View Zechariah 12 in the note window.
The enemies of the church shall not prevail against her, ver. 1 - 6.
God will strengthen the weakest of his people, ver. 7, 8.
A spirit of prayer and repentance promised, ver. 9 - 14.
2: Jerusalem - That weak, unwalled city, and much more the church
which is the antitype of Jerusalem. In the siege - Now when all this
is in readiness, and no visible means of escape, then will God make
them drink the wine of astonishment.
3: In that day - The day of the full accomplishment of this prophecy
is a day known to the Lord. A burdensome stone - Too heavy for them,
though many join together to remove it.
4: I will open mine eyes - I will watch over my people for good.
This eye of God open upon his people, is his wise, powerful, gracious
providence for them. With blindness - All their warriors in their consults
shall have as little of foresight, as a blind man hath of sight.
5: The inhabitants of Jerusalem - Though but few, and poor, yet they
shall be my strength. Not in their own power, but in the power of the
Almighty Lord of all.
6: Like a hearth - A hearth on which fire is thoroughly kindled.
In her own place - Not built as Nineveh, Babylon, or Rome, in some
place near old cities, but in the very same place where old Jerusalem
stood.
7: The tents - The unfenced places, the open country, the cottages,
or tents. First - First the weaker are saved, next the stronger.
The glory - That the illustrious house of David, and the glorious
citizens of Jerusalem may not boast of their power, policy and courage.
8: As David - A mighty man of valour. The house of David - Those
of the royal line shall be for prudence, and prowess in the conduct
of the armies of Israel, most excellent; exprest here in an hyperbole.
As the angel - Nay, like the angel of the Lord, like Christ who is captain
of our salvation.
9: I will seek - I will purposely and effectually do it.
10: I will pour - This was fulfilled on Christ's exaltation, when he
sent the Comforter to his disciples, it is daily performed to the children
of God, and will be continually, 'till we are brought to be with Christ
for ever. The house of David - The whole family of Christ, his house who
was the seed of David, and who is called David, (Eze 37:24).
The spirit of grace - Which is fountain of all graces in us.
Pierced - Every one of us by our sins pierced him, and many of the
Jews literally. Mourn - They shall literally lament the crucifying
of the Lord Jesus. In bitterness - True repentance will bitterly
lament the sins which brought sorrows and shame upon our Lord.
11: In that day - When the Jews shall mourn for their sins, and
for that great sin, crucifying the Lord of glory. A great mourning - A
mourning exprest by the greatest the Jews ever were acquainted with,
and which for its greatness grew into a proverb. The mourning for
Josiah slain at Hadadrimmon, a town in the valley of Megiddo.
12: The house of Nathan - The royal family in both branches of it,
Solomon's and Nathan's.
13: The house of Levi - The sacerdotal tribe were the most bitter
persecutors of Christ, they hired the traitor, they sought witness;
the high priest, (head of that family) condemned him to die, for all
which they shall one day reckon with God, and therefore above other
tribes they are particularly named as chief mourners for their cruelty
to Christ.
