Zechariah 10-11 - “Sheep and Shepherds”
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Opening Statement - There is a saying amidst Calvary Chapels, that “it’s where the sheep like to eat.” This is a reference to people consistently returning our because they are well fed by the verse-by-verse teaching, to “simply teach the Bible, simply.”
And I think that’s fitting. And I pray that’s true of us.
And sheep need a shepherd.
Opening Illustration -
This shepherd-sheep relationship is what we’ll see in today’s passage. The sheep can be good at times, but often go astray. Sometimes on their own, but sometimes because of a bad shepherd.
And there is no shortage of those bad shepherds in Bible times. Many who are in it for the wrong reasons, who don’t care for the sheep…and are willing to shortchange the sheep for their own gain.
But some are in it for the right reason, who care for the sheep. Our ultimate example of the Good Shepherd is Jesus Christ. Jesus even told Peter, “if you love me, feed My sheep.” In other words, feed My people the Word of God.
Good Shepherds lead from the front with their own life, know the sheep by name, never leave the sheep in times of trouble, and are willing to sacrifice for the sheep. Zechariah was a good Shepherd. Jesus was The Good Shepherd.
And so in today’s passage we’ll see prophecies regarding Israel, mostly told in terms of sheep and shepherds.
Relevance to CCB - But there are principles we can pick-out from these prophecies to the Jews, which can be applied to us.
How important it is four our spiritual nutrition to follow the right shepherd?
How trials are an important aspect of our life? And to trust the shepherd in these valleys.
How faithful and how good, is the Good Shepherd? What does that mean for me, His sheep?
Opening Background -
Last week we began, what many consider the “second half” of Zechariah, starting in Zech 9. There are two “oracles” (prophecies or burdens) that begin in Zech 9:1 and Zech 12:1.
They speak primarily of the Messiah’s “1st & 2nd Advent,” respectively.
Though undated, most conservative scholars place these two oracles toward the end of Zechariah’s ministry, which lasted an estimated 50 years (520 B.C. to 470 B.C.)
Last week, we saw how O.T. prophecy foreshadowed
Alexander the Great’s interaction with Jerusalem - which occured 332/331 B.C. - how pleasant it was, due to God’s intervention.
Antiochus’ IV Epiphanes interaction with Jerusalem - which occured in 167 B.C. - how horrible it was; inciting the Maccabean War.
This week, we will finish the “First Oracle” (Zech 9-11). We will see:
Zech 10 - God guarantees the regathering the Jews
Zech 11 - God tells the future of Two Shepherds over His people: The False and the True.
Message -
Let’s Pray
Verse 1-2: Choose Wisely
An exhortation to make a Good Choice
ask the Lord for rain - ask for right and good things
James 4:2 “…you have not because you ask not.”
Matt 7:9 “what father would give his son a stone who asked for bread?”
In the time of the latter (spring) rain - the spring rain is what will bring abundance throughout the growing season.
He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone.
Although this is speaking of literal rain - which interestingly, Israel has progressed from a desolate land prior to 1948, to a fruitful land since 1948.
More importantly is a “spiritual Reign” that the they should be praying for. And so should we.
Spiritually, the latter rain speaks of the outpouring of the Spirit that will take place in the last days (Joel 2:23–28). We are living in a time when the Holy Spirit is being poured out afresh. Yet, although we can observe this and study it, we will not experience it unless we ask the Lord to send the latter rain upon us personally. (Courson)
We should also pray, for Messiah to soon return as “Reigning” King over the Earth.
2 Pet 3:12 - We should be “looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God,”
God’s people should look forward to the Lord’s return…
Because when we look forward to what God has in store;
We will live more obedient and faithful lives.
Bad Choice
For the idols speak delusion (falsehoods). An idol is ANYTHING you put above God. (ie. yourself, your marriage, your family, your lifestyle)
The diviners envision lies, - This isn’t limited to psychic’s and palm readers, but also false teachers…
And tell false dreams; they comfort in vain. - Telling people only what their itching ears want to hear and not God’s Word…is what a false shepherd will do (ie. God wants you to be healthy, wealthy, and happy, and comfortable).
