War with God or Worship God part 2
Zechariah 12:11-13:1
The presence and acceptance of guilt is the motivation for the reaction of Israel in Zechariah 12:11-14. The particular sorrow expressed by the generation Zechariah wrote to is possibly compared to the response that was given when King Josiah died.1 In mourning for King Josiah, a proclamation was made to remember King Josiah (2 Chronicles 35:24-25). Rightfully so, as he took action to take away all the abominable idols of Israel and place priests in positions for service of the house of the Lord ( 2 Chron. 34:33; 35:3 ESV). This effort from Josiah is parallel to the proclamation made by John the Baptist: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)
The repetitive statements of mourning in Zechariah 12:12-14 are to highlight the deep sorrow that Israel expressed. It was not just tribes and households but the listing of repetitive acting is to show that all of Israel would mourn of the One “they have pierced” (Zech 12:10). But on that day God will provide a fountain of cleansing for the house of David and the inhabitance of Jerusalem (Zech 13:1). A parallel story appears in the New Testament when Jesus approaches a woman at the well of Jacob and tells her the water He offers will become a “spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14). In the concourse with Jesus and the Samaritans that the woman brought to Him, there was no action to commit to receive eternal life. But a statement from the people expressing that “it is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world” (John 4:42).
What step have you taken to hear what Jesus has to say about this life and how we are to live? Or who else have you encouraged to seek out Jesus so that they may believe? Our faithful steps with Jesus can spark action for someone else's first step. Share what Jesus is teaching you.
The presence and acceptance of guilt is the motivation for the reaction of Israel in Zechariah 12:11-14. The particular sorrow expressed by the generation Zechariah wrote to is possibly compared to the response that was given when King Josiah died.1 In mourning for King Josiah, a proclamation was made to remember King Josiah (2 Chronicles 35:24-25). Rightfully so, as he took action to take away all the abominable idols of Israel and place priests in positions for service of the house of the Lord ( 2 Chron. 34:33; 35:3 ESV). This effort from Josiah is parallel to the proclamation made by John the Baptist: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)
The repetitive statements of mourning in Zechariah 12:12-14 are to highlight the deep sorrow that Israel expressed. It was not just tribes and households but the listing of repetitive acting is to show that all of Israel would mourn of the One “they have pierced” (Zech 12:10). But on that day God will provide a fountain of cleansing for the house of David and the inhabitance of Jerusalem (Zech 13:1). A parallel story appears in the New Testament when Jesus approaches a woman at the well of Jacob and tells her the water He offers will become a “spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14). In the concourse with Jesus and the Samaritans that the woman brought to Him, there was no action to commit to receive eternal life. But a statement from the people expressing that “it is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world” (John 4:42).
What step have you taken to hear what Jesus has to say about this life and how we are to live? Or who else have you encouraged to seek out Jesus so that they may believe? Our faithful steps with Jesus can spark action for someone else's first step. Share what Jesus is teaching you.
- Klein, George. Zechariah : An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture, 430.
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