CHAPTER 9

1 The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD. 2 And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise. 3 And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. 4 Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.

Hadrach is mentioned in the Bible only in this place. It is identified as "Hatarikka" which bordered on Damascus, a city not far from Hamath on the Orontes River.

This "word of the Lord" is prophetic and speaks of Alexander the Great's conquering of the land. He would not only conquer Hadrach, but also Damascus, Hamath, Tyre, and Zidon. Even though the ancient city of Tyre had never been conquered, Alexander accomplished that feat.

When Alexander marched his armies through the land, the people of God were looking to Him for safety and deliverance. There was no way they could defend their land, and only God could help them.

To put this in perspective, think of today. Here in America we have the greatest of fighting forces, the elite of technological advancements, yet these cannot protect us from the world! The ultimate protection comes from being bent in prayer toward our Almighty God!

5 Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. 6 And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.

The armies of Alexander would even level the powerful Philistines. All of their cities would be destroyed, and people from other nations would come to dwell there. This once proud people who had been a thorn in Israel's side, would be destroyed.

8 And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.

During all his marching, Alexander never entered Jerusalem, nor did he raze the surrounding area! God is perfectly capable of protecting His people!

9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

With immediate contrast to Alexander's ruthless conquerings, Zechariah is given an understanding that God's people will have a king who is humble in nature! The ass was a symbol of peace. And this is not the first time that God has said His people's TRUE KING would ride one.

He is a JUST king. His justice is meted to ALL mankind, and is predicated upon mercy and grace.
He is the OWNER of salvation. He is the ONLY ONE Who can save us from the awful result of our sin. And "as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" (John 1:12)
He is LOWLY, possessing great humility. He is not seeking to BE King, He IS King! Thus He has no need to be crass or crude; His nature is gentle, loving and kind.

This is the picture of the Great Creator-Savior-King! Even though He is God in flesh, Creator of the worlds, and King of all things and people, He is an HUMBLE SAVIOR. He willingly submitted Himself to the laws of God and man. And though He did no wrong, He humbly surrendered to the cross so that He could prove forgiveness of our sin. He arose victorious over the grave, and offers that same victory to all who surrender to Him.

PRAISE GOD! WHAT A SAVIOR!

10 And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from river even to the ends of the earth.

Zechariah excludes all the "church era" and goes directly from Christ's 1st advent to His 2nd. When He comes, He will "cut off" the instruments of war. There will be no more war on the earth during his millennial reign. All the peace talks, treaties, and disarmament policies could not accomplish this; but Christ will accomplish it by His WORD of "peace." He will reign in peace over the entire earth.

11 As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. 12 Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee; 13 When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.

Because of the "blood covenant" with Abraham, and because of the "blood covenant" which Christ would make, there is MERCY on the part of the Lord toward His people. Zechariah offered this HOPE to those who had been taken prisoner and were still in Babylon.

After Alexander the Great's demise, his kingdom was split into four realms. Antiochus-Epiphanes was then the king of the area which included Judaea. However, the Maccabees were successful in defeating Antiochus' forces in the 2nd century BC.

Notice that God's CALL is for the people to "turn ye to the Stronghold." God Himself is the "Stronghold" of His people! We have a spiritual hope that is above and beyond all worldly hope!

14 And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the LORD GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south. 15 The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar. 16 And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land. 17 For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.

That spiritual HOPE is God Himself being seen "over them" and leading them in victory! It is God Who saves His people and "lifts them up" (verses 15-16).

PRAISE GOD for His GOODNESS! Indeed "how GREAT is His BEAUTY!" When the Lord comes to conquer the world, and lift up His people, what GREAT BEAUTY will be shown by His presence! This beauty will pertain more to the fact of His appearing than to the dress. Though He will appear in majesty, and with robes of glory brighter than the stars, His real beauty is in the fact that He will come! He will come to deliver the saints once and for all from the ruthless means of kings and nations.

AMEN! Are YOU looking forward to His coming?

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.