Zechariah 12:1-9
1 The pronouncement of the word of the Lord concerning Israel:
The Lord who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of a person within him, declares:
2 “Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes staggering to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah.
3 It will come about on that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will injure themselves severely. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.
4 On that day,” declares the Lord, “I will strike every horse with confusion and its rider with insanity. But I will watch over the house of Judah, while I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.
5 Then the clans of Judah will say in their hearts, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem are a strong support for us through the Lord of armies, their God.’
6 “On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot among pieces of wood and a flaming torch among sheaves, so they will consume on the right and on the left all the surrounding peoples, while the inhabitants of Jerusalem again live on their own sites in Jerusalem.
7 The Lord also will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem will not be greater than Judah.
8 On that day the Lord will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the one who is feeble among them on that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the Lord before them.
9 And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
The Battle of Armageddon (1)
The context
Before looking at the content of this passage, let us confirm the context. Chapters 9-11 were the first oracle. There, the coming of the Messiah as King, and the deliverance and restoration of Israel, were prophesied. Beginning with today’s passage, the second oracle (chapters 12-14) starts. In the second oracle, the details are given concerning how the things prophesied in the first oracle (chapters 9-11) will take place. The Great Tribulation is for the refining of the people of Israel and for the removal of unbelief from among them. As a result, they will receive the Messiah, and eventually the Millennial Kingdom will be established on the earth. This is the outline of the second oracle.
The battle of Armageddon
“The pronouncement of the word of the Lord concerning Israel: the Lord who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of a person within him, declares” (v 1). (1) First, the sovereignty of God is emphasized. God is the One who rules over heaven and earth, and even over the hearts of human beings. (2) The Great Tribulation will be a time of unimaginable suffering not only for the people of Israel, but for all humanity. Even in such a time, the fact that God is sovereign over everything does not change. Let us apply this truth to ourselves. “‘Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes staggering to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah. It will come about on that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will injure themselves severely. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it’” (v 2-3). (1) This is a prophecy of the battle of Armageddon. All the Gentile nations will come up against the land of Judah and Jerusalem. The battle of Armageddon is also prophesied in passages such as Joel 3:9-13 and Zechariah 14:1-2. (2) Jerusalem (and Judah as well) will become “a cup that causes staggering” to them. When the word “cup” is used figuratively, it often signifies the wrath of God. The nations that oppose Israel will become useless like drunken men staggering from wine. (3) Furthermore, Jerusalem will become “a heavy stone” for those who attack it. The image is figuratively describing a person trying to lift a heavy stone, losing his grip, and injuring his hands and feet. No matter what trials the people of God may pass through, God will protect them. Let us remember that nothing can happen without God’s permission and receive encouragement from Him.
Today's prayer
O God of Israel, those who persecute the people of God will instead receive Your wrath upon themselves. Thank You for always protecting me. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.