Exposition by Max A Forsythe
The
Reformer's Fire
Exposition by Max A Forsythe
As we approach the difficulties of our passage today, we would do well to reflect upon the essential distinctions between the Old Testament and the New Testament Church. Of course we well know that the essential division is marked by the historical event of the revelation of God in Christ. What must it have been like to live in expectation and be expected to maintain a thankful prayer life for what God would one day accomplish? The prophecies here are varied and somewhat obscure. Verse eight alone supposedly has over forty explanations.
One of the oldest explanations by Thomas V Moore sees the three replaced kings as nothing more than the accomplishment of Christ as our prophet, priest and king. The Old Testament human categories being finally fulfilled and replaced by His complete perfection. None of these Old Testament functions lasted into the Christian era. And it is in our Christian context that this passage becomes understandable. How truly anticipated was our Shepherd Prophet - Priest - King.
In this prophetic passage of anticipated future Zechariah certainly delivers the bitter pill under the label of Oracle which has headlined this whole section. Bitter fruits from Israel are indeed in the offering. In his words and in his tone _ Zechariah speaks the terrible reality of Israel's relationship with the promised Messiah.
The flock to which the Messiah was to come was one mastered by incompetant leaders in that first century. Notice how the flock marked out for destruction is to be treated by the Sanhedrin. Of course we must realize that this type of treatment had been going on since the closing of the Old Testament Cannon. Without the regular restraint of the prophets the priesthood was easily corrupted.
Real kingship had ended in Israel long before the restoration period. The leadership of Israel in Israel from the Greek period to the time of Christ was not a period of distinction. Offices were bought and sold, the people were milked for profit so that the overlords might at least remain Jewish. Israel was indeed handed over to its neighbor. The last Jewish "King", Herod who governed for Rome, was really descended from the Edomites.
This flock, to whom Christ was called to Shepherd did not appreciate His divine Lordship and so they rejected and detested Him. At long last our Lord gave them over to the Lordship of their true Sheperd Satan. Little do we appreciate this arrangement since outright expulsion and excommunication from Christ's Church is so rare in our day and time. Do you know the frightful consequences of excommunication? In that action, leaders of the Church are called upon to punish unrepentant sinners within the body by casting them out of fellowship so that Satan may have them.
We have only to read C.S. Lewis's Screwtape Letters to appreciate the desire of Satan and his demons. The grusomeness of verse nine is especially graphic when we read of the last days in Jerusalem before it was destroyed by the Romans. The people of Israel reportedly resorted to cannibalism during the last Roman siege. Their rejected Sheperd had left them a short generation earlier.
That generation who knew Christ in the flesh are long gone and little remembered. Recently archeologists in Israel have found the labeled bones of one wealthy Jew from the time of Christ. The name on the box was Caiaphas. Scholars believe that these may be the mortal remains of Pilate's "friend". You know the secular world has marveled more at those remains this year than they have at the prisoner condemned through the influence of Caiaphas.
As Zechariah continues, his Messiah figure takes up two staffs and gives them prophetic names. In verse ten, the staff called Favor is broken and along with it the Old Covenant. Even the Jews have the information in their book of Twelve Prophets to comprehend the limitations of their precious covenant. However, like the foolish people of Caiaphas's time, the worldly have rejected the leadership of the Sheperd.
Notice the irony in the Sheperd's resignation. Like many people have only dreamed of, the Sheperd quits and essentially says, "I'm outa here, if you want to give me my wages fine, if not than just keep them." The wages in question here were an insult to the integrity of the Sheperd's workmanship. The thirty pieces is the biblical price which was to be paid if a slave was killed. And look what was to happen with the blood money. Did any of the priests comprehend what was happening when Judas threw the money back into the Temple? Did any of the priest's appreciate the fulfillment of this text when they went out to buy a potter's field for burial? The fellowship of the Old Covenant Church was soon broken after that event. The Saints in Christ soon departed and the New Covenant Church was firmly established.
In verses fifteen to seventee Zechariah is called to model the worthless shepherd who was doomed for destruction. I am reminded of the many brethren whose professional zeal outruns their ministerial zeal. A story was told about an evangelical minister who was invited to meet with some successful liberal ministers. The conversation centered on the professional rewards to be had through success. Three marks of success made an impression upon our young man. He heard of the intense desire to write a book, promote a personal radio series and to complete a D/Min program. Now, our visitor was most confused about the last mark of success. So much so that he asked a friend, "exactly what type of demon do these men want to posses them?" At first, his question wasn't understood.
The D/Min in question was so obviously an advanced degree. All professionals ought to aspire to completion of such a degree which would make them more financially valuable to their flock. Our visitor persisted until everyone caught the drift of his supposed "demon" possession and laughed at his naivete. Obviously, he wasn't D/Min material and his fellowship was not encouraged. I hope that we all understand that Jesus was no such professional, His leadership was true and faithful. And because of His perfect faithfulness, the religious leadership of His time fulfilled the last prophecy which we have read this morning.
In Chapter thirteen the Shepherd king is prophesied to die. The sheep of His flock are scattered and refined. Others perish. Of the elect, our Shepherd King promises that He will answer them when the call. Further we see in the last phrases of our portion today that He will respond "They are my people, and they will say, 'The Lord is our God.'"
Do you see how well aprised were the Old Testament Saints. What we know by futher revelation, they could only anticipate. If their anticipations were so totally accurate, may we better appreciate the real historic turn of events? I hope so. Over eight key prophecies were exactly fulfilled in the life of Jesus so that their can be no logical doubt for those people so blessed by the Lord who says: "They are my people". Will we affirm our Shepherd's calling by proclaiming that "The Lord is our God"? May His Spirit enable us to say yes, the Lord is my God.
Resources Used:
Baldwin, Joyce G. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries: Zechariah.
Bently, Michael. Welwyn Commentary: Building for God's Glory.
Boice, James Montgomery. The Minor Prophets.
Places Preached:
Christ Covenant REFORMED (Presbyterian Church in America)
Box 13926 -- Columbus, OH 43213
Zec11b 22 November 92
|
Return to |
Return to |
Return to |