Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

So here we come back to the Old Testament book of Zechariah, and we are looking at Chapter 10

So lets begin and see what the Lord is saying to his prophet for the people to hear....

So lets begin by looking at verse 1

So right off the bat, Zechariah continues the theme of bounty and joy that the Lord’s people will receive when His kingdom comes to the earth.

God has promised that blessing would come instead of judgment.

All they would need to do is to be obedient to the Lord.

So instead of the judgement of drought, the blessing of rain as come to the earth.

The rain here also has an illusion to end times blessings not just merely rainfall right then.

The rain God promised will drop showers of blessing on the people just as the Lord declared that he will “pour out my Spirit on all people” as in

The rain God promised will drop showers of blessing on the people just as the Lord declared that he will “pour out my Spirit on all people” (2:28).

Verses 2-3

The beginning of the passage, God reminds them of the useless nature of their false gods and those who speak for them.

the households gods or idols speak to those like Rachel stole from her father Laban in .

These false gods have always been condemned by the Lord.

Their worship and the use of diviners, those who try to predict the future for people around them.

These people speak deceit, and the Lord has placed a prohibition on these activities.

These people often sought to bring a more pleasing word to the kings and thus they hoped to discredit the true prophets of the Lord.

Zechariah says that wander like sheep on a mountain.

The idea is people who wander like sheep without a shepherd

In verse 3, the Lord says His anger burns hot against the shepherds, these who are leading the people astray.

These rulers and those around them do lead the people the right way.

They are idolatrous leaders and lead the people astray.

He the Lord will punish those leaders and He will care for his flock, the house of Judah

the last phrase a majestic steed speaks to Those who in their submission to the Lord are like sheep become invincible as war-horses in His service.

Verse 4

“Those who in their submission to the Lord are like sheep become invincible as war-horses in His service.

Here is a beautiful imagery, from Him will come a “conerstone”

The Messiah will come from the flock, the Lord will visit them and will bring forth this Messiah,

He describes him as a Cornerstone, a tent peg and a battle bow.

Each of these terms emphasizes the different aspects of the Messiah’s charter and role.

It shows His strong leadership, victorious reign and the great importance he will play in the future of the nation.

So God is telling them He is coming, is the first one to proclaim this relationship between the tribe of Judah and the Messiah

So cornerstone speaks to support, strength, the stability and foundation.

The tent peg indicates a Messiah that will never fail, or his reign would not cease.

The false leaders were ones who pegs were sheared off, they did not last.

The bow indicates his victorious nature, he shall over come....

Verse 5

So verse 5 continues the thoughts of verse 4, stating that Judah will be like mighty men, literally like warriors, the word itself describes the eltie men that David had in

2 Sam 23:8

They can also speak to those who are mighty who do his bidding.. this can reach beyond just men and speak to mighty angels as in

The next phrase, trampling the foe in mud speaks of the enemies being trampled underfoot ....

Verse 5 concludes with a causal clause, “because the LORD is with them.”

Herein lies the secret to Judah’s victory; God will fight for her and empower her to vanquish her enemies again in the future as he had in the past.

The great coming victory recalls one of the greatest victories in Israel’s history—the conquest.

states, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Jeremiah proclaims the same principle: “ ‘Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the LORD” ().

Verse 5 concludes with a causal clause, “because the LORD is with them.”

Herein lies the secret to Judah’s victory; God will fight for her and empower her to vanquish her enemies again in the future as he had in the past.

Verse 6

Everything the Lord does is because of His love and compassion.

The Lord promises to save his people.

Judah represents the southern two tribes, and since Joseph is the father of Ephraim, Joseph represents the northern 10 tribes.

God has promised restoration to His people and that day is coming.

Verse 7

Verse 7 points back to previous themes of Ephraim being like mighty men.

Like the powerful warriors of previous verses so they will become as well.

The great coming victory recalls one of the greatest victories in Israel’s history—the conquest.

Joshua 1:5b states, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Jeremiah proclaims the same principle: “ ‘Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the LORD” (Jer 1:8).

The divine favor of the Lord will continue here to the children.

So it goes beyond one generation.

All the continuing generations will recall the wondrous acts of the Lord.

They will be able to witness it for themselves

This makes their hearts glad.

Verse 8

Judah, is still waiting on the blessing of the Lord, they are living in the land of promise but still awaiting the other blessings their covenantal relationship warranted, Zechariah stressed the need for a revitalized leadership to guide the nation to a new kingdom of righteousness.

For disconsolate Judah, living in the land of promise but still awaiting the other blessings their covenantal relationship warranted, Zechariah stressed the need for a revitalized leadership to guide the nation to a new kingdom of righteousness.

Ephraim’s need was different because she represented Abraham’s seed who had been scattered far from the land of Israel.

Israel’s dispersal occurred centuries before (722 BC), and the Assyrian policy of disseminating Israel widely (2 Kgs 17:6) required divine intervention in order for any reunification to happen.

Ephraim’s need was different because she represented Abraham’s seed who had been scattered far from the land of Israel.

Israel’s dispersal occurred centuries before (722 BC), and the Assyrian policy of disseminating Israel widely () required divine intervention in order for any reunification to happen.

The whistle means they will signal them… it is summons the Lord issues for a wandering people.

in ;, there is a similar scene in which the shepherd whistles for his flock.

Zechariah portrayed God as a shepherd whose sheep know him and will answer his call.

conveys a similar point about Jesus’ relationship to his flock: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

The objective of the divine call is to gather to himself the people with whom he had established a covenant.

The Lord’s purpose is to redeem His people

Now verse 9

Israel will be scattered but she will be remembered, it is not the end of her.

God will once again call them back and she those 10 nations will find life and hope in the future.

God never forgets.....

The call of Ezekiel, in reveals the dry bones coming to life is another picture that by his grace, they will have life.

A nation will live again.

Verse 10-11

God will call them out from among the nations.

:10

Each of the 4 Geo-political places mentioned has some significance.

God will call them out from among the naitons.

Egypt points back to the time of the Exodus, how the children were once in bondage and slavery, but were set free

Assyria it stands for all the nations to Israels north and north east.

This also includes Babylon and Persia

The references of Gilead and Lebanon portray the fertile places… Gilead is often seen as a place for sheep to pasture and enjoy the bounty of the grasses for the sheep to graze.

Both of these places symbolized places where the overflowing population can live, since traditional boundaries of Isreal can no longer contain them.

The children born during these days while not in the land will still hear his voice when he calls them force.

Zechariah portrayed God as a shepherd whose sheep know him and will answer his call.

John 10:27 conveys a similar point about Jesus’ relationship to his flock: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

The objective of the divine call is to gather to himself the people with whom he had established a covenant.

The children born during these days while not in the land will still hear his voice when he calls them force.

So the future day implies that none will last, God’s people will have vicotry and be with him.

12.

I … strengthen them in … Lord—().