits, and resemble God, seen marching in the front of his conquering hosts.
III. Spiritual heroism is gradual in its growth. “From strength to strength,” by strenuous effort and perseverance. Faith is gained by experience, and courage strengthened by trial. “Tried grace is growing grace.” The sapling once bending before the blast has become the sturdy oak by the tossing storm No degree of strength is impossible, but the steps to attain it are gradual. “The righteous also shall hold (take firm hold) on his way, and he that hath clean hands be stronger and stronger (add strength)” (Job 17:9).
HOMILETIC HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Zechariah 12:5. Strength to me.
1. The piety and unity of a people the strength of the leaders.
2. The confidence of the leaders in the people a necessity to success. Without concurrent aid, skill and valour of little avail. In times of danger there should be full co-operation, reliance one upon another, and hope in God. “This union and valour would be the ‘strength’ of their leaders; without which they must find themselves utterly powerless. A divided, dispirited, heartless, dastardly soldiery or populace is weakness, disappointment, and discomfiture to the best-conceived plans of the most bold, prudent, and experienced leaders” [Wardlaw].
Zechariah 12:6. The pot of fire. The governors of a united and brave people, when trusting to God, are—
1. Destructive. “Like a hearth of fire (a fire-pot) among wood, or like a torch of fire in a sheaf.”
2. Very destructive. “They shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left.” The idea conveyed is destruction most terrible and complete—most easily and most certainly accomplished.
3. Very destructive only through God. “I will make,” &c. Jehovah speaks, infatuates and exposes the enemy, and makes the chiefs of Judah a consuming fire. “The fire could not kindle the wood or the sheaf of itself, unless applied to it. All is of the agency of God: I will make” [Pusey].
Notice—First, the destruction of the enemy; second, the restoration of the city. “Jerusalem shall be inhabited again.” The people shall yet dwell in their own city. “It shall not be a new city in some new territory; but Jerusalem, the city of their fathers, the city of their God; On the same spot, hallowed by all the ancient associations of their history and religion. The language pointedly and strongly expresses reoccupancy and permanent possession” [Wardlaw]. Literally, Jerusalem shall dwell still under herself, i.e. the Church will not rely on earthly powers, which will be opposed to her, but she will dwell in continual stability, dependent upon herself (cf. Zechariah 6:12, out of his place; lit. from under himself), and on her own spiritual strength, derived from her Divine Head, Christ [Wordsw.].
1. The certainty of salvation. “The Lord also shall save.”
2. The method of salvation. “Judah first.”
3. The design in the salvation “That the glory of the house of David … do not magnify themselves.” No local or personal supremacy then. In the Christian Church all are equal; nothing is due to learning, wealth, or merit, and none should domineer over the rest.
Zechariah 12:8-9. Zion’s conquest over her enemies—all of God, yet achieved through human agency.
1. By defending the helpless;
2. Aiding the stumbler; and
3. Elevating the mighty. The strongest have need of more strength, and this strength is only found in Jehovah. Hence the promise of defence added to that of strength.
1. God’s people have many enemies. “All the nations that come against Jerusalem.”
2. These enemies will be discovered. “I will seek.” Secret plotters and open enemies will be found, however distant their dwelling or daring their enterprise.
3. These enemies will be destroyed. “I will seek to destroy.” This the end of all persecutors, the issue of all opposition to God. “God will seek to destroy them, not as if at a loss for ways and means (infinite wisdom was never nonplussed), but his seeking intimates earnestness and intent upon it, and that he overrules means and instruments, all motions and second causes, to accomplish it.”
ILLUSTRATIONS TO CHAPTER 12
Zechariah 12:5. My strength. The multitude which does not reduce itself to unity is confusion; the unity which does not depend upon the multitude is tyranny [Pascal].
Zechariah 12:6-7. Fire came down from heaven, therefore restlessly works itself through all combustibles till it returns thither again [W. Seker]. The wrath of man is the rage of man, but the wrath of God is the reason of God [Bishop Reynolds].
Zechariah 12:8-9. Heroism, the Divine relation which in all times unites a great man to other men [Carlyle].
Feeble.
“Tis not enough to help the feeble up,
But to support him after” [Shakespeare].