Prophecy Update: Peace, Prosperity, Then A Burden - Part 6

Bobservations Column
Titled - "Peace, Prosperity, Then A Burden"
Written by: Pastor Bob Lawrenz

This week, we are meeting on Sunday, February 22nd, the birthday of George Washington, called “Father-of-Our-Country.” He was our first President, but he did not bring about our birth alone. It is an honorary title only, because there were many that went before him to begin the fight for freedom. He was not even present in Philadelphia when the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. He was instead leading the Continental Army in New York, as they prepared to do battle with British forces. But on July 9th of that year, he assembled the Army together to read the Declaration of Independence to them, as it had been signed.

It is a reminder that fathers have a great role in our lives, but they need not to be present at every life changing event. They need to prioritize and be in the trenches fighting for our well-being, against our enemy.

That’s where we will always find our Father in Heaven: staying in his Kingdom, and choreographing our lives in a way that brings us to Him. There is none greater, none more powerful than He. He sees the future, and sees threats coming from a long way off.

After Ezekiel 38 & 39, we watched the tide turn, as Zechariah begins to write 100 years later. Israel is relieved of its enemies for sure, but there is a residue coming in Syria that could be a threat. He is not surprised. He has seen it before it happens. He is not driving at the end of His hood, but sees far ahead down the road, where danger may lurk. And unlike Washington, our God is always with us.

In the last several weeks, we may have thought that Iran was ready to strike Israel. But as Jesus said in Mattthew 24, “The end is not yet.” And we should recall what Ezekiel wrote: It would be Russia (Gog) that initiates an invasion of Israel, and many countries would join in, like Iran (Persia), and Turkey (the remnant of the Ottoman Empire.), and others. So, we wait upon the Lord, instilled with His peace, and His hope, trusting in Him.

“The LORD shall reign forever and ever.” - Exodus 15:8

Bobservations Column: Audio Version

Sunday Morning Message:

Zechariah 8:18 - 9:8 - "Peace, Prosperity, Then A Burden" - Part 6

Summary/Additional Commentary & Definitions:

As we finish Zechariah chapter 8, few verses in the Bible leave our hearts more hopeful than the verses we will be looking at today. They're unbelievably practical yet unbelievably rich. In these verses, the LORD allows his people to peek behind the curtain, showing them what the future holds for his people. In doing so, he's telling his people that he will do the miraculous on their behalf. He will transform tears into laughter, hopelessness into hopefulness, and barrenness into fruitfulness. They will no longer be a people who mourn the past; they will become a people who celebrate it. Their city will no longer be a barren land that the neighboring countries mock; they will become a fortress to the nations where people from all over come to reside. They will be a city without walls, a royal priesthood, a people who dwell with God.

Zechariah 9:1-8 prophesies God’s judgment on the surrounding nations (Syria, Phoenicia, and Philistia) while promising protection for His people, Zion. It highlights the downfall of proud, wealthy cities like Tyre and the conversion of a Philistine remnant, ultimately declaring that God will guard His Temple, preventing any further oppressors from entering.

Sometimes it may seem as if God is moving slowly. And when it appears that God is moving slowly, there's a temptation to think that God doesn't care. But today's passage teaches us that this is the farthest thing from the truth. God is not on a couch; he's on a throne. He is not idle; he is active. He is not indifferent; he cares. Where, at times, it may seem like there are no repercussions for sin, today's passage reminds us that God sees all things and will deal justly with sin. The Lord will begin to call out names. He is specific with his judgment. In His appointed time the Lord to return to his people and He will pronounce judgment on all of her enemies.

Sunday Morning Audio Message:

Key Words and Definitions with Reference:

The Fasts (8:18, 19) - Fasts become feasts.  The fourth and final response to the delegation from Bethel notes how national days of fasting and mourning will be transformed into joyous feasts.  This was really the answer to the original question in Zechariah 7:3. Turn the fasts into feast of joy in light of the promised blessings of God.

Cheerful Feasts (8:19) - Two additional fasts were held.  In the fourth month, they commemorated the breaching of the wall of Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:3; Jeremiah 39:2-4) and in the tenth month, they remembered the beginning of the final siege of Jerusalem which began in 588 B.C. (2 Kings 25:1; Jeremiah 39:1).

