Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones (Zech. 13:7).
Our Savior declared that this prophecy referred to Himself (Matt. 26:31, 32). In the determinate council of God, Jesus was smitten for our sins. He who came to be a blessing to the world received a sword stroke of death, even while bestowing that blessing upon humanity. Sin is so terrible in God's sight that He "spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all" (Rom. 8:32).
The wicked of this earth are often unconsciously made to be the sword of God's will (Ps. 17:13). Jesus was put to death by wicked people, who unconsciously fulfilled Zechariah's prophecy.
The sword was to awake "against the man that is my fellow," my equal, or my nearest kin. In John 10:30 we find the words of Jesus, "I and my Father are one." Our promise text declares that He who should die on the cross as a man was also divine. And the Father Himself addressed Jesus as "God" (Heb. 1:8).
At our Savior's crucifixion His disciples were scattered, and then in A.D. 70 the Jewish nation was scattered at the destruction of their city. The promise comes, "I will turn mine hand upon the little ones"--that is, I will intervene in their favor. The humble followers of Christ to the end of time are sustained, comforted, and delivered. After His crucifixion His followers were comforted by His resurrection, and at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem they were delivered. As someone has said: "The hand of Jehovah was turned in wrath upon the Shepherd, that His hand might be turned in grace on the little ones."
MEDITATION PRAYER: "My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me" (Ps. 63:8).
Our Savior declared that this prophecy referred to Himself (Matt. 26:31, 32). In the determinate council of God, Jesus was smitten for our sins. He who came to be a blessing to the world received a sword stroke of death, even while bestowing that blessing upon humanity. Sin is so terrible in God's sight that He "spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all" (Rom. 8:32).
The wicked of this earth are often unconsciously made to be the sword of God's will (Ps. 17:13). Jesus was put to death by wicked people, who unconsciously fulfilled Zechariah's prophecy.
The sword was to awake "against the man that is my fellow," my equal, or my nearest kin. In John 10:30 we find the words of Jesus, "I and my Father are one." Our promise text declares that He who should die on the cross as a man was also divine. And the Father Himself addressed Jesus as "God" (Heb. 1:8).
At our Savior's crucifixion His disciples were scattered, and then in A.D. 70 the Jewish nation was scattered at the destruction of their city. The promise comes, "I will turn mine hand upon the little ones"--that is, I will intervene in their favor. The humble followers of Christ to the end of time are sustained, comforted, and delivered. After His crucifixion His followers were comforted by His resurrection, and at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem they were delivered. As someone has said: "The hand of Jehovah was turned in wrath upon the Shepherd, that His hand might be turned in grace on the little ones."
MEDITATION PRAYER: "My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me" (Ps. 63:8).
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