CRITICAL NOTES.] Day] specially appointed to inflict judgments and manifest his glory. Spoil] accumulated by inhabitants of Jerusalem and fit for the enemy.
Zechariah 14:2. Nations] to take and plunder the holy city, to rob houses and ravish women (cf. Isaiah 13:16). Half] The able-bodied sold into slavery or condemned to work in mines. Res.] Poorer not cut off] i.e. not transported, but permitted to perish in ruins.
Zechariah 14:3. Against] The enemy doomed in turn to destruction by Jehovah, as when he fought for Israel at Red Sea.
Zechariah 14:4. Mount] Which for situation and height is most convenient to help his people. His feet] touch, and the result is an earthquake (Psalms 68:8; Nahum 1:5). The mount is split through the middle latitudinally; one half falls to the north, and the other to the south. A great valley] is formed for the escape of God’s people.
Zechariah 14:5. The] Lit. my mountains—Zion and Moriah specially sacred to Jehovah [Moore]—or mountains formed by my power. He had given them separate existence. The level opening would extend to Azal] a place near Jerusalem, of which no trace exists at present. Like as] the flight from the earthquake—swift, universal, and in fear, as in the days of Uzziah (Amos 1:1). The Lord] The second person indicates the joy of the prophet in hailing the shining retinue of Jehovah’s appearance. Saints] Holy angels (Deuteronomy 33:2-3; Daniel 7:9-10; Matthew 25:31; Revelation 19:14). Some say redeemed men as well as holy angels.
Zechariah 14:6.] A period of unmitigated calamity, which comprehends the long centuries of oppression, cruelty, and scorn to which Jews have been subjected since the destruction of Jerusalem [Henderson]. Clear] Lit. precious, splendid (cf. Job 31:26). There the moon is described as walking preciously, or splendidly, i.e. in brightness; but dark] lit. condensed, from a word to contract, to draw together. “The words describe the passing or vanishing of the brightness of the stars, answering to the prophetic announcement that on the day of judgment sun, moon, and stars will lose their brightness or be turned into darkness” (Joel 3:15; Matthew 24:29) [Keil].
Zechariah 14:7. One day] Solitary in its kind, and unparalleled by any other; neither perfect day nor perfect night. “One continuous day without night (Revelation 22:5; Revelation 22:15). The millennium described” (Revelation 20:3; Revelation 20:7) [Henderson]. Known] only to Jehovah, and should restrain the curiosity of men.
HOMILETICS
THE GRAND ASSAULT AND THE WONDERFUL DELIVERANCE.—Zechariah 14:1-6
Interpreters take this chapter, some literally and others symbolically, believe it to have been partially or to be fulfilled wholly in future ages. In whatever sense explained, it sets forth the great contests of the Christian Church and the great principles of God’s moral government.
I. The grand assault. All nations are gathered together for battle against Jerusalem.
1. An assault at the appointed time. “The day of the Lord cometh.” God suffers his people to be reduced and to pass through fiery trials; but as “day” dawns after night, so a period is chosen to vindicate his judgment and punish his foes.
2. An assault in accordance with the Divine purpose. “For I will gather all nations.” God is supreme over “all nations,” and will accomplish his purpose in spite of the opposition and often by the wrath of man. Historians record events and look no higher. But prophecy exhibits “God in history.” He predicts, and he fulfils.
3. An assault with partial success. We have assault, capture, and plunder, and sad is the picture of rifled houses and dishonoured women. This should remind us of future conflict with the powers of darkness—teach us not to expect peace and calm. A fearful encounter may be at hand, the outlook may soon darken, and the onslaught may convulse the Church. But when the enemies seem to triumph victory will be snatched from them. “Then the Lord shall go forth and fight against those nations.”
II. The wonderful deliverance. God is not hidden in obscurity. He comes forth in wondrous deeds. “Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people.”
