Zechariah 9 - "Two Kings and Time Machines”
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Opening Statement - This morning we’re gonna look at a passage that describes two kings. But these kings reign during different periods, which will require some time travel.
Opening Illustration -
This will be our chariot - I was able to locate a flux capacitor and get ‘er going again!
Inside the Delorean “Time Machine,” is this display
We’re gonna time travel throughout today’s message
From Zechariah’s time,
To several future times
And back to Zechariah’s time
When we do, I’ll say, “Get in the Delorean…” then we’re off…
Opening Background
The message in Zechariah is to encourage the post-exilic Jewish Remnant, with future hope, that “God is still in this”
So stay faithful.
Rebuilding the Temple.
Rebuilding Jerusalem.
Rebuilding your faith.
And do it all, NOT by their own strategy and strength, but in the power of the Spirit of God (Zech 4:6)
Today, Zechariah gives them visions into the future. Letting them know where things are headed.
If you know where things are headed, wouldn’t you be more encouraged to arrange your life accordingly?
You don’t just “go on vacation” by heading in some random direction…
You know where you’re going and you arrange your life to prepare for it.
Financially. A hotel at Disney vs. a tent on the mountain trail are very different.
With the right clothing. Gotta be dressed appropriately. Different choices for beach vs. mountains.
And the right mindset. Maybe you’re visiting different friends or relatives, who you should be ready to enjoy each others company.
Zechariah 9 has a lot to say about “where things are headed.”
Message
Let’s Pray
Read along (Zech 1 - 8) God uses an Earthly King for His Judgement
The burden (oracle/prophecy) of the word of the Lord - Chapter 9 kicks off the second half of Zechariah, which can be further broken down into “two oracles” (Zech. 9:1, 12:1)
Though they are undated, it’s most likely that these two oracles came to Zechariah during the latter part of his ministry (as late as around 480 B.C.). decades after the Temple had been completed (515 B.C.).
<Get in the Delorean. 2026 to 480 B.C. >
Critics believe that starting at Chapter 9, there is a change of author due to the difference in writing styles and because it contains fulfilled prophecy.
Fulfilled prophecy is the same reason the same critics think Daniel was written after its prophetic events came true.
The Bible critics assume that no human can possibly know the future. Which I agree with.
But God does!…He put Daniel and Zechariah (and many other prophets) in a time machine to reveal some future events.
Why? Because God wanted (you) the reader to know. Why else would God write them into Scripture? “For His health?” No
To give you a confidence and a hope for your future.
These oracles include Messianic prophecy and will provide continued reassurance to those who had rebuilt the Temple and that Jerusalem will soon enough be thriving again.
This burden is like a heavy thing weighing on the prophet that needs to be off-loaded.
The NIV renders this verse better,
A prophecy: The word of the Lord is against the land of...
Speaking of God’s impending judgement against evil neighbors of Israel.
(vv. 1-8) Speak of a short-term prophecy.
There is a consensus among conservative Bible scholars that these events (vv. 1-8) are speaking of Alexander the Great, the undisputed greatest king of Greece.
150+ years future
A distinct feature in many O.T. Messianic Prophecies, is that we see some variation of “double fulfillment”
First - a short-term fulfillment - think of it like a down payment.
And, Second - a greater, long-term prophecy - which you can “count on” because you already got the down payment.
<Get in the Delorean…we’re going to 332 B.C.>
(v. 1) Against Hadrach and Damascus - Alexander swept through these areas from north to south 332-331 B.C.
He was known for his lightening fast conquest (like a Goat running so fast, that its feet never touched the ground) (Dan 5:5).
Hadrach is unknown, but probably north of Hamath, which was north of Damascus.
And Damascus - the capital of Assyria.
(For the eyes of men And all the tribes of Israel Are on the Lord) - meaning that men will see God’s hand bring this judgement to bear...
Just like when God judges the earth in the Great Tribulation, there will be no mistaking that God Himself is orchestrating it.
(vv. 2-4) Against Hamath, then Tyre, and Sidon -
Continuing down the west coast of Israel from the north.
Tyre was a coastal/port city, used for trade, and was thought to be impenetrable,
(v. 3) For Tyre built herself a tower (her strength)...heaped up silver and gold like the dust (her riches)
The Assyrians had tried to lay siege for 5 years, but failed(724-720 B.C.).
Then Babylon tried to lay siege for 13 years, but failed (586-573 B.C.)
During which, Tyre’s inhabitants had quietly migrated to an island 1/2 mile off, leaving the original/old city relatively worthless. (Map Credit to EmersonKent.com)
(v. 4) Behold, the Lord will cast her out; He will destroy her power in the sea, and she will be devoured by fire.
In 332 B.C. After conquering Sidon, Alexander the Great took 7 months to build a causeway with the old cities remains out to the new island nation, to which he finally conquered.
(vv. 5-7) After defeating Tyre, Alexander continued south and conquered four out of five main Philistine cities: Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and Ashdod.
Ekron was the chief city of the Philistines.
(v. 7) is surprising as it describes those Philistines who remain in the land will turn away from their false gods and turn to God:
I will take away the blood from his mouth, And the abominations from between his teeth. - they will stop eating their food offered to idols
But He who remains, even he shall be for our God, And shall be like a leaders in Judah - after they turn from their idols and begin to worship the True God.
And Ekron like a Jebusite - will be assimilated into Israel as the Jebusites were (Josh 15:8; 2 Sam 5:6-9, 24:16-18).
(vv. 1-7) Main Point - the Lord will use a secular heathen king to exact His judgment (Alexander will be, unknowingly, working for God). And he will ravage each one of these cities as he marches south.
If the Lord can use a secular ruler UNKNOWINGLY for His purposes,
How much more can He use one who is KNOWINGLY on His side?
But when Alexander get’s down to Jerusalem, the plot will twist:
(v. 8) I will camp around My house - speaking of Jerusalem
Because of the army, because of him who passes by and him who returns - speaking of Alexander, never attacking Jerusalem.
No more shall an oppressor pass through them, for now I have seen with My eyes. I don’t consider this fulfilled until every oppressor/enemy of Israel is removed, which is not yet.
There are still oppressors of Israel to this day. One day, there won’t be.
But why didn’t Alexander attack Jerusalem? (as concise as I can make it, referring to Josephus’ Antiquities 11.8.4-5)
The Jewish High Priest “was in agony” after hearing about Alexanders victory over Gaza. So he had the people sacrifice to God and seek His guidance and protection; “whereupon God warned him in a dream…that he should take courage…and meet the king in white garments without dread.”
As Alexander with his mighty army approached Jerusalem, the high priest Jaddua came out with priests and multitudes, all in white linen garments...Alexander then saluted the High Priest, basically an acknowledgment of superiority. The Jews then saluted Alexander in return. And Alexanders leadership “were surprised at what Alexander had done, and supposed him disordered in his mind” (He done lost his mind)
Parmenio (his chief advisor) then asked “what’s going on?” to which Alexander replied, “I did not adore him, but that God who had honored him with that high priesthood; for I saw this very person in a dream...
Alexander and the High Priest both had a divine dream about this meeting.
Then they showed him the prophecies concerning himself in the book of Daniel,
The Works of Josephus: New Updated Edition Chapter 8: Concerning Sanballat and Manasseh, and the Temple Which They Built on Mount Gerizzim; As Also How Alexander Made His Entry into the City Jerusalem; and What Benefits He Bestowed on the Jews
And when the book of Daniel was showed him, wherein Daniel declared that one of the Greeks should destroy the empire of the Persians,
The next day
Alexander agreed to favorable conditions in his treatment of the Jews as he continued his conquest of the known world.
All, because, God camped around His house. God defended Jerusalem.
And if Alexander, a heathen king, who doesn’t even believe in the God of the Bible, can be used mightily by the God of the Bible…then what could God do with the King to come, who is Messiah, His own Son?
Read along (Zech 9:9-10) The Heavenly King
<Get in the Delorean…we’re headed to 33 A.D.>
In contrast of the judgment in (vv. 1-8), Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Zechariah is a book of deep (intrinsic) inspiration. He wanted them see how God will be glorified in all the work they are doing. Messiah is coming!
Prophecy is telling them what they have to look forward to.
Zechariah is giving them hope, which is a confident expectation that something will happen…hope is a Godly virtue
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Hope is not wishful thinking tied to an uncertain outcome…it’s trust in the certainty, that specific (for-ordained) events will come to pass.
It’s the belief that “the Bible says it, so that settles it”!!
So, what hope is he giving them?
(v. 9) Behold, your King is coming to you; - Alexander the Great, as great as he was, will pale in comparison to the the Messiah to come, the King who is the God-Man, Christ Jesus
He is just - He will bring justice.
And having salvation - To rescue the lost world.
Jesus came to the world (the first time), for what?
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
And HOW WILL THIS MIGHTY MESSIAH KING ARRIVE?? On a mighty white warhorse like Alexander, right? NOOooooooo!! Lowly riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey - The King of Glory came riding lowly on a donkey, a juvenile working mans animal.
This is no way for a “King” to enter…but Jesus did:
Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”
All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”
This is a direct fulfillment of Zech. 9:9.
Zechariah is saying, “Jerusalem, “this is your King!”
Jesus’ “unconventional” strategy is that He will conquer the greatest problem in humanity, the sin problem, through humility…coming to be nailed to the cross, punished for our sin, and send sin to the grave.
Unfortunately, most Jew’s missed it.
They ignored the O.T. passages that foretold about Messiah as “Suffering Servant” and only focused on Messiah as “Conquering King.”
They expected a mighty warrior coming on a war horse and huge military force behind Him, to slay all Israel’s enemies.
Paul speaks of this “Mystery,” which has been revealed to Him:
which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,
Speaking of this same mystery, adding clarity,
This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
This was a mystery to Zechariah or his audience. But, tucked betwen (v. 9) and (v. 10) is the church age. A time gap of ~2,000 years and counting.
The O.T. saw a Messianic prophecy as a “mountain range”
The N.T. sees two distinct advents.
<So get in the Delorean…we’re headed to Jesus’ 2nd Coming>
Jesus is coming back for round 2.
At that time, Israel will finally call on, and recognize her King.
“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.
(v. 10) I will cut off (stop the war) the chariot from Ephraim, And the horse from Jerusalem; The battle bow shall be cut off (no more fighting). He shall speak peace to the nations - Jesus’ second coming will bring in a time of peace that the world has not enjoyed since the garden of eden.
His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth - speaking of the entire land covenant that God made to Abram in Gen 15:18
On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates—
It is notable that:
#1 - Israel has never possessed this land in her past.
#2 - The type of promise that God made to Abraham in Gen 12, 15, 17 is unconditional
Therefore, for God’s Word to be True, they still have yet to possess this land.
Read along (Zech 9:11-17) Back to the Time after Alexander’s conquest
<Get in the Delorean…we’re headed back to 480 B.C.
(vv. 11-12) because of the blood of your covenant - possibly speaking of all three blood covenants:
The Abrahamic promise - the animal blood sacrifice (Gen 15) that resulted in God’s unilateral promise to Abraham
Mosaic promise - the religious system of animal sacrifices that “covered” (temporary solution) their sins
The New Covenant (Jer 31:31) - the Human Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who “atoned” (permanent solution) for their sins.
I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit - the underground caves used as dungeons, often imprisoning the innocent, and the servants of God.
Joseph was thrown into one (Gen 37:24)
Jeremiah was thrown into one (Jer 38:6)
The suffering of God’s people will end.
(v. 12) Return to the stronghold - Jerusalem
You prisoners of hope - I think this is primarily speaking of the remaining exiles in Babylon
Even today I declare, That I will restore double to you. - Israel will receive a double portion (in the Millennium).
Like a picture of the prodigal son, who, after a miserable time away from God, returned to the father, and when He did, was given the Grandest Party!!
Church - don’t be like the older brother who despised the younger, wayward brother.
But be like Christ, how He gave grace to Peter after having been denied by Him three times.
Be warm toward Israel, welcoming her back into the fold.
I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not!
God has not cast off Israel…nor should we.
<Get back in the Delorean, we’re headed to the Maccabean War>
I believe (v. 13) (and probably v. 13-15) foreshadows the Maccabean Revolt...in 167 B.C., long after Alexander died and the Grecian kingdom was split into four parts.
Two two of those dynasties, the Ptolemic and Selucid’s fought each other (~200 B.C.), with Israel being the caught in the middle.
Eventually a Selucid king named Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who was a terrible Anti-Semite, was on the scene and unsuccessful in gaining the Jewish support for his cause.
So (167 B.C.) he waged war against the Jews, performed sacrilege by sacrificing a pig in the temple, which triggered the Jew’s to fight back.
The Maccabeus family formed a resistance, that narrowly, but successfully repelled A-IV.
For I have bent Judah My bow, -
God is the source of the victory.
Bending the bow speaks of springloading the bow to shoot
Fitted the bow with Ephraim - Ephraim is the arrow
And raised up your sons, O Zion - The Maccabeans
Against your sons, O Greece - This is speaking of Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
(v. 14-15)
(v. 14) The the Lord will be seen over them - the Jew’s will attribute God’s divine intervention in the Maccabean war. Originating the holiday known as “Hanukkah,” a memorial of God’s protection and provision in causing the oil in the menorah to keep burning, long after the priest’s supply ran out.
His arrow will go forth like lightning…
(v. 15) The Lord of Hosts will defend them
They shall be filled with blood like basins, like the corners of the altar - speaking of the bloody mess akin to the animal sacrifices upon the alter, that this war will be…yet Israel will be victorious.
(vv. 16-17) The Distance Future
<Get back in the Delorean…to the Millennial Kingdom>
(v. 16) The Lord their God will save them in that day, As the flock of His people -
And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”
For they shall be like the jewels of a crown,
Lifted like a banner over His land— The Jews will be God’s Pride and Joy.
(v. 17) The King of Kings rescue of His people -
How great is it’s (His) goodness
And how great is (His) beauty!
Grain shall make the young men thrive,
and new wine the young women - picturing a future time of great plenty, peace, and Glory to God!!
Closing
Closure -
<Get back in the Delorean, let’s come back to May 3, 2026>
Closing Application -
The church age has been going for 2,000 yrs and counting
How much longer will we be here, before He returns? I don’t know (no man knows the day or hour)
Our instructions are to “occupy until He comes” (Luke 19:13)
What work has God given you to do in the meantime? (You are here, now, purposefully, “for such a time as this,” Est 4:14)
Do you have hope for the future?
Do you regard Jesus’ Future Return with confident expectation?
I pray that you do, or that you grow in that hope!
Since we know where things are headed, shouldn’t we be arranging our lives accordingly? Sure, but how? Follow the:
Greatest Commandment (Matt 22:37) - Love God
Worship God personally.
Keep growing as a disciple.
(and the second) Love Others
Share the gospel.
Use your gifts to serve others.
If you don’t know Jesus, then you may not know where things are headed, but the Bible tells us.
That the unbeliever, thinks they’re “good enough.” But when they stand before Jesus, will find out out that “No one is good,” except Jesus Himself. So those who think they are, will pay for their own sins…and the punishment for that is eternity in hell and separation from ever knowing God.
Don’t take that chance.
Come with us to a better future, and oh by the way, you’re life here on earth will become so much more fulfilling!
If you have not already, I urge you to accepted Christ today, because if you wait, you may be too late.
Let’s Pray
Benediction
