2021-11-12

Zechariah 12:1-14

　　This chapter is a prophecy of what is to come upon the chosen land, city and people of God. In the last days, God almighty who created the heavens and earth and who gave breath to mankind will show Himself strong among His people as they face their enemies from all directions (v.1-3). We got a taste from history, the 1967 Six- Day war between Israel and the surrounding Arab nations-how Israel defeated them all. This time, there will be no question about the status of Jerusalem; even at this time we have already seen the shift of Jerusalem back to Israel with the move of the United States embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

　　Miraculous events will happen in favor of God’s people in Jerusalem and Judah when all the nations of the earth surround them to attack them (v. 4-9).

　　This prophecy reminded me of the Israelites cornered at the Red Sea by the pursuing Pharoah and his army in the book of Exodus. God miraculously delivered His people out of the mighty hand of Pharaoh’s army. Not only did the Israelites experience firsthand the miraculous deliverance from God, other nations that heard of it were filled with fear and terror. God specializes in delivering His people in an impossible situation. Praise God that nothing is impossible with Him; His arms are not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear (Isaiah 59:1). Separate ourselves from sins and call upon the Lord and see the great things He can do and let us give Him all the glory.

　　After God’s people in the tiny nation have been delivered from their enemies, they will be filled with the Holy Spirit and will recognize their sins; they will realize their ignorance of rejecting Jesus as their Messiah (v. 10). They will mourn bitterly and will be filled with great sorrow for their part in crucifying the Lord. They will grieve corporately as well as privately like weeping for a godly king Josiah who died in the battle or like one grieving for the loss of their firstborn child (v.10-14).

　　The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins and reveals to us our trespasses against God. Believers must repent and not go back to their old way of life that grieves the Holy Spirit; it would be just like a dog returning to its vomit or a washed pig returns to the mud (2 Peter 2:22). The day will come when all knees will bow down and every tongue will confess Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11, Revelation 5:13). Until that day, pray that the gospel will reach many people and by the grace of God, many souls will be saved.　　　—  Lai Yee Leong