* I really didn't have the time to give these chapters the treatment they deserve...there is a great deal at play behind the texts and in biblical/world histories that I couldn't really get into. Look into it yourself...it would be fun.
11:7 - Most of chapter eleven is describe the very complicated relationship that God has with His people the Israelites. God is a straight shooter and He doesn't pull any punches as He gives this prophecy to Zechariah. God made the choice to become the shepherd/leader of a group of people that He knew would reject Him (No smack talk about the Israelites here - without he sacrifice of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit...every group of human beings would have screwed this up). He stepped into history and saved His flock from the destructive elements of human society: selfishness, greed, violence, oppression, etc. (If you recall, they were slaves in Egypt at the time). Yet even after being saved and loved and guided into the best way possible for humans to live...the people of Israel chose to reject God. Heartbreaking story, but as we know - God didn't give up.
11:12-13 - For all intents and purposes, the people said to God, "Thanks for your help, but we're not really interested in you...we want to be like all the people around us who live in the midst of utter sin-filled chaos...their lives look a lot more fun...here's a little money for your efforts!" They betrayed their God...they betrayed their covenant...so God shattered the unity of His people and the blessings He poured out on them. This verse also hints at a future betrayal of God at the hands of Judas. Jesus is also known as the shepherd in the biblical text. He was also rejected by the people he had come to save and betrayed for a few silver coins. Yet instead of exacting judgement on the people yet again...God, though Jesus, ends the twisted cycle of covenant betrayal by paying the price for the sins of the world Himself.
12:2 - What does it mean that Jerusalem has become a "staggering cup?" It means that any nation that wants a piece of Israel is gonna have their hands full. When you drink from the cup of God's protection over His people...you walk away absolutely intoxicated. And we aren't talking about a fun party here...we are talking about disorientation, vomiting and embarrassment...any nation that tries to attack God's people will end in utter shame.
12:10 - Interestingly enough - though it seems like an obvious fit - this passage is not directly a prophecy about Jesus. Most people read this and want to equate it to the Isaiah passage (Isaiah 53:5) that refers to a savior "pierced for our transgressions." But contextually it just doesn't fit here (although anything that gets you thinking about the sacrifice of Jesus and the love that displayed is a good thing in my book). This passage is more directly referring to the piercing rejection that God has experienced at the hands of His people...the wounds He has suffered due to their betrayal. In this picture, His people finally see the folly of their rejection of God and mourn at their own stupidity in the face of God's incredible mercy.
13:1 - Though it may not be a perfect textual fit, as I mentioned above, how can you not read this passage and immediate think of the redeeming work of the cross? On the day of the piercing a fountain will be opened up that can cleanse us of our sins! It doesn't get more Jesus-y than that! He allowed his body to be broken for our sins...through his sacrifice we are able to experience a supernatural level of cleansing and righteousness that was impossible on our own. That is Good News - we should really tell people about that!
13:7 - Another example of fulfilled prophecy...when the shepherd was struck his flock scattered. This was fulfilled when they crucified Jesus and his disciples ran scared (All the men did anyway - the women who followed Jesus stuck around until the very end...and they were the first at the resurrection tomb...just sayin').
13:9 - Let all get this straight...the Bible doesn't promise us that life will be all rainbows and unicorns if we follow God. He doesn't promise that we are going to get all our hearts desire...God is not a magical genie. He is God. He does promise that He is going to give us what we need. And sometimes we need to be refined by fire...sometimes we need to go through hard things, tough times, trials, mourning, loss, rejection, etc...so that we can come through the other side more purely faithful. When all the other things are stripped away from us, we are left only with our faith, our hope and our utter dependance on God...and you know what? That is not a bad thing.
14:2 - Chapter 14 does an excellent job of summarizing God's message that was spoken to the people through Zechariah. He starts out by rehashing the situation...the people have betrayed God...that is why they faced judgment...that is why they were exiled...that is the reality of the situation and they need to repent of what they have done to restore that relationship with God.
14:3 - Because God is loving and merciful...He will rebuild His relationship with the Israelites, which starts by getting them back their land. So God will turn and pour His judgment out on the nations of people who have been harassing the people of Israel.
14:9 - Then Zechariah prophecies about a future where God will once again step in and become the king of His people...the king over all the earth. This was definitely a future prophecy at the time this book was written and it was partially fulfilled in the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus came to earth as the God/man/prophet/priest/king who changed everything. He gave his life so that we might experience salvation and be filled with power of the Holy Spirit. King Jesus still reigns, though he is not physically in our midst and the battle for souls is still raging on. (I said "partially" in the second sentence because there will come a day spoken of in the NT when Jesus returns and will fully take on the mantle of King of everything - there will be no more choice but to fall and worship)
14:16 - Much like the book of Revelation ends, Zechariah ends his book by driving home a message that was given to Him by God...victory is the Lord's! Zechariah looks forward to a time in the future where all will acknowledge the Lordship of God and worship Him - don't you?
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