Exposition by Max A Forsythe
The
Reformer's Fire
Exposition by Max A Forsythe
As books of the Bible go, this prophecy of Zechariah is complex in its various difficulties. Our series this fall has because of its brevity neglected many details and often whole paragraphs. Please be assured that in the prophetic crises we may see the fortelling of Christ and His eternal Kingdom. However, in those passages which have yet to be experienced we ought always to imitate the wisdom of Martin Luther in not saying more than we reasonably can.
Martin Luther wrote two commentaries on this book. An early version in Latin and a later in German. In the first, he avoided chapter fourteen completely. In the second, he introduces his few comments with these words: "Here, in this chapter, I give up. For I am not sure what the prophet is talking about."
I believe what he is getting at is summarized in an English proverb: "Hindsight is better than foresight." For some reason or another, a lot of people quote that particular proverb to me quite regularly. Maybe someday I'll figure out why? Another commentator Gleason Archer, in contrast to Martin Luther, refers puzzled readers to another of his books, which I had not had the foresight to purchase in time for this particular series. Be that as it may, the essential point we need to understand as we come to this final chapter of Zechariah is that unlike some of the earlier prophecies fulfilled in the first coming of our Lord, some of these here described are yet to happen.
Unlike the Jews of Jesus time, who had specific expectations of who and what the Messiah was going to be, we should be very careful in our anticipation of what the second coming will be like! Chapter fourteen certainly asserts very plainly that such a day is coming, when every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
How that is finally accomplished and exactly what preparations must be providentially arranged are yet to be experienced. Like the prophet himself who wrote so many centuries before our time, we must trust that in the Lord's good time He who came once in the fullness of time will "on that Day" come again. What will that great day be like? Let us briefly consider this morning the prophetic answers of Zechariah.
In verse one Zechariah begins with a phrase that may more accurately be translated: "A day is coming for the Lord". This grammatical emphasis is on the Lord and not on the "is coming". One commentator sees this as an implied threat rather than a promise. By this we mean that God is indeed God, He has is perfect agenda which He will work out in His own time and in His own way. Like the people of Israel during the Exodus, we are merely helpless onlookers deserving of no mercy and no unnecessary consideration. Indeed, we see in verse two that the inhabitants stand by while the world loots them of all their belongings. The Lord's people however are promised that the Lord will indeed go before them and win the essential final victory by His own strength alone.
Verse four returns to the chapter theme of that great day. "One day" the Lord Himself will stand on the Mount of Olives, from whence Christ ascended into heaven. The angel in Acts tells us that One day, Jesus will return in glory in the same way in which the Apostles saw Him leave. Isn't if fitting that the next few verses affirm that in and through Christ there is a way of escape, a way of salvation if you will.
One Day the common days of our experience will be changed. "No light, no cold" and no frost. Oh how my bones look forward to a change in those conditions. December is the darkest month on the farm. The shortest days, the adjustment to the cold and the frost. Some time you all ought to take a turn helping me with December chores at 5:45 in the morning. To paraphrase an American poet: When the frost is on the drinking trough, someone is going to have to chop the ice! About this time of year I can really get excited about our Lord coming again.
One day verse eight tells us, living water will flow out from Jerusalem. Again we see a prophecy picked up in the life of Christ when Jesus promised the living of Himself to any who were thirsty.
One day the Lord will be king, the inhabitants of Jerusalem will be secure and the wicked will melt in his presence. This image is particularly gruesome.
An experience in the Atomic bombing of Japan may illustrate what happens. There was a downtown wall that survived the explosion. A series of shadowy silhouettes on that wall was visible to survivors. Scientists concluded that in the first few minutes of the fire ball the heat which singed the wall also melted the people who had been walking and standing in front of the wall. They had absorbed the full force of the heat wave and thus left behind a brief reminder of where that had been on that terrible day in 1945. Such will be the lot of the wicked on the last day when the Lord looks upon unrepentant sinners. They will be consumed in His wrath.
One day, verse thirteen tells us men will be stricken in panic, even those in Jerusalem. In verse fourteen the Hebrew will allow us to say that the worldly wealth will be swept away along with the livestock.
In verse sixteen I know how I would like to interpret the word survivors, including the formation of a new heaven and a new earth. But, I will resist the temptation. After all we can say little more than the present text allows. We may affirm that there will still be worshipers of our King, the Lord Almighty.
On that day even the harness bells on the horses and the common cooking pots will be Holy to the Lord.
And since the last verse of Zechariah tells us that there will no longer be any Canaanites or as one commentator suggests, there will be no traders in the Temple precincts. At long last Jerusalem, the Temple, the Church, the Bride of Christ will be cleansed and in the eternal presence of her Groom: even Jesus Himself. Oh what a grand and glorious day will that day be indeed! Like Zechariah may we look forward to His final coming and say with the saints in heaven: Come quickly Lord Jesus, come quickly.
Resources Used:
Baldwin, Joyce G. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries: Zechariah.
Bently, Michael. Welwyn Commentary: Building for God's Glory.
Boice, James M. The Minor Prophets: An Expositional Commentary.
Lloyd-Jones, Martyn. Revival.
Places Preached:
Christ Covenant REFORMED (Presbyterian Church in America)
Box 13926 -- Columbus, OH 43213
Zec14a 06 December 92
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