Building God's House # 16: There is a Fountain, Zechariah 12:7-13:1

Intro: The history of humans features a few famous fountains...

You probably recognize this fountain, but you may not know its name. This is the Prometheus Fountain (1934), seen front of the Rockefeller Center in NY, NY just below the massive spruce at every Christmas Tree Lighting.

You may also recognize this beautiful fountain, the Buckingham Fountain (1927) in Chicago, Ill is designed to symbolize Lake Michigan, with 4 sea horses that represent the 4 states that border the lake.

World War II Memorial Fountain in Washington, DC (2004), dedicated in honor of the man and women who served in the armed forces in WWII.

Trevi Fountain (1762) in Rome is probably the most famous water fountain in the world. According to legend, any visitor who throws in a coin will one day return to Rome- an estiated 3,000 euros are thrown in each day.

What is it about fountains that capture our fascination? They are so enjoyable, that we even put them in our backyards- swimming pools, water features, bird baths, fountains. E.g., If you’ve ever been around a swimming pool that has a spa, or a cascading water feature then you know that there is something about water that is so calming, so peaceful, so cleansing.

Our text for today boasts a water feature- there is a fountain, one that is not only beautiful but has tremendous benefits. It has been opened to wash away our sins. Zechariah 12:7-13:1, The Lord will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall not become greater than that of Judah. 8 In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the Lord before them. 9 It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

10 “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.

11 In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. 12 And the land shall mourn, every 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 Shimei by itself, and their wives by themselves; 14 all the families that remain, every family by itself, and their wives by themselves. 13:1, 1 “In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.

Zechariah 12 begins the last prophetic section of this book. It focuses on the events surrounding the Day of the LORD- a day of vengeance and judgment against God’s enemies but of vindication and restoration for God’s people. In our text, it is a Day that is marked off by the time period “in that day” - in vss. 3, 4, 6, twice in v. 8, 9, 11, 13:1; 8 times in all.

12:1-6 are about this day of vengeance when God will deliver Judah and Jerusalem from all their enemies. Our focus is on vss. 7-14, this day of restoration when God will deliver His people from their sins. 13:1 gives us a glimpse into the means of their salvation- the LORD will open a fountain for sin & uncleanness. Let’s look at three features of this fountain:

1, A Fountain of GLORY, vss. 7-9

2, A Fountain of GRACE, vs. 10.

3, A Fountain of GUILT, vss. 11-13:1.

Before there can be a day of glory with God, there must be a day of grace to see the Messiah, & a day of grief because of our sins.

We grieve over our sins, we receive grace to save us from our sins, & there is a future glory in the presence of our Savior.