1. Deliverance by supernatural means. The mount was cleft asunder, “a very great valley” was made, and a place of escape was provided by the special power of God. Nothing can prevent the escape of God’s people. Mountains are removed and valleys are filled for the way of God’s redeemed. “Behold, the Lord cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and will tread upon the high places of the earth. And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft.”
2. Deliverance under God’s leadership. God himself goes forth against the foe, and fights for his people.
(1) God was clad in awful majesty. Again, “the glory of the Lord stood” upon the mount; the earth quaked beneath his feet, and the stars above grew dim. The physical world marked the events in the spiritual.
(2) God was attended by splendid retinue. “My God shall come, and all the saints with thee.” Angels stand before his throne, wait orders, and fly on missions of mercy and judgment. They are represented as going with God for the execution of his purpose. They attended the first, and will come with the second appearance of the Lord Jesus. “Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment.”
THE REMARKABLE DAY.—Zechariah 14:6-7
Many refer these words to different periods, but we take them as connected with one event. The coming of the Lord will produce great changes in nature. The day will bring night, and the evening light. Its order will be reversed. When the natural course of events would bring darkness, a bright light shall dawn.
I. A day of mingled light and darkness. “Not the clearness of unclouded day,” says Wardlaw, from whom we borrow, “nor the darkness of a starless night. Something between both, or a combination of both—darkness here and light there.” A representation of the dispensation before and since the days of Christ. Mercy and judgments, comforts and afflictions in the Christian Church. In the world truth and error, Christ and antichrist in mighty conflict. Now night, and then day. “The light is neither clear nor yet dark,” “not day nor night;” but the darkness will pass away and the true light soon shine.
II. A day only. “It is one day.” Some say one long, continuous day of grief, which makes the saints cry, “How long?” But take it in another sense. Whatever be the length, it is only a day. In the darkness light is not wanting in which we may work and walk. The sun does nor entirely set. The clouds will soon be scattered. Brief, comparatively, is the period, though the joy of day and the repose of night be absent. This should uphold and console in our “fight of afflictions.”
III. A day of remarkable close. When evening is naturally expected, lo, the splendours of day break forth. “At evening time it shall be light.” To God’s people life may be clouded, and to God’s cause night may be dark. But ere long “the Lord shall be” their “everlasting light, and the days of” their “mourning shall be ended.”
IV. A day only known to God. “Which shall be known to the Lord.” Its changes and consequences, its precise duration, are not revealed to men. We should not be curious in asking, “O, my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?” Let us obey the injunction, “Go thou thy way till the end be,”—wait in patience and earnest preparation,—“for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.” (Daniel 12:13).
LIGHT AT EVENING.—Zechariah 14:7
The promise or prophecy, says one on this verse, is that “light shall come at a time when it is not natural, when in the common course of things it is not looked for. It would be no surprise that light should come at noonday; we expect it then; it is just what we are accustomed to see. But if, when the twilight shadows were falling deeper and deeper, with a sudden burst the noonday light were to spread around, that would be a surprise. Lux è tenebris has received and continually receives manifold fulfillments” [Jacox].
I. In human experience. Few lives are spent from early day to evening time in the light of God. Sometimes at midday, and often in the night, light shines.
1. In the conversion of the sinner. Sin is darkness. The penitent struggling with sin and temptation, forsaking the world and turning to God, sees no light and often feels forsaken. At length hope dawns, a voice is heard, and mercy shines.
2. In the life of the Christian. Abraham learned that God could provide in extremity, “Jehovah Jireh.” Jacob found that things which appeared against him at one time were only passing clouds for a brighter light. Israel in Egypt and David in trial discerned “the silver lining.” God turns the shadows of life into morning, and to those who trust him the night shineth as the day. “Light is sown”—like seed cast into the ground—“for the righteous,” and will in due time, and after needful process, be reaped in golden harvest (Psalms 97:11).
