Scripture Reading : Zechariah 9
Theme : The Coming Peaceful Messiah
Prophecy of Future Judgment (1-8). This passage is referring to God’s coming judgment against Israel’s neighboring enemies. This prophecy was fulfilled when Alexander the Great conquered Damascus, Tyre and Philistines (cf. Ezekiel 26:3–14; 28:20–24), but Jerusalem was miraculously spared. As prophesized in v. 7, the Philistines never existed again after Alexander’s conquest, but was absorbed into Israel, just as the Jebusites were absorbed into Israel when conquered by king David.
Prophecy of Future Joy (9-17). Israel’s ultimate deliverance from their enemies must come from their Messiah who will enter Jerusalem on a donkey, a symbolism of peace and humility. This was fulfilled during His first coming in Matt. 21:5. When Israel worships the Messiah during His second coming, He will conquer all of God’s enemies and then usher in everlasting world peace. No nation will have military equipment. There will be agricultural and environmental blessing, a near utopia before the ultimate utopia. Zechariah’s prophesies about Israel’s future exile and exodus were not fulfilled when the exiles returned to Israel from Babylon, neither were they fulfilled when the state of Israel was established in 1948. Israel will experience its ultimate and last exile and exodus in the end times (14:2-3). This means there will never be lasting peace in the Middle East until Israel recognize its Messiah whom they have pierced (12:10).
Praying the Scripture
- The world is full of evil doers: organized criminals, druglords, human traffickers, murderers, gangster governments. No amount of human engineering can get rid of all evil and bring in everlasting peace. Human efforts can only restrain evil. Let us pray that our Lord Jesus will return soon and rid the world of all evil. Be thankful that Jesus will usher in utopia and has graciously allow you to be in it, through faith in His death and resurrection. Honor and glory be to Him.
- God is a peacemaker, Jesus is God’s ultimate revelation of His character as a peacemaker. Jesus is the ultimate peacemaker. This is part of His glorious character. Christians are called to share in this glory by being peacemakers. Jesus says blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God (Matt. 5:9). As far as we can, let us make peace with all men, especially believers (Rom. 12:18).
经文：撒迦利亚书9
主题：未来和平的弥赛亚
未来审判的预言（1-8）。这段经文描写的是神对以色列周遭敌人未来的审判。当亚历山大大帝占领大马士革、推罗和非利士时（参结26:3-4；28:20-24），却奇迹般的幸免以色列——这是预言的应验。如第七节所预言的，非利士在亚历山大大帝的侵略后就不复存在，而是归以色列的一部，就如耶布斯被大卫王占领后归以色列一样。
未来喜乐的预言（9-17）。以色列最终脱离仇敌的拯救必然是从他们的弥赛亚而来；祂将骑着驴驹入耶路撒冷，象征和平与谦卑。这在马太福音21:5应验了，即基督首次降临时候。当以色列在弥赛亚二度降临时敬拜祂，祂会征服神所有的仇敌，并给世界带来永恒的和平。无国将持有军事武器。大地将在农业和环境上蒙福，在最终的理想国度前享受这般美境。撒迦利亚对以色列未来的驱逐在流放者从巴比伦归回以色列时还未应验；以色列国在1948成立时，预言也还未应验。以色列将在末日时经历她最后、最大的一次驱逐（14:2-3）。这表示中东不会有永久的和平，直到以色列认识他们所扎的弥赛亚（12:10）。
用经文祷告
- 世界充满了行恶者：组织性的罪犯、毒枭、人贩子、谋杀者、歹徒政府等。再大的人类工程也无法除尽一切罪恶，并带来永恒平安。人只能阻止罪行的发生。让我们祷告主耶稣会尽快归来，除尽世界众恶。我们要感谢神会建立一个理想的国度，并恩待你，借着祂的死和复活叫你能参与其中。愿荣耀和尊贵都归于神。
- 神喜爱和睦，而耶稣是神对自己喜爱和睦之属性的最佳启示。耶稣是最大的中保；这是祂荣耀属性之一。基督徒被召要参与这份荣誉，要作使人和睦的人。耶稣说：“使人和睦的人有福了！因为他们必称为神的儿子”（太5:9），又“若是能行，总要尽力与众人和睦”（罗12:18）。
