Zechariah 9:9

Date: April 13, 2025

Title: The Coming King

Passage: Zechariah 9:9

Eleventh of the twelve Minor Prophets.

Prophet & Priest - Prophesied in Judah.

Later half of the sixth century B.C.

Encouraged the Jews to rebuild the temple in the wake of their return from Babylon.

Inspired a broken people to look ahead to the coming of the Messiah whose kingdom would exceed in glory, compared to everything they had ever known.

Well known verse in the Bible.

Most well known verse in Zechariah.

Prophetic of the triumphal entry of Christ.

All four Gospels record this event and quote it.

V. 1-8 = Oracle of judgment against Israel’s enemies.

Announces that the Lord is against various lands & cities that marked the territorial boundaries of the old Davidic empire.

Not Israel’s major foes: Egypt, Babylon, etc.

Lesser marauding forces that was a thorn in Israel’s side.

Such enemies would be destroyed, though a remnant from among them would be preserved and incorporated into God’s people.

In the midst of speaking of the bad news that awaits the enemies of God.

Zechariah is given a revelation concerning the good news that awaits the people of God.

Today I want to focus on that part of the prophecy.

Highlights the coming of the Messiah-King.

INTRODUCTION

Israel is summoned to rejoice.

Rejoice greatly! / Shout aloud!

The news of which he speaks is not something to be silent about.

Something that should instill a great deal of joy and gladness!

That’s what he has in mind when he calls on the “daughter of Zion…” to rejoice.

“Daughter” = Personifications of the people of God.

The members—inhabitants of the covenant nation are to stand in awe of what God will do for them!

The scene described here is one that should provoke excitement, cause there to be an outburst of intense emotion, one that should result in exultant cries of acclamation and praise.

He does not say, ‘whimper.’

“Rejoice greatly” / “Shout aloud” = You don’t need to sing in a still small voice—a hushed tone. Nothing to be shy about. Belt it out for the Lord. Raise your voices! Cheer the King on!

Why? For “Behold, your king is coming to you.”

Your king is coming to you! The king that has been prophesied to come for hundreds and hundreds of years, is coming to you. It’s not too far in the distance now. He’s coming. It’s on the horizon. He’s going to make His appearance. It’s going to be amazing! The Davidic king whose rule will never end, is coming to benefit you.

Okay well that’s all good and well… But how will we be able to identity Him? What is it about the coming king that will mark him out as the promised one? What information can you provide for us to certify that when he comes, we’ll be able to recognize Him?

Well, Zechariah tells us a few things about who He is and what He will do, and I want to look at each of these truths in turn.

1 - Righteous

First, Zechariah tells us that this coming king will be righteous.

Righteousness will be one of the qualities that sets Him apart from everyone else.

He will be righteous in a way that no one else has ever achieved.

(Note) Israel had a few good kings: David, Hezekiah, Josiah.

Contrary to so many of Israel’s kings, most of whom were wicked and lawless, this king will be one who honors God’s law.

Not act arbitrarily and unfair.

Fulfill the just requirements of the law in heart, word, and action.

Covenant keeper.

Walk in obedience to the will of God.

The better David whose life is fully yielded to God.

Outperform him in every way.

Not give into temptation.

Every temptation that is common to man will be conquered by the Son of Man!

Jesus is that man!

1 Peter 3:18, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God…”

When we compare ourselves by ourselves, we can always find other people that we are more righteous than, but when we compare ourselves to God and place ourselves next to Jesus, we can only say that He is truly righteous!

Everyone else is unrighteous, & unholy.

Not just that we’re non-holy, meaning common or neutral… but unholy—profane! Depraved. Corrupt. Sinful.

We’ve broken God’s law more times than we can count and thus stand in need of a righteous one who can stand in the gap for us.

That’s who Jesus is for us!

1 John 2:1, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

This is why we should rejoice! We have a king whose righteousness, not only qualified Him to be our Savior, but actually benefits us.

2 - He will have salvation.

Interesting way of putting it.

We shouldn’t assume that it means the king will experience salvation…

It’s not the Messiah who needs to be saved; it’s His people who needs to be saved, and He’s bringing it with Him.

The idea is that the Messiah will show Himself to be a mighty savior!

Come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Bring salvation/ Provide deliverance / Secure redemption.

Matthew 21: Triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

People spread their cloaks on the road and shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

Shouted Hosanna because they believed Jesus of Nazareth was going to save them!

“Hosanna” = Save us, we pray, O Lord.

Problem - The type of salvation they were looking for was not the type of salvation…

Liberate them from being prisoners in their own land. Deliver from Roman oppression. Free them from heavy taxation imposed on them.

Thought Jesus would conquer their enemies so that they could become the reigning, ruling world power.

(Failed to see) Before He would ever establish worldwide peace, He would first deal with sin so that sinners could experience peace within their own hearts!

Didn’t come to destroy His enemies; came to save His enemies!

The salvation He had and offered was not political; it was spiritual!

Came to resolve the issue we cannot resolve on our own — SIN!

Jesus came to fix it.

Matthew 1:21

John 3:17, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

This is what they missed.

Having set their minds on the things below, they failed to perceive what was most important!

(Note) There was no excuse for missing this…

The manner of His coming should have alerted them to what it is He came to do.

How did He come? He came in humility.

3 - Humble

The Hebrew term covers a variety of ideas: “poor” in an economic sense. “Oppressed / Afflicted” by evildoers. Lives in outwardly insignificant circumstances. Knows suffering. Makes no reputation for themselves: lowly & humble.

Surely this was all true of Jesus!

“Foxes have holes, birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”

Ultimate example of someone freely giving up their prerogatives to serve others.

Made Himself no reputation.

Phil 2:6-7

Jesus was humble.

(Note) His humility was reflected in the mode of His transportation.

He rode into Jerusalem on a young beast of burden.

Not a warhorse. Not a white steed. Not an animal of rank.

A lowly donkey! Why is that significant? It’s telling us something about the purpose for which He came.

Symbol of humility and also peace.

In this case, spiritual peace.

People don’t normally ride to war on a donkey…

They’re used for transportation, but not for winning a war!

Contrast this with the way Jesus comes back again: Rev 19!

Coming back on a white horse! To judge and make war!

Not so at His first coming…

First, He came to establish terms of peace.

To make a way for sinners to be saved.

Provide a way of escape.

Bridge the gap between sinful man and Holy God.

The way by which He did this was by:

Bearing the affliction of God.

Bearing the brunt of humiliation.

Carrying our sorrows.

Being the ultimate servant of all servants who voluntarily carried a cross so that we might be saved.

CONCLUSION

No wonder the coming of this king provided good reason for the people to rejoice!

The Davidic throne may have been vacant at the time.

They may have still been in the hands of the Persians.

The return from exile may not have resulted in a return to the glory of former days.

But all of that aside… There was reason to rejoice and be glad because one day, a righteous & humble King would make His appearance, riding on a donkey to signal the kind of salvation He came to procure for His people.

Good news = His house has been widened, and the gates to enter in have been opened to all. He is not the God of the Jews only, He is the God of the gentiles.

If you don’t know Him today, then hear His words: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Prayer.