II. In the history of the Christian Church. In Jewish and apostolic, in the dark and middle ages, in the Reformation and times of revival, this truth has been illustrated. The Church has passed through days of gloom and starless nights; dreary years of tempest, frost and snow, in wintry blasts and wearisome times, but light has come. God’s ways may seem dark and mysterious, impenetrable and hostile, but in him no darkness dwells. Light and truth will break forth from his word and providence to chase away superstitions and error, to make the world happy, intelligent, and pure. “At evening time,” improbable or impossible as this may appear, “it shall be light.” “The light of the knowledge of the glory of God shall cover the earth as the waters cover the seas.”
III. In the end of life. In “life’s evening” light is desired. “Nothing is more common than the craving and demand for light a little before death,” says an author. “Open the windows,” cried M. de Lescure, on his dying bed. Rousseau wished to have “a parting look at the glorious orb of day.” Goethe’s request was for “more light, more light.” Dark indeed has been the evening time to many. But as the sun often struggles through the clouds of day and sinks in brilliant light, so the chamber of death has been filled with light and glory from the Sun of righteousness. To Bunyan’s Mr. Fearing “all was well at last.” The gloom of the poet Cowper endured long, but passed away at length. Dr. Johnson dreaded death through life, but met it with hope and unusual patience (Secular Annotations). Happy those to whom the valley of the shadow of death is lit up with God’s presence! Unhappy those whose darkness is eternal night! “Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness.”
“Through night to light. And though to mortal eyes
Creation’s face a pall of horror wear,
Good cheer, good cheer! The gloom of midnight flies,
There shall a sunrise follow, mild and fair” [Rosegarten].
HOMILETIC HINTS AND OUTLINES
Zechariah 14:1 to Zechariah 5:1. God is supreme in the calamities of the Church and the events of nations.
2. His supremacy may be questioned through the triumph of the enemy and the inactivity of his people.
3. But a day will come when this supremacy will be finally settled, to the comfort of one and the destruction of the other. Christ must be acknowledged to be Lord of heaven and earth.
Zechariah 14:3. As in the day of battle. Former experience a comfort in after ages. What a fund of consolation in God’s past dealings for present use!
Zechariah 14:5. The Lord my God shall come. Bright visions in dark days. The prophet lifts up his head, sees the coming help, and joyfully exults in the vision.
1. The Lord shall come.
2. When he does come he is my help. “My God.” Hence some may deny and others scoff, but I will patiently wait and constantly trust in him.
Zechariah 14:1-7. God’s providence.
1. Strangely checkered.
2. Wonderfully perplexing.
3. Benevolently working. Or, “
1. The mixed condition of the righteous in this world: in knowledge, outward circumstances, inward comforts, and wavering holiness.
2. God’s wisdom in allowing it: to subdue their corruption, to exercise their graces, to bring them to dependence upon himself.
3. Our consolation under it: God notices it, the mixed events work together for good, the scene is short.
4. The happy termination of all: in a state of unmingled good, in an unexpected hour. Finally, Are we the people concerned in it? [Bradley].
ILLUSTRATIONS TO CHAPTER 14
Zechariah 14:1-3. The Lord goes forth. How sweetly doth God dispose of all second causes, that while they do their own will they do his [Bp. Hall]. Didst thou never hear that things ill got had ever bad success? [Shakespeare].
Zechariah 14:4-5. Mountain removes. Nature is but a name for an effect whose cause is God [Cowper]. In nature things move violently to their place, and calmly in their place [Bacon].
Zechariah 14:6-7. Light. As surely as a good man’s sun goes down it shall rise again. If the darkness be caused by depression of spirit the Holy Ghost will comfort him; if by pecuniary loss or personal bereavement the presence of Christ shall be his solace; and if by the cruelty and malignity of men the sympathy of the Lord shall be his support. It is as ordinary for the righteous to be comforted as for the day to dawn. Wait for the light, and it will surely come; for even if our heavenly Father should in our last hours put us to bed in the dark, we shall find it morning when we awake [Spurgeon].