Zechariah 10
January 31
Reading: Zechariah 10
1 Ask rain from the LORD in the season of the spring rain,
from the LORD who makes the storm clouds,
and he will give them showers of rain,
to everyone the vegetation in the field.
2 For the household gods utter nonsense,
and the diviners see lies;
they tell false dreams
and give empty consolation.
Therefore the people wander like sheep;
they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd.
3 "My anger is hot against the shepherds,
and I will punish the leaders;
for the LORD of hosts cares for his flock, the house of Judah,
and will make them like his majestic steed in battle.
4 From him shall come the cornerstone,
from him the tent peg,
from him the battle bow,
from him every ruler-- all of them together.
5 They shall be like mighty men in battle,
trampling the foe in the mud of the streets;
they shall fight because the LORD is with them,
and they shall put to shame the riders on horses.
6 "I will strengthen the house of Judah,
and I will save the house of Joseph.
I will bring them back
because I have compassion on them,
and they shall be as though I had not rejected them,
for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them.
7 Then Ephraim shall become like a mighty warrior,
and their hearts shall be glad as with wine.
Their children shall see it and be glad;
their hearts shall rejoice in the LORD.
8 "I will whistle for them and gather them in,
for I have redeemed them,
and they shall be as many as they were before.
9 Though I scattered them among the nations,
yet in far countries they shall remember me,
and with their children they shall live and return.
10 I will bring them home from the land of Egypt,
and gather them from Assyria,
and I will bring them to the land of Gilead and to Lebanon,
till there is no room for them.
11 He shall pass through the sea of troubles
and strike down the waves of the sea,
and all the depths of the Nile shall be dried up.
The pride of Assyria shall be laid low,
and the scepter of Egypt shall depart.
12 I will make them strong in the LORD,
and they shall walk in his name," declares the LORD.
In Zechariah 10 we read of the situation in Israel into which the Messianic King will be coming. What is the nature of the slavery, oppression, injustice, and lostness of God’s people, His flock? It is because of their own leaders, their idolatry, that they will not look to God for help; but rather to their idols, household Gods, diviners, and network media pundits. (vss. 1-2) “The people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd.”
In verse 3 we read that the Lord is angry at the leaders of His people. They are bad shepherds. This recalls Jeremiah 23-25 and Ezekiel 34. And so, The Lord Himself will come to care for His flock.
He will forcefully depose those bad shepherds. (vss. 4-5)
He will save His sheep. (vss. 6-7)
He will regather them and redeem them. (vss. 8-9)
He will bring them home and make them strong. (vss. 10-12)
One should not be disturbed that every bit of the prophesy does not match up with the ministry of Jesus. Such is prophetic imagery. Spiritual truth is often portrayed using earthly imagery, like battles and floods. There is also a mixing of prophesy fulfilled in Jesus first appearance two-thousand years ago and his final appearance still in the future.
There are a couple of fascinating moments in the poetry of this chapter. In verse 6 we read of the compassion of the Lord when He comes. In verse 11 we read, “He will strike down the waves of the sea.” How can one not think of Jesus calming the sea?