What might have been?
What was?
What is?
What will be?

The Bible gives us the story of redemption. It's the story of rebellious mankind plunging headlong into misery, destruction and death. Yet the central theme, at the heart of this story is the enduring love of the Creator God, Who in the person of His Son, left the glory of heaven to save humanity from sin, destruction and death. To give them eternal peace, life and happiness in a world free of the destructive plague of sin.
The stiff necked resistance of mankind to this offer and loving ministry to save them is absolutely incredible. Again and again salvation is rejected. What might have been, at every point in the story, had mankind fully responded is often pictured in scripture. Yet, over and over we see it was rejected, and misery, destruction and death gain the victory. But God does not give up. Sin will NOT have the final victory. We are no longer living in Zechariah's time, we are living in another time when God has again flooded the world with the knowledge of His love, pouring out blessings on all with wonderful promises to all who will respond.
His promises are sure. Though "what might have been" could not be because of stiff necked resistance, and cannot be for those who harden themselves against Him, yet full restoration of all things will be for all who respond to His great love and power to restore, cleanse and bring full and eternal redemption.

Zechariah is often hard to understand because in it is the future as it might have been, had the returned captives entered fully into the covenant of God and accepted Christ at His first coming.
It shows what would be if they as a nation reject Christ at His first coming.
It is also for us, approaching the second coming, and what could be if we as a church fully enter into a covenant relationship with God.
It also shows what will be if it is rejected.
It deals also with the 3rd coming, and it's events.
In the end, Christ and all who responded to His call, and chose to follow Him in faith will win over sin and enjoy eternal righteousness.
The aim -- is that we be not stiff necked but come to Him, that we need not perish but have everlasting life.

Zechariah chapter eight
Depicts what might have been.

In Zechariah's time, Israel has returned from exile.
God reminds them why their forefathers went into exile. They had continually "provoked" the LORD, pushing Him aside. Then there was no peace from the enemy who could come in at will. God punished them (Zech 8:14, 10) They had refused to hear the laws and God's prophets, (7:11-12) Thus they were scattered among the nations and their land was made desolate. (7:14)

BUT NOW
that is in Zechariah's time, they were given a new start, a new chance. Daniel 9 tells us they were given 490 years to prepare for the coming Messiah.

WHAT WAS GOD'S DESIRED PLAN for them during those 490 years?
The whole chapter eight of Zechariah speaks of peace, plenty, happiness, long and healthy lives...

The LORD says....
I am zealous for Zion with great zeal...I will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem
Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, the mountain of the LORD.
People will live long lives
Children will play safely in the streets
God would gather them from exile and they would be God's people in truth and righteousness.
They would hear the words of the prophets.
The temple would be built.
Their crops would be plentiful
They would be a blessing to all around.

This they were to do:
speak truth to neighbors
Give judgments in truth, justice and peace
Have no evil thoughts of others nor deal deceitfully with them
Keep the LORD'S festivals in love, truth, and peace.
Many people were to come to their nation to pray and seek the LORD.
Jerusalem would be a witness to all the nations around.

This was God's Plan A for His people back in the "Holy Land" during those 490 years.
They were to prepare for the coming Messiah.
They would never have been subjected to Rome or other powerful nations around them, had they lived in covenant relationship with God.
The nations would have come to them to learn more about a wonderful, loving God!

We see this plan in other prophetic books as well.
Had "what might have been" become reality, earth's history would have been different.

Zechariah Nine
God promises to protect His people from oppression from surrounding nations. He will defend them! (9:15) He will save them as the flock of His people, for they shall be as jewels in a crown.(9:16).

What picture of Christ do we see in those verses? Yes, the promise of salvation and that God's people are very precious to Him, this is a wonderful picture of Christ.
Yet, as we read the surrounding verses, too often we see this as God being partial to a small group and exhibiting great anger against everyone else, devouring them, burning them, etc. But let's compare this with the previous chapter.

Israel was to be a great blessing to nations around them! (8:22) Yet, in verse 8:13 it says that before their exile they had been a "curse" among the nations. Why? Was it because they were not showing the goodness of God and the great advantages of living according to God's ways? Their actions previously had been just as evil as the nations around them, which did nothing to lead those nations to think of Israel's God as any different from their "gods".
In Zech. 8:13 the prophet tells the returned exiles that God will save them so they shall be a blessing.
They were to "speak truth to their neighbors", not "think evil against their neighbor". (8:16).

So God is telling them,-- look, I will protect you from the aggressive threats of your neighboring nations, and if you live in a faith covenant with Me, you will be a blessing to them. "Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem (8:22). Many of those nations will be praying and worshipping God, with them! That was God's plan for them.

When we see all those verse in chapter nine, which predict the surrounding nations will be destroyed, instead of God's people rejoicing, shouldn't this rather urge God's people to be a strong witness, showing God's goodness, so all those people in those surrounding nations would want to know the true God and wouldn't have to suffer destruction but could receive with joy the coming Messiah?

Zechariah Nine
Behold Your King!

Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, your King comes unto you: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon a donkey, and upon a colt the foal of a donkey.
We all know this prophecy was pointing to Christ's first coming.
Matthew 21 as well as Luke 19 tells us about the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem.

Israel's King has come!! But, what might have been doesn't happen.

The bright picture of what Jerusalem might have been fades from the Saviour's sight. He realizes they had not followed the original plan. Jerusalem was now under the Roman yoke, God's protection was being withdrawn. When they reject Him, Jesus the promised Messiah, Who had come to earth to save them, they would reap disaster.

Jesus weeps, and takes up His lamentation: Luke 19:41-44"And when He came near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
Saying, If you only knew, even you, at least in this your day, the things which belong unto your peace! but now they are hid from your eyes. For the days shall come upon you, that your enemies shall build a trench around you, and totally surround you and lock you in on every side,
And shall level you even with the ground, and your children within you. They shall not leave in you one stone upon another; because you did not know the time of your visitation.

This was not God's plan, to have their city destroyed. He had far grander plans for them.

Zechariah 9:10 And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river [even] to the ends of the earth.
9:11 As for you also, by the blood of your covenant I have sent forth your prisoners out of the dry pit wherein is no water.
9:12 Turn you to the strong hold, you prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto you.

This was the plan!
That Israel would no longer need to fight. Peace was to come. Not a peace enforced with chariots and bows and arrows, but the peace that comes from changed lives living in harmony with Christ.

It was a "blood covenant"
In Christ they would have double the grace and goodness He came to offer.
Break a "blood covenant" and the descent into trouble would be double, the end is death.
Humanity is all guilty of breaking that "blood covenant". But Jesus came to take that penalty upon Himself, He shed His blood so that all who believe on Him need not perish but have everlasting life.

Somehow Israel did not understand.
They hoped for a Messiah with horse and chariot, bows and arrows, type of engagement to enforce peace. But that line of thought was a "dry pit". Jesus came to save them from the dry pit, and to give living water to renew and transform people (including people from all nations) into children of His kingdom.
"Turn to the stronghold" -- the only place to find hope and salvation.

Zechariah Nine
Behold Your King!
part 2

It is one thing to say that Jesus was "their" King who came to "them".
But Jesus is more than "their" King! Jesus is my King, He is your King. He is KING of kings and LORD of lords. The question for each now, is, is He king of my life?

Yes, He came showing He is their King, that day in ancient Jerusalem.
He was crucified a few days later and the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. (Mark 15:26)

He was their KING! But sadly, the promises of what might have been in Zechariah chapter 8 don't follow.

The verse immediately after the prophesied triumphal entry reads
"I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; the battle bow shall be cut off, . . Zechariah 9:10

After Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He wept. Why? Because what might have been wasn't going to be --
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.
See! Your house is left to you desolate: for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! Matt. 23:37-39

Yet, there is still the future! Matt. 23:39 is the promise, that some day, you shall see ME again and say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! They said it in Matt. 21:9, they won't see Him again till they say it once more.

The triumphal entry foreshadows the second coming!

Zechariah also speaks of this second coming when all who receive Him as their King and Lord will experience that promised peace.

Zech. 9:10 He will speak peace, peace to the nations; His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
The saved will be taken from all nations of earth:
His peace is offered to all nations. The question is always, is He our KING, Lord of our lives?

Someday, God will make a new heaven and earth,
Rev. 21:1,10,24-26 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea....showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, ... And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
Rev. 22:20 He which testifies these things says, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Zechariah Ten
The God of the Rain

Zech 10:1 Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field

Compare:
Deut 11:14-15 I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that your may gather in your corn, and your wine, and your oil.
And I will send grass in your fields for your cattle, that you may eat and be full.
Hosea 6:3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

We know these verses are based on a very important part for Israel who needed temporal blessings in an agricultural nation. Plentiful rain in the early days of the growing season, as well as abundant rain when the crop is in it's final development stage, produces a bountiful crop.
Lack of rain signified judgment, as God withholding the rain because the people were serving other "gods". Without the rain the land dries up and things don't grow.

For an example we can turn to 1 Kings 18 where king Ahab reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria, and made a grove where the people could worship Baal. But Baal could not send rain, only God. So God sent Elijah to tell king Ahab, there would be no rain for three years. It was because the people ceased looking to the true Creator God for their blessings and had turned to a dumb idol that couldn't do anything.

Rain in the Bible not only symbolizes God?s blessing, favor, and mercy in the essential nourishment and sustenance of life.
It also serves as a metaphor for refreshment, revival, and restoration for the spiritual growth of the soul.
For Israel in Zechariah's time the physical rain reminded them how much they needed the God of Creation in their lives, without Him they would just fall back into the destructive habits of sin, but with Him was life and true blessings and eternal hope!

Jesus, just before He was betrayed, promised His disciple that He would send the Holy Spirit Who would teach them everything Jesus wanted them to know. He would lead people into all truth, and convict them of sin. He would connect them with Jesus Christ.

We are urged to pray for this outpouring of "rain". We need the former rain (being connect with Christ and filled with His Spirit) and we need the latter rain in order to stand for Him in the last days.

He Sets the Prisoners Free!

9:11 As for you also, by the blood of my covenant with you, I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit in which is no water.
9:12 Turn you to the strong hold, you prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare to you I will restore double unto you;

The most obvious interpretation is that God is reminding the Israelites there is a blood covenant He has made with them. They may have been taken to foreign lands as a conquered people, but God has set them free. They are to return "home" to their land of promise under God's guidance and care.
They would be like arrows shooting truth and spreading God's light to the nations around them.
God would be with them!
9:16 And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.
9:17 For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty!

Yet, in every age, including our time, God's people have found themselves imprisoned in some form or other. Whether it is due to falling into sin or addictive habits, or situations that lock the soul in despondency, doubt or grief and depression, ill health and discouragement. Whatever the problem it feels like being in jail, locked in a deep pit where it is difficult to feel near to God. Things just seem hopeless.

Our God is a God of Hope for prisoners. His angels are stationed to deliver the prisoner out of prison, whenever given the command to do so. All who place their trust and faith in Christ will be delivered. Maybe not in the way they would like, but God's covenant of blood stands true, they will be delivered. In the end, when standing in the celestial land of glory, all these prisoners who placed their hope in Christ will exclaim, "heaven is cheap enough".

"by the blood of my covenant I have set free the prisoners from the pit.: Zech. 9:11

