THE CHURCH VICTORIOUS Zechariah 12:1-9 The Message of Zechariah No.32

THE MESSAGE OF ZECHARIAH
Number 32
THE CHURCH VICTORIOUS
Zechariah 12:1-9

******

THE prophecy is one which it seems is impossible to place in the scheme of history. It seems to have a specific reference in time, but what time this is cannot be determined. It is generally felt to be a prophecy concerning something still in the future, and although it is couched in terms of Israel, Judah and Jerusalem, the reference is to the spiritual Israel and Jerusalem, rather than the nation of the Jews. This does not mean that it has no reference to the Jews, for the church is opened to both Jews and Gentiles.

The prophecy speaks of a time when the people of God are under severe attack. It speaks of a time when all the rest of the world seems to be attacking the church, but in spite of this the church is made impregnable by the power of God, and is not only defended, but made victorious over the world, and delivered to live in prosperity and peace. The time does not seem to be the end of all things, but some time though still in the future when the church will be preserved against the violence of the world, and established more strongly in safety.

Because of this reference to the church being victorious and blest, these verses seem to me to be a wonderful picture of a time of revival which is almost universal.

However, let us first go through the passage verse by verse and seek to understand the message that is being given and prophesied.

THE PROPHECY.

Verse one is an introductory word to declare that God is speaking and is going to be a power for his people. God speaks concerning Israel. Surely this is a reference to the people of God, rather than any specific reference to the nation of Israel. This is supported by the fact that it is Judah and Jerusalem that is referred to in all the rest of the prophecy.

We see that God has a purpose for his people, which we refer to today as the church. God is one who is active in the world. He has not just stretched out the heavens, but still stretches them out, and so is still active in his creation, and upholding all things by the word of his power. This activity does not just effect the physical universe, but this world in particular referred to here as the foundation of the earth, and also particularly effects mankind because we are told God forms the spirit of man. This speaks of God's active involvement in the affairs of humanity, and that his purposes for humanity are all worked out and will be carried out, even though the Bible speaks of the devil as being the god of this world and controlling the affairs of mankind. God is in ultimate and overall control, and he is working his purposes out. This assures us, which this passage also does, that God will defend and make his church victorious.

Verse 2 begins the specifics of this prophecy. Here is a picture of all the world coming up against the church of God, the people of God referred to here as Jerusalem, and coming up against the church to overthrow it. Although the world despises the people of God, and seeks to overthrow the church, yet instead the church will send the world reeling back. The picture is of a cup which does the reeling. Presumably the picture is of a cup with fluid in it, which the enemies will drink in their efforts to subdue and destroy the church. The enemies will drink from the cup, but instead of absorbing the church and so causing it to be taken over by the world, the reverse happens. The church overcomes the world.

This could very well be a picture of a massive turning of people towards God. They come in anger to crush the church, but the church responds with the message of the Gospel proclaimed in the power of the Spirit, and this sends the enemies back reeling. The power of the message from the church defeats the wisdom of the world and shows it to be foolishness. Far from the church being overcome by the world, the world is subdued by the people of God. In this we are able to see a picture of revival where many who oppose the church are brought to repentance and faith, and the others who still deny the gospel are put to silence and have to leave the church in peace.

This picture continues in the following verses. In Verses 3 we have a picture of the whole world gathered as one to crush the church. However what do these enemies of God and their followers find. They find that the church is like an immovable rock. However hard they try to move the rock, they just are not able to do this. How is this brought about? It is brought about because God makes his people as an immovable rock. However much the world seeks to overthrow the people of God, and whatever devices they use for this, the result is total failure. The church is impregnable.

At times of revival the devil moves the world to attack the people of God. Very virulent is this assault. However what is promised in this verse is that whatsoever form this devilish assault may take, it will not be able to move the people of God, or quench the power of the Spirit, and the work of God will go forward, his people blessed, and his church protected and defended.

Verse 4 speaks of why and how the church is an immovable rock on which the forces of the world and Satan break themselves. The reason is that God is fighting for his people. God strikes at the enemy and causes fear and confusion in their midst. God strikes the enemy with madness. God causes blindness to the horses so that whatever the riders may do, still the horses stumble and can't be controlled.

When God defends his church in times of power and reviving grace, God is active to confound the works of the enemy. The world gets in a panic as it sees the overthrow of its power and kingdom. This causes the world to be frantic in opposition and blindly engaging in attack which in the end is counter productive, and does more harm to their cause than good.