But because of this deception, Therefore, the people wend their way (wander) like sheep - Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way
Wandering is what happens (spiritually) because there is no shepherd.
Biblical illiteracy has reached epic proportions - ironically as, Biblical proliferation has never been greater.
Christians need the Word of God in order to grow and to keep from wandering.
But the people instead fell for the lies of the false shepherds, therefore God will blast them.
Verse 3: The False Shepherds
(v. 3) “My anger is kindled against the shepherds, - Yes God can have righteous anger.
And I will punish the goatherds - (leaders) of the flock.
Because leaders effect masses, not just themselves. Therefore, they have a stricter judgement, rightly so (James 3:1).
For the Lord of Hosts will visit His flock, The house of Judah
And will make them (the flock) as His royal horse in the battle - God’s people will rise up to victory, purely by the Grace of God (the Good Shepherd); in spite of the deceptive shepherds.
Verse 4: The Good Shepherd described
From him comes the cornerstone - speaks of Christ as the foundation.
having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
From him the tent peg - the one whom holds us down, keeping us grounded, in stormy times.
from him the battle bow - as the undefeated warrior
“…If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31)
Implying that God cannot lose.
We should - Get on God’s side. Because, as long as you operate in His will, you can never lose.
from him every ruler together - all rulers work for Jesus (Dan 4:17), and Jesus is the Ruler of the rulers. (“King of kings, and Lord of lords” - Rev 19:16)
Verse 5: The Regathered Flock described
As the flock/sheep are regathered from 70 yrs/Babylonian exile, they return different from when they left.
These mighty men could be a reference to:
Nehemiah - who will come on the scene in about 30-40 years to rebuilt the city walls in the face of extreme opposition and persecution by their non-Jewish neighbors.
Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon.
And/or - the Maccabeans - whom we talked about last week. The Jews were victorious in repelling Antiochus IV Epiphanese who waged a holy war against them.
In either case - All credit for victory belongs to God! They shall fight because the Lord is with them
And in our cases, all glory for our victories belong to God!
“Don’t ever touch the glory.”
Verse 6 - Key Verse
I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back (regathering), Because I have mercy on them. They shall be as though I have not cast them aside; For I am the Lord their God, and I will hear them.
This reminds me of the key verse of Zechariah — “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts” (Zech 4:6).
God is trying to get the Jews to see they are nothing without Him, but they are everything with Him.
Thats the same for us.
God will regather His people, because of His mercy — withholding judgement they deserve.
I think we can add:
Because of His zeal - Zechariah 8:2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘I am zealous for Zion with great zeal; With great fervor I am zealous for her.’”
God is excited and passionate for His people, the Jews.
God is excited and passionate with a great zeal for you too.
Because of His promise - ever since He made that unconditional promise with Himself, that He will bless Abraham’s lineage…and because God stays true to His Word (Heb 6:18 - God can never tell a lie), His promise is good until it’s fulfilled.
Same for us (Phil 1:6)
Verse 7 - Extends this idea that the post-exile Jews return stronger than when they left.
Those of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man -
Their heart shall rejoice as if with wine - speaking of that loud and joyous behavior that alcohol causes.
Could be a reference to being filled with the Holy Spirit.
Their children shall see it and be glad - seeing their parents demonstrate godliness, fully trusting in the Lord, in the face of opposition.
Don’t ever underestimate the positive impact you have your your children. They’re observing and will mimic your behavior.
Verses 8-9 - Just like a Shepherd whistles for His sheep
Near/Far-Fulfillment - I will whistle for them and gather them - sheep know the sound of the shepherds voice.
Near - Regathering #1 - after 70 years of exile - starting with a remnant (50k), but increasing 10-20x (est. 500k to 1M)
Far - Regathering #2 - after nearly 2,000 years of exile (after 70 A.D. dispersion) — Israel will return to her land. A modern day miracle.
And miraculously, they were able to preserve:
Their language and their identity.
Verses 10-12 - All obstacles will be removed
(v. 10) I will bring them back from Egypt and Assyria - from their dispersion to the South and North.
into the land of Gilead and Lebanon -
Gilead the easternmost land - now the “Golan Heights” bordering NW Jordan and SW Syria. This land was won during the 1967 war.
and Lebanon, the Northernmost land.
(v. 11)
The pride of Assyria - being the Euphrates River, shall be brought down (dried up).
The scepter of Egypt (the Nile River), shall depart (dried up).
(v. 12) Which God does in order to allow Israel to walk in freedom.
You could say, God will Remove All Obstacles for His Second Coming
Zech 11 — Shifting to focus the idea of “Two Shepherds, and this may be more “play-acting” (v. 4, 15)
Verses 1-3 — After the regathering, Judgement is Coming…again.
Because they will reject their True Shepherd, Jesus Christ
(vv. 1-3) Portray the devastation of their land by personifying the trees as the flock
From North to South - 35 yrs after Jesus’ Crucifixion, judgement will come from the North.
Their strength is cut down
as the cedars as of Lebanon, the oaks of Bashan, and thicket of the Jordan -
Their shepherds will wail, their glory is in ruins, their lions will “wail” …
Verses 4-5 (vv. 4-14 - Play acting as The Good Shepherd)
(v. 4) Zechariah is as as the Good Shepherd and told to Feed the flock (the Jews) for slaughter - God will fatten them up first, before judgement came by the Romans.
Maybe meaning that they were given spiritual “superfood” by the teachings of Jesus Christ.
But they ultimately rejected Him, and will be judged.
Truthfully - we ALL rejected Him, and will be judged.
Verse 5 - The Good Shepherd will allow the False Shepherds “owners” to deceive them
(v. 5) whose owners slaughter them and feel no guilt - most likely referring to the “religious leaders” who deceived the flock during Jesus’ ministry.
Depicting the decline in the spiritual condition of Israels leaders by Jesus’ time.
This will happen quickly, as Zechariah himself, will be martyred by Israel’s false shepherds.
Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
Zechariah will be killed in the same temple he spearheaded to be built.
Jesus’ fiercest opposition during His ministry, came from the false religious leaders.
those who sell them - probably a reference to the “religious leaders who are just “playing” the people…and will sell them out to the Romans when it’s expedient.
those who sell them say, “Blessed be the Lord, for I am rich” - the Jewish leaders became more enamored with maintaining their wealth and social status than following the Word of God.
and their shepherds do not pity them - The Pharisees we’re largely “uncaring” of the common people.
Verse 6: But then Ironically, God (The Good Shepherd) will no longer pity the people who inhabit the land.
But I will give everyone into the hand of his king - remember when the people told Jesus
But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”
So Jesus gave them to Caesar…the king they wanted, who will destroy them in 35 years.
If you reject Jesus, and want the the world...you’ll get what the world will give you.
In the end it won’t be what you thought it was.
Verse 7 (vv. 7-9: Still portraying The Good Shepherd)
More irony (v. 7) So I fed the flock for slaughter…like a shepherd about to sell the flock.
On deployments when they bring you hot pizza or steak and lobster….get ready, because it’s about to get real.
And I took two staff’s -
beauty and bonds - also translated Grace and Unity.
And I fed the flock.
Verse 8: God will get rid of Israel’s False Shepherds
(v. 8) I dismissed (got rid of) the three shepherds in one month. My soul loathed (became impatient) them, and their soul also abhorred (despised/hated) me.
The identity of these three shepherds is hotly debated. Based on my research, the safest identity of these three is probably:
Israel’s “prophets, priests, and kings,” the custodians of the law, teachers of the law, and their civil leaders.
Verse 9: The Good Shepherd’s Judgement on the flock will make them savages.
(v. 9) Let what is dying die, and what is perishing perish. Let those that are left eat each others flesh.
The Jew’s in 70 A.D. would be attacked by Titus Vespasian, a Roman general who killed over 1 million Jews,
Josephus (who actually defected from the Jews to work for Titus Vespasian) documented that the famine was so intense that some of the remaining Jews did resort to cannibalism. (Josephus, Wars of the Jews 6.213)
Verse 10: God will break His staff of Grace
The staff called Grace was cut in two - God will end His grace/supernatural protection of Israel - also resulting in a partial blindness of the Jews.
Allowing Titus Vespasian to destroy the temple on Tisha B’Av (9th of Av) 70 A.D.
The anniversary of the first temple being destroyed (Tisha B’Av 586 B.C.)
And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
Verse 11: The “Poor” or Meek and Humble of Israel knew who Jesus was.
(v. 11)
I will leave in your midst A meek and humble people, And they shall trust in the name of the Lord.
Verses 12-13: What is Zechariah, the good shepherd worth?
(v. 12) Answer? thirty pieces of silver. This was the lowest they could pay…
Shows how much they thought of Zechariah.
(v. 13) So the Lord said, “throw it to the potter”—that princely wage - sarcasm because of how little they thought of their Good Shepherd.
I (Zechariah) threw them into the house of the Lord for the potter - (as pity money) the potter was one of the lowest paid trades.
This clearly fulfilled by Judas Iscariot, “friend” and “disciple” of Jesus who betrayed Jesus for that exact same price. (Matt 26-27). He also will regret his decision, and throw the money into the temple before committing suicide. And the temple will use the money to buy the “potters field.”
Verse 14 - God will also break His staff of Unity
(v. 14) That I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel - and once again, they will be scattered.
This time for nearly 2,000 years.
Verse 15 - Shifting to Portray the False Shepherd
Verses 16-17: Portray the Future False Shepherd - The Antichrist
(v. 16) For I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care…But he will eat the flesh of the fat and tear their hooves in pieces - this is they will accept the False Shepherd because they reject the True.
I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.
Pray for Israel…to accept Jesus as Savior.
Antichrist will make a peace treaty with Israel for 7 years, claiming to help them.
Will permit Israel to rebuild their temple (the third temple)
But does it purely for selfish gain
And will turn on the Jew’s 3.5 years in.
(v. 17) Woe to the worthless shepherd, who leaves the flock! - He will be judged by the True Shepherd (they are not equal in capability)
The False shepherd will have a sword against his arm, and his right eye…and his right eye shall be totally blinded. God will strike the false shepherd.
Could be a reference to the “mortal wound” that Antichrist will suffer and be healed from. (Rev 13:3).
Could be a reference to God destroying his arm as strength, and his eye as intelligence.
But either way,
The Antichrist will prepare the Jews for one of the greatest reversals in history.
Chapter 12 - the Return of Christ.
During the thousand years, Christ will reign in His glorious kingdom, Israel will receive the blessings promised by the prophets, the church will reign with Him, and all creation will enter into “the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Rom 8:21). Thy Kingdom Come! (Weirsbe)
Closing
Closure - Next Week (Zech 12) the True Shepherd Returns a Second Time.
Closing Application - All Scripture leads us to Jesus
We see all these frustrating, scary, and violent journeys that God’s people have to go through…
Your life can be frustrating, scary, and violent too.
But through it all, you have full access to the same God that the Jews had:
Certainty - that God will regather His people.
The Jews in their land; and You who have believed on Him will be gathered to Him.
Peace/Joy - that despite the insurmountable challenges in life (ie. deception and war) you can have peace and joy in Him…knowing that
Things are not falling apart.
They are falling together.
We have the True Shepherd, Jesus Christ -
Who came once and was rejected.
Sold for 30 pieces of silver, worth the price of a slave.
But in His perfect plan, He used this rejection to nail Himself to a cross…and put our sins to death, so that by accepting Him, you would no longer be disqualified for heaven.
Who is coming again to conquer,
All people will ultimately bow before God.
“Every knee will bow, and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
Some out of worship and thanks - as Lord and Savior of their life.
Many others out of fear and reluctant acknowledgement - who rejected Jesus.
So you can bow now. Or you can bow later. Your choice.
It’s not a difference of if, but when.
If you don’t accept Him here now, He won’t accept you there then.
Closing Illustration
Urge to Action
Let’s Pray
Benediction
