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Zechariah 12 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
Zechariah’s name means “The Lord Remembers” and in this chapter, we get a striking image of God remembering His Jewish people. Theology is not the most important thing here, but it does determine what you will end up believing about a chapter such as Zechariah 12.
It is commonly agreed upon that this chapter is centered on the end times. Zechariah’s prophecy is speaking directly to the Jews and the city of Jerusalem. There is no mention of the Gentile nations or the church. This is all about Israel and Judah. So, because many of us have been raised to believe in the rapture of the church, we naturally may try to place this event on a timeline based on what we have grown up knowing. I want to distance myself from that type of thinking because I believe it’s important to read the text just as it is and let that begin to reshape some of the presuppositions we entertain during our study of the end times.
So, we don’t know if there has been a rapture, or if the church is still functioning as God intended, but our involvement in such a prophecy is really irrelevant to the interpretation. In Romans, Paul enlightened us to a mystery. He wrote of a time when the Jewish hearts would be opened to Salvation through the Messiah and this passage really sets the stage for Zechariah 12.
So that you will not be conceited, brothers, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery: A partial hardening has come to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The Liberator will come from Zion; He will turn away godlessness from Jacob. 27 And this will be My covenant with them when I take away their sins.
Romans 11:25-27 HCSB
The Liberator is clearly Jesus, because there is no Salvation apart from Him. So, in context, we can understand this to mean Jesus’ Second Coming. This will be the trigger for Israel to begin understanding and even mourning their rejection of Him. Enter Zechariah…
The City of Jerusalem
“Look, I will make Jerusalem a cup that causes staggering for the peoples who surround the city. The siege against Jerusalem will also involve Judah. 3 On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who try to lift it will injure themselves severely when all the nations of the earth gather against her.
Zechariah 12:2-3 HCSB
Jerusalem has occupied a significant role in world relations for centuries and this is not a coincidence. David Guzik outlines some brilliant thoughts on the history of Jerusalem.
“The Dome of the Rock was built not because of the Koran, but because the Muslim ruler Abdal-Malik wanted to gain revenue from pilgrims and worshippers, and because he wanted to prevent the rebuilding of a Jewish Temple. Islamic passion for Jerusalem is indeed like drunkenness. This is exactly fulfilled in modern Jerusalem. In recent peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Israel was willing to concede almost everything to the Palestinians in an amazing willingness to make peace. The only thing Israel would not concede was sovereignty over Jerusalem, and the entire deal was ruined over that one point. The problem between Jews and the Arab world has boiled down to one point: Jerusalem.”
David Guzik
So God will defend His city. He will strike down, once and for all, the enemies of Jerusalem. But the prophecy is far from over. There is still the issue of the nation’s hardened heart toward their Messiah Jesus Christ.
“Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the house of David and the residents of Jerusalem, and they will look at Me whom they pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly for Him as one weeps for a firstborn.
Zechariah 12:10 HCSB
In the middle of God defending them, the Holy Spirit will descend and open their eyes and their ears to the One who was pierced. What an amazing prophecy! The first time Jesus came, He came as a Lamb and accomplished Salvation through death resulting in faith for all those who would believe. When Jesus returns, He will come as a Lion and defend the apple of His eye, His people who placed Him on that cross the first time. In both scenarios, it is the Holy Spirit who triggers the act of first looking at Jesus and then the act of responding in mourning and repentance for what has been done.
Repentance
What I love so much about this prophecy is that it does not stray from the Gospel we have come to know and believe in. Just like our hearts and minds were opened up to mourning our sin and rebellion of God, so too will the people of Israel experience this Godly sorrow.
The land will mourn, every family by itself: the family of David’s house by itself and their women by themselves; the family of Nathan’s house by itself and their women by themselves;
Zechariah 12:12 HCSB
The important detail to note is that this will not only be a national Salvation but will penetrate deep into the people’s hearts on an individual level. Again, this is consistent with our understanding of the Gospel. We are not saved based on our nationality but based on our individual response to God working in our heart. The Bible consistently makes claims too remarkable to believe without faith. To think that the nation of Israel would bow down and humble themselves before Jesus is astounding, however, this is exactly what Zechariah is writing.
Knowing this, we can celebrate the future coming of Christ believing that in the end, everything He has claimed will come true. He will wipe every one of your tears. He will destroy every ounce of evil and suffering. He will prepare a place for us to commune intimately with God the Father. He will make all things new.