What is so important in this revelation is that God is keeping an eye on his people. We can't see what is brewing up against the church and the work of God, but God can and does. He sees what is happening and he defends his church from these attacks, and so the gates of hell can't prevail against God's people. When we look down history we see the assault on the people of God has always been fierce, and sometimes very fierce, but the church still is preserved, and still grows, and the world and the devil can't overthrow it. The reason is the protection of the Lord who keeps his eye on the church that we may be saved.

Verse 5 speaks of the testimony of the church in times of reviving grace specially, but also at all times. The leaders of the church see the blessing being poured out on the people of God. They acknowledge that the wisdom and power of the church is negligible and so the blessing can't be found in the church. The church then acknowledges that it is the power of God that has done it, and gives praise to God and honour which is due only to God.

Here is an example of a church which is being truly blessed of God. When there is blessing there is always this humble reaction to what is perceived and experienced. Such is the amazing blessing that the leaders acknowledge that only God could have done it, and so give the glory to God alone. We are weak and sinful. Only almighty power can overcome the works of the devil. So when blessing is given and the kingdom of Satan is overthrown, it can only be because of the almighty power of God. So it is the almighty God who has done it. This is the churches blessing and assurance. We are kept by the power of God.

Verse 6 tells us the result of giving glory to God, and attributing rightly that all blessing and victory comes from the Lord. When the people of God give glory to God alone, and are humble under his mighty hand, then God can and will use the leaders, and make them his instruments of power to overthrow Satan's power and devices. So the ministry is effective to the conversion of souls, and the church grows, and the people of God are sanctified. The moment ministers in the church attribute any glory to themselves the blessing begins to wane. God has told us in his word that when we humble ourselves under his mighty hand, he will exalt us in due time.

Verse 7 reveals the marvelous wisdom of God in his dealings with his people. The picture here is of the blessing of this revival being poured out first on the people outside Jerusalem where the leaders congregate, and so Jerusalem and the leaders are kept humble, because by this way of God it is plain that the blessing is from God and can not be attributed to the power of wisdom of men. By this means Jerusalem is kept humble. The reason for this is that the leaders may not become exalted over the people, and the people may see that whatever blessing comes to them through the ministry of the leaders, this is only by the grace of God, and that God blesses them apart from their leaders.

In times of revival it is almost invariably the case that the blessing does not commence from the top, in the leaders of the church, but at grass roots in some humble congregation, and through some humble ministry, and from these humble beginning the blessing spreads outwards to the rest of the church. The hierarchy of the church looks on with wonder, and thankfulness, or at least this is how it should be.

Verse 8 speaks of this spreading of the blessing of God in the time of God's blessing and power. God is in the blessing and so the church finds itself defended and made victorious. God is a shield for his people, so that from the most feeble to the strongest, all will be strong together, like David, who was a strong and victorious king. Because of this the church will become like the house of David, that is like the blessing which came upon the nation of Israel when David was king. The church then will be like God. This means that the church's strength and spirituality will stand out in its power and glory, because of the power of God working in his church. So it will be seen that it is Christ, the angel of the Lord, going before his people who brings this victory and salvation.

Verse 9 closes this wonderful prophecy of blessing with the word of God that he is the one who does all this. It is God, and him alone, who destroys all the enemies of his people, and throws back all the attacks brought against his people.

APPLICATION.

Whatever this prophecy refers to it will be a time of wondrous blessing and victory for the church of God, but as we do not know really when this will be it is not much comfort to us who may be living before or after it. However what we are told here is a revelation of much comfort for the church of God at all times. We learn that God is watching over his people. His power is sufficient to defend his people, and so Satan can never defeat the people of God finally, whatever temporary battles Satan may seem to win.

We also see that God is active in the world, and active to work out his purposes of salvation for his people. Whatever Satan may plan, he can't overthrow the plan and purpose of God, and for those who are under the gracious rule of God by faith in Jesus are for ever protected and kept, and Satan can never have dominion over them.

Surely also this prophecy is a powerful stimulus to all God's people to pray for such reviving grace from God in the church today, that we may see God glorified in the overthrow of ungodliness and unrighteousness in the world, and precious souls brought into everlasting life, and into the family of God.

Lastly we have here the assurance of the final victory of the people of God. The people of God will triumph, and every true believer will be brought to the heavenly glory, because our victory comes from God, and is assured by his almighty power. By his mighty power in Jesus God overthrew Satan, and delivered his people for ever from the dominion of darkness. By God's mighty hand watching over his people, none of his people will be lost, and all of us will be gathered safely into heaven, and the dwelling place Christ has prepared for all who love God.