Zechariah 11 & 12 -- Hold On... The World's In For A Bumpy Ride

I’ll bet Zechariah was wondering if his mind was about to blow with all of these prophecies running through it!

The Roman government would, in the near term, decimate and subjugated the land.  God says, “The flock [Judah] did not pay attention to Me, and I got impatient with them.  I said, ‘I will no longer take care of you like a shepherd.’”  The nation of Israel had presumed upon God’s grace for far too long.

Zechariah breaks one staff, symbolizing God “annulling the covenant that restrained the Gentiles from oppressing God’s people” and a second staff, breaking the unity between Judah and Israel and leading to disunity and internal strife between the Jews, my commentary said.

Prophecies of the events surrounding Jesus’ death included the 30 pieces of silver paid to Judas and his subsequent casting off of the money and the use of it to bury him in a potter’s field.

Our church age lies hidden in the cracks between verses 14 & 15 of chapter 11, my commentary noted.

Prophecies of the anti-Christ follow, then the attack on Jerusalem by all of the other nations and God’s protection of the Jewish people during the attacks.  Even though His patience had worn out, His protection and love are still there.

It’s at this point that the veil will be lifted and the Jews will mourn bitterly over their rejection of the Messiah.  Jesus says here:  “They will look at Me, the One they have stabbed, and they will cry like someone crying over the death of an only child.  They will be as sad as someone who has lost a firstborn son.”  Sad like God was over Jesus having to die for our sins.

Each family will separate itself and will mourn and determine their own culpability in His death.  My commentary said, “True confession requires us to be alone with God.”

Father, how awesome it would be to see the Jewish nation’s eyes opened, and to have them join us in mourning what Your Son had to endure to save us from our sins.  Yet I pray that You will have Him take us to You before that terrible time comes.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford