Zechariah: The Incredible Ways Of God (XI)

DELIVERANCE (10:1-12)

Neal Pollard

Zechariah, in the last six chapters of his prophecy, is looking ahead to the Messianic Age. By definition, Scripture would speak of that as a time of ultimate deliverance. They had been freed from Babylonian Captivity, but they were still not free, autonomous people. Nor would they be, physically or politically. But, as Isaiah 59:20 promises and Romans 11:26 shows Christ as the fulfillment, Messiah would be a spiritual deliverer. That imagery is displayed in chapter ten. 

God would deliver them from want (1). The Lord is the only source of providential care and natural resources. Ask Him, for He gives rain and vegetation to each man. Contrast that to what false teachers and poor leaders promised and offers, all in vain. 

God would deliver them from idolatry (2). The prophets, especially Isaiah, speak of how profitless and foolish it is to trust in inanimate objects of their own hands, which they then in turn worship! They are at once evil and impotent. This sinful guidance led the people to wander, but returning to God would bring them back. 

God would deliver them from poor leadership (2-3). The prophets, like Ezekiel, devote much time to the selfish, self-serving shepherds who actually inflict violence on the charges they are appointed to protect. Here, Zechariah tells his readers that the Lord will take over for these violent, unreliable shepherds. His sheep would no longer wander, and God would punish the leadership.

God would deliver them from the enemy (4-5). The rest of this chapter is devoted to battlefield imagery. Salvation is depicted as a military victory. Judah (southern kingdom) and Ephraim (northern kingdom) would share in this victory. Rejection would be replaced with compassion and acceptance. 

God would deliver them from wandering (6-12). For a people thoroughly accustomed to exile, what picture could exceed the hope of restoration and return? Notice the words pointing to this–gather together (8), redeemed (8), and bring back (10). The enemies would be brought low and defeated, from every direction whether north (Assryria) or south (Egypt). They would be as numerous and prosperous as in earlier times, only (as we will see) not primarily or exclusively in material terms. Messiah would focus on redemption and salvation.