Good News at Last

Good News at Last

Series: The Minor Prophets

Text: Zechariah 10

Introduction: (What?)

On the heels of the Messianic Prophecy in chapter 9, God told Zechariah to tell the people that He would deliver them and restore them. He encouraged them to ask Him for what they needed (rain so that the crops would grow). What we must realize is that God will allow circumstances that will force us to call on Him. Unfortunately we, like the Israelites, are prone to try everything else before turning to God. And often, even when God answers our prayers, we aren’t satisfied with His answers. (Kendra and the homeless guy in NYC)

Examination: (Why?)

1. Where are you looking for answers?

Zech 10:1-2 “Ask the Lord for rain in the season of spring rain. The Lord makes the rain clouds, and he will give them showers of rain and crops in the field for everyone. For the idols speak falsehood, and the diviners see illusions; they relate empty dreams and offer empty comfort. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they suffer affliction because there is no shepherd.”

In chapter 9:17 God promised “How lovely and beautiful! Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine the young women.” Then as Zechariah continues his writing (which we call chapter 10) he urges the people to call on God for the things they need. In particular he refers to the “rain in the season of spring rain”. There were “former” and “later” rains that the farmers depended on. "In the East the former rain falls at the sowing-time. (fall)It is necessary in order that the seed may germinate. Under the influence of the fertilizing showers, the tender shoot springs up. The latter rain, (Apr-May) falling near the close of the season, ripens the grain, and prepares it for the sickle. The Lord employs these operations of nature to represent the work of the Holy Spirit. As the dew and the rain are given first to cause the seed to germinate, and then to ripen the harvest, so the Holy Spirit is given to carry forward, from one stage to another, the process of spiritual growth. The ripening of the grain represents the completion of the work of God's grace in the soul. By the power of the Holy Spirit the moral image of God is to be perfected in the character. We are to be wholly transformed into the likeness of Christ." (Romans 8:29) —Testimonies to Ministers, p. 506.

The people in Zechariah’s day had resorted to seeking help from household idols and from “diviners” to get the necessary rains for their crops. Zechariah urged them to seek the LORD for this help.

The spiritual application is found in James 5:7 “Therefore, brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.” Many people today are becoming distraught because of the downhill trajectory of our world. They seek help from political parties and candidates rather than beseeching God for revival. As we will see in the next point, such help is not productive. In Ezek 34:1-2 “The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy, and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says to the shepherds: Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who have been feeding themselves! Shouldn’t the shepherds feed their flock?” The leaders (politicians) are more interested in “feeding themselves” than in feeding their “flocks” (constituents).

2. There will be accountability.

Zech 10:3-7 “My anger burns against the shepherds, so I will punish the leaders. For the Lord of Armies has tended his flock, the house of Judah; he will make them like his majestic steed in battle. The cornerstone will come from Judah. The tent peg will come from them and also the battle bow and every ruler. Together They will be like warriors in battle trampling down the mud of the streets. They will fight because the Lord is with them, and they will put horsemen to shame. I will strengthen the house of Judah and deliver the house of Joseph. I will restore them because I have compassion on them, and they will be as though I had never rejected them. For I am the Lord their God, and I will answer them. Ephraim will be like a warrior, and their hearts will be glad as if with wine. Their children will see it and be glad; their hearts will rejoice in the Lord.”

Zechariah used three metaphors to explain how God works on behalf of His people; The majestic steed (war horse); the cornerstone (foundation; Messiah); and the tent peg (support for the center pole of the tent on which utensils and valuables were hung). Again this refers to Messiah because all the glory of the kingdom of God hangs on Him. God’s promise was to strengthen and restore Judah (southern kingdom) and to deliver (from idolatry) the house of Joseph (northern kingdom). He would do this not because they deserved it, but because of His compassion for them. He said that it would be as if He had never rejected them. And He would do this in answer to their prayers. The joy of restoration would last through the next generation. In one of his post Pentecost sermons Peter said, “For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, as many as the LORD our God will call.” (Acts 2:39) The covenant that God made with Abraham was/is still in place and all Christ-followers are the people of God’s promise. Many believe this to be a reference to the Millennial Kingdom. Again we must be reminded that for God time is measured differently. 2 Peter 3:8-9 “Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.”

Is there a way that we might hasten the coming of the LORD? G. Campbell Morgan, that great expositor of Bible prophecy and the Word of God, wrote, “I never lay my head on the pillow without thinking that perhaps before I awake, the final morning may have dawned. I never begin my work without thinking that He may interrupt it to begin His own. And every night before we go to sleep, we ought to say, ‘He may come tonight.’ Every day when we get out our tools and go to work, ‘This may be the last day’s work I'll do.’”

Adrian Rogers wrote: We’re to be learning of His coming; we are to be sober minded.We are to be looking for His coming; we’re to watch.We’re to be longing for His coming.We’re to be praying, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. And “Let there be peace in Jerusalem, that there might be peace on earth. Even so come Lord Jesus.”

3. Victory is in sight

Zech 10:8-12 “I will whistle and gather them because I have redeemed them; they will be as numerous as they once were. Though I sow them among the nations, they will remember me in the distant lands; they and their children will live and return. I will bring them back from the land of Egypt and gather them from Assyria. I will bring them to the land of Gilead and to Lebanon, but it will not be enough for them. The Lord will pass through the sea of distress and strike the waves of the sea; all the depths of the Nile will dry up. The pride of Assyria will be brought down, and the scepter of Egypt will come to an end. I will strengthen them in the Lord, and they will march in his name— this is the Lord’s declaration.”

God will call His people from across the earth to return to Israel. Today there are thousands of Jews who are “making aliyah” or returning to Israel. In 2020, during the height of the Coronavirus pandemic, Jewish Agency Chairman Isaac Herzog announced that approximately 250,000 people were expected to immigrate to Israel in the next 3-5 years. In 2021 4,000 Jews immigrated FROM America TO Israel. In Zechariah God said He would bring them back from Egypt and Assyria, two of the nations where Judah and Israel had been in bondage. So many would return that “the land of Gilead and to Lebanon” will not be enough to hold them all. Both of these were outlying regions of Israel which together would not hold all the returnees. Today Israel is seeking to annex areas on the West Bank to bring them under the governance of elected leaders of Israel. This is possibly a move to accommodate those returning to Israel today. Could this be a precursor to the Millennial Kingdom? It is an interesting question worthy of our attention.

Application: (How should I respond to this message?)

Are you “grafted in” to the root of Israel? That happens when you surrender to Christ as LORD.

Are you praying for the peace of Israel?

Are you keeping your eyes on the events in the Middle East?

Are you voting for candidates who support Israel?