It Shall Come to Pass (8:20-22) - Israel restored in millennial glory will be the means of blessing to all the world (cf. Isaiah 2:2-4; Micah 4:1-5).  Gentiles from around the world will make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to entreat the Lord.  This signifies salvation of people from all over the world during the kingdom, fulfilling Psalm 122. 

In Those Days (8:23) - In the days in which the messianic kingdom on earth is inaugurated, the Jews will truly be God's messengers as originally intended, and will bring multitudes to Christ.  The ten-to-one ratio represents a vast number of Gentiles who will come (cf. Genesis 31:7; Leviticus 26:26; Numbers 14:22; 1 Samuel 1:8; Nehemiah 4:12).  The Messiah (Jesus), in the midst of millennial Israel, will be the attraction of the world.  People, seeing the Jews so blessed in their kingdom, will demand to go and meet the Savior King.

Burden (9:1) - A heavy, burdensome message (i.e. oracle), the prediction of a threatening even, in this case the judgment of the nations.

Hadrach (9:1) - The location is uncertain.  Possible, it is anciant Hatarika, a city mentioned in the annals of Assyrian kings, in the vicinity of Hamath.  The old Jewish tradition made it a compound name, Had meaning sharp and rach meaning soft.  The sharp/soft land could be a reference to the dual Medo-Persian kingdom.  Media was thought to be the sharp side because of its powerful conquerors like Cyrus and Persia the soft side because of its debauchery.  The cities in verses 1,2 were major cites under Medo-Persian power.

Damascus (9:1) - This city was to be the main target of the judgment of God through Alexander, upon the capital of Syria, one of Israel's worst enemies from c. 900-722 B.C.

The Eyes of Men...are on the Lord (9:1) - God's judgment through Alexander the great would be visible to all mankind especially Israel.

Hamath (9:2) - A major city, 125 miles north of Damascus on the Orontes River.  Alexander conquered these cities of the Syrian interior under Medo-Persian control, then turned to the coast moving south, conquering the cities of the Phoenicians and Philistines on the way to Egypt.

Tyre and Sidon...Are Very Wise (9:2) - Phoenician cities on the Mediterranean coast were known for their skill and wisdom (cf. Ezekiel 28:12-15) and Satanic influence (Ezekiel 28:11-19).

Tyre (9:3, 4) - This city was occupying an island one-half mile offshore, and though itself to be invincible (cf. Isaiah 23:1-4).  With walls 150 feet high in some places, it was such an impregnable city that the Assyrian Shalmaneser besieged it for five years and failed to conquer it.  Nebuchadnezzar tried for thirteen years unsuccessfully.  But Alexander, God's judgment instrument, using the rubble of the mainland city destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, built a causeway out to the island and destroyed it in seven months.

Cut off the Pride of the Philistines (9:5,6) - The cities of Philistia were terrified at the swiftness with which Alexander the Great's army was able to conquer Tyre. Then Alexander marched south, conquering all these philistine cities and killing their national pride. 

I Will Take Away (9:7) - This judgement put an end to idolatry for many Philistines who turned to the God of Israel.  In the imagery of this verse, the nation is seen as a man with blood in his mouth (from eating sacrifices to idols) and abominations (the other defiled food of idol worship) which are removed.  The picture is of conversion to worship the true God.

Like a Jebusite (9:7) - These ancient inhabitants of Jerusalem were conquered by David (cf. 2 Samuel 5:6-11) and amalgamated into Israel.  So it will be with these Philistines.

I Will Encamp About (9:8) - This is the pledge of God's protection of Jerusalem rom Alexander.  It came true when, on his way south, Alexander treated Jerusalem with kindness. After having subjugated Egypt, he returned without doing Israel harm.

No More Shall an Oppressor Pass Through (9:8) - The supernatural and lasting protection here promised must anticipate the Second Coming of Jesus, whose coming is the subject through the rest of this message.  The transition from Alexande to Christ can be understood in this way:  If God can use a pagan king to judge the nations and save Israe, how much more will He use His righteous Son?  So, verse 8 bridges to the final judgment and deliverance of Messiah.