Zechariah 12:9-11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.… I. THE PROMISE HERE MADE TO THE CHURCH, BOTH IN HER COLLECTIVE FORM AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL MEMBER. 1. The person who makes the promise. Jehovah Himself, the everlasting Father, who created all things by His power. What could induce Him thus to look upon such a miserable and guilty creature as man? He was under no obligations to do so; there was no necessity on His part; there was nothing amiable in man to invite Him. It was His own free, sovereign, unmerited love. 2. The persons to whom the promise was made. By the "house of David" is here meant the seed royal, and by the "inhabitants of Jerusalem" is meant the common people. So the phrases include the whole Jewish nation. They were typical of all the people of God in future ages. 3. Their state prior to the application of the promise. It is a state of most deplorable ignorance; ignorance of God in His character, His works and requirements; and of the Lord Jesus Christ and His mediation; and of themselves, their sin, misery, and need. 4. The promise itself. "I will pour the Spirit of grace and supplications." He is called the Spirit of grace, because He is a gracious Spirit; because He is the author and worker of every grace in the hearts of believers; because He indites our supplications; and because He assists us in the offering up of our supplications. The promise is made good in the experience of every real believer, without respect to names, or parties, or denominations. II. TWO LEADING EFFECTS INVOLVED. "They shall look on Him," etc. Who is this? None other than Christ and Him crucified. "They shall mourn" i.e., they shall possess evangelical sorrow for and repentance of sin. Three things in real repentance — 1. Hearty sorrow for sin. 2. Genuine confession of sin. 3. Entire forsaking of it as a principle of action. (Griffith Williams.) Parallel Verses KJV: And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.WEB: It will happen in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. |
    |