Zechariah 12 and 13
It seems to have been only a few years that the young man, Zechariah, told the people in Jerusalem God’s words, when some of the leaders in the temple did not want to hear any more. It was because they were not honest and just with the people. God said they should show mercy, and not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor.
When they heard those words they “stopped their ears that they should not hear. Yea they made their hearts like adamant stone lest they should hear the words of the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent” (Chapter 7:9,12).
The adamant stone was the very hardest stone, yet their thoughts and ways had become so hard to others and to God. Because they would not listen, God told Zechariah to write that He would scatter them “with a whirlwind among all nations” (Zech. 7:12).
Other prophets were sent to the people, then, at last, many years after, the Holy One promised, God’s own Son, came to Jerusalem, but only a few would listen to Him, after the nation of Israel was scattered to every country, without a land of their own. And God’s words to Zechariah are proved true ever since.
We need not wonder that the Lord told what would happen, so long before, when we consider how great He is, as their words tell:
“The Lord which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man witn him.” Zechariah 12:1.
The prophet was told of a time to come when the people will at last listen to God, and believe the Holy One Who came to give His life for His creatures.
“They shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn.” The people will mourn so sadly, that they cannot comfort one another. They will say,
“What are those wounds in thine hands?” Then He shall answer,
‘Those with which I was wounded in the house of My friends,’” Zechariah 12:10; 13:6.
From the New Testament we know the Son of God was pierced when nailed to the cross and when wounded by the soldier’s spear (John 19:34). These solemn words to the prophet were then fulfilled,
“Awake, O sword against My Shepherd, against the Man that is My Fellow (companion), saith the Lord of hosts: smite the Shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered.” Zechariah 13:7 (see Matt. 20:31).
We would not know from the Old Testament scriptures what happened to Zechariah, but in the writting by Matthew we read that the Lord Jesus spoke of Zechariah, son of Barachias, being “slain between the temple and the altar” in Jerusalem.
The name Zechariah means “Jehovah remembers”; the Lord remembered him, even those many years after his death. He never forgets those who believe Him.
Our hearts will be hard too, if we do not want to hear God’s Words, and we will miss His words of comfort and His blessings.
ML 10/18/1942