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 (2)
The battle of Armageddon
This is our second study of the battle of Armageddon. “‘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’” (v 4). (1) “On that day” refers to the day of the battle of Armageddon. (2) God will do three things against the enemy: “strike every horse with confusion,” “strike its rider with insanity,” and “strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.” The same judgment that came upon unbelieving Israel (Deut. 28:28) will come upon the enemies of Israel. (3) The Lord says, “I will watch over the house of Judah.” This means that God’s protection rests upon the house of Judah. “‘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”’” (v 5). (1) Here, the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the inhabitants of Judah are distinguished from one another. The people of Judah receive encouragement from the courageous fighting of the inhabitants of Jerusalem. (2) The reason the inhabitants of Jerusalem are victorious is because they receive strength from the Lord of armies. Encouraged by this, the inhabitants of Judah rise up courageously. They become “like a firepot among pieces of wood” and “a flaming torch among sheaves,” consuming the surrounding enemies with fire. (3) Although the enemies are destroyed, Jerusalem remains secure. “The inhabitants of Jerusalem again live on their own sites in Jerusalem” (v 6).
The tents of Judah first
“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” (v 7). This verse is difficult to interpret. (1) “The house of David” probably refers to the ruling class. In other words, the inhabitants of Judah are contrasted with the inhabitants of Jerusalem (including the ruling class), and it is the inhabitants of Judah whom the Lord will save first. (2) The expression “the tents of Judah” indicates that the people of Judah are living in tents in a place of refuge. That place of refuge is “Bozrah” (present-day Petra) (ref. Isa. 34:6; 63:1). (3) The sequence of the battle of Armageddon is as follows: the returning Messiah first wins the victory at Bozrah and then protects the inhabitants of Jerusalem. As a result, the inhabitants of Jerusalem rise up and gain victory. God is able to use even the schemes of the enemy for His own glory. Let us trust in Him.
Today's prayer
God the Creator, Your plan is perfect and worthy of trust. Please help me walk today believing in You alone. Let me walk believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.