Yesterday we completed a two-day study of Chapter 8 having to do with God's certain blessings for Israel. God's judgment upon Israel's enemies is just as certain, as He vowed to Abraham. "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse." (Genesis 12:3a)
It is generally believed that the remainder of the book of Zechariah was written in the prophet's older years. In the first half of the book we learned he was a "young man" when the temple rebuilding was taking place. (Zechariah 2:4) The temple was completed in the sixth year of King Darius, so in his older age Zechariah would have had little need to discuss it in detail. Instead, in the last half of the book, he presents us with visions of a more eternal temple, of another King far more powerful than Darius, and of a kingdom that will never end.
The beginning of the fulfillment of these things is the judgment of Israel's historical enemies. "A prophecy: The word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrak and will come to rest on Damascus---for the eyes of all people and all the tribes of Israel are on the Lord---and on Hamath too, which borders on it, and on Tyre and Sidon, though they are very skillful." (Zechariah 9:1-2) According to Bible scholar Barry G. Webb, when the prophet Zechariah says "the word of the Lord", he is using this phrase as a title for the Lord and it should be rendered more like "the Word of the Lord". Considering that in Chapter 9 the King whom Israel awaits comes into view, it is natural that Zechariah should tell us that these prophecies were given to him by the Word, by the One whom the Apostle John later called "the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us". (John 1:14)
The promises of Chapter 8 were given to Israel by "the Lord Almighty", meaning "Lord of hosts" or "God of angel armies". By this it would appear that these promises were given by God the Father who is the first person of the Trinity. The promises of Chapter 9 are given by God the Son, the Word of God, the coming King. He begins by assuring Zechariah that He will judge all the enemies of Israel. When the armies of Greece under Alexander the Great conquered the region, the cities mentioned in Chapter 9 are the cities that were affected by Alexander's conquest. Tyre was considered unconquerable after both Assyria and Babylon attempted to overtake it and failed. But Alexander the Great did in a very short time what two other enormous empires could not do. Judgment is not always swift, to our way of thinking, but it comes on God's timetable. He chooses the times and seasons. He makes kingdoms to rise and kingdoms to fall according to His purposes.
"Tyre has built herself a stronghold; she has heaped up silver like dust, and gold like the dirt of the streets. But the Lord will take away her possessions and destroy her power on the sea, and she will be consumed by fire." (Zechariah 9:3-4) Many nations and cities throughout history have made the mistake of believing they were too great to fall. Tyre was one of them.
The people surrounding Tyre will be shocked by her destruction. If a powerful city like this can fall, what hope is there for the rest of them? "Ashkelon will see it and fear; Gaza will writhe in agony, and Ekron too, for her hope will wither. Gaza will lose her king and Ashkelon will be deserted. A mongrel people will occupy Ashdod, and I will put an end to the pride of the Philistines." (Zechariah 9:5-6) These are all territories conquered by Alexander the Great. When Zechariah speaks of Gaza losing her king, some scholars believe this is a reference to the governor of Gaza who was dragged around the city behind a chariot when the city fell. Zechariah could have been using the term "king" because he viewed this man as the leader of the city, just as the Apostle John uses the term "kings" for the ten world leaders who will ally themselves with the Antichrist in the last days.
"I will take the blood from their mouths, the forbidden food from between their teeth." (Zechariah 9:7a) It will appear, in the second half of verse 7, that the Lord will spare a remnant in Ekron who will repent in the face of these calamities. They will give up their idolatry and their abominable practices. "Those who are left will belong to our God and become a clan in Judah, and Ekron will be like the Jebusites." (Zechariah 9:7b) Jebusites were living at Jerusalem when David took the city and he did not destroy them but made them a part of Israel. The people at Ekron who repent and turn to the Lord will be incorporated into the family of the Lord, just as David incorporated the Jebusites into the nation of Israel.
Zechariah foresees the rise of the Greek Empire and the fall of many cities. He naturally worries about the safety of the rebuilt temple, so the Lord assures him He will protect it. "But I will encamp at My temple to guard it against marauding forces. Never again will an oppressor overrun My people, for now I am keeping watch." (Zechariah 9:8) The ancient historian Josephus wrote that Alexander the Great claimed to have seen a vision of the high priest in a dream. The high priest and a multitude with him dressed in white met Alexander as he approached the city, and instead of assaulting the high priest or destroying the temple, Alexander gave honor to the high priest and made sacrifice to the God of Israel.
The first half of verse 8 was fulfilled when God protected His people and His temple from the Greek Empire. Israel, however, has indeed been overrun time and time again since the days of Alexander. The church, also a part of those whom God calls "My people", has been overrun and oppressed. A great deal of persecution has come against both Jews and Christians, but it has not overcome them and it will never be able to overcome them. God will have the final word. The Lord will keep His promise to judge every nation that has ever oppressed the Jews. He will also keep this promise to the church, "The gates of hell will not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18b)
A King is coming. His kingdom is coming. In tomorrow's study He will at last appear on the world stage in Zechariah's vision. As we continue on in Chapter 9 we will find the King presented to us in two different ways, symbolizing both the first and the second advent of Christ. At His first advent He will conquer not by waging war, but by extending an offer of peace. At His second advent He will conquer by war all those who refuse to bow their knees and their hearts to Him.
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