Zechariah 12:1-14

Zechariah 12:1-14

1 The oracle of the word of the Lord concerning Israel: Thus declares the Lord, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him:

2 “Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah.

3 On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it.

4 On that day, declares the Lord, I will strike every horse with panic, and its rider with madness. But for the sake of the house of Judah I will keep my eyes open, when I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.

5 Then the clans of Judah shall say to themselves, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the Lord of hosts, their God.’

6 “On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a blazing pot in the midst of wood, like a flaming torch among sheaves. And they shall devour to the right and to the left all the surrounding peoples, while Jerusalem shall again be inhabited in its place, in Jerusalem.

7 “And the Lord will give salvation to the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not surpass that of Judah.

8 On that day the Lord will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the Lord, going before them.

9 And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.

11 On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning for Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.

12 The land shall mourn, each family by itself: the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves;

13 the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shimeites by itself, and their wives by themselves;

14 and all the families that are left, each by itself, and their wives by themselves.

-PRAY

Title: The Triumph of God's Sovereignty: A Revelation from Zechariah

Introduction:

Imagine a city under siege, surrounded by adversaries bent on its destruction.

In the midst of chaos and uncertainty, there arises a prophet, Zechariah, whose words bring hope and assurance. Tonight, as we look at Zechariah 12:1-14, we uncover timeless truths that reveal the sovereignty and triumph of our Almighty God.

Just as Zechariah's words brought comfort to the besieged, may this passage bring assurance to our hearts in the midst of life's battles.

Opening Illustration:

In the heart of a bustling city, a father and his young son stood at the base of a towering skyscraper.

As they looked up at the seemingly insurmountable structure, the boy turned to his father and asked, "Daddy, can we climb to the top?"

With a smile, the father knelt down and said, "Son, it may seem daunting, but with each step, we'll reach closer to the sky.

And remember, no matter how high we climb, we're always held secure by the hands that created the heavens and the earth."

I. The Unveiling of God's Sovereignty (Zechariah 12:1-3)

1 The oracle of the word of the Lord concerning Israel: Thus declares the Lord, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him:

2 “Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah.

3 On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it.

A. The Creator's Sovereign Design

1. Zechariah opens with a declaration of God's sovereignty over creation.

2. Just as a potter molds clay according to his will, God forms and orchestrates the destiny of nations.

B. The Reality of Spiritual Conflict

1. The reference to Jerusalem as a cup of trembling reflects the spiritual battle.

2. In the midst of turmoil, God remains the sovereign ruler, controlling the outcome of all things.

II. The Redemption Through God's Promised Deliverance (Zechariah 12:8-10)

8 On that day the Lord will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the Lord, going before them.

9 And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.

A. The Assurance of Divine Protection

1. God promises to protect Jerusalem as a shield against its enemies.

2. His divine intervention ensures the safety of His people.

B. The Prophesied Messiah

1. Zechariah foretells the coming of the Messiah, pierced for the salvation of His people.

2. Through His sacrifice, redemption and restoration are made possible for all who believe.

III. The Transformation Through God's Holy Spirit (Zechariah 12:10-14)

10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.

11 On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning for Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.

12 The land shall mourn, each family by itself: the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves;

13 the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shimeites by itself, and their wives by themselves;

14 and all the families that are left, each by itself, and their wives by themselves.

A. The Repentant Response

1. The Spirit of grace and supplication moves hearts to repentance.

2. Through repentance, individuals experience the cleansing and forgiveness offered by God.

B. The Reconciliation and Restoration

1. Divisions dissolve as enemies become brothers in the unity of faith.

2. God's restoration brings about a renewed sense of community and purpose among His people.

Closing:

As we reflect on Zechariah's prophetic words, let us take comfort in the sovereignty of our Almighty God.

Just as He sustained Jerusalem amidst adversity, He holds us secure in His hands, guiding us through life's challenges.

May we embrace the promise of redemption through the sacrifice of our Messiah, Jesus Christ, and allow His Holy Spirit to transform our hearts and communities.

Remember, no matter the battles we face, our God reigns victorious, and His triumph is our ultimate assurance.

-PRAY

-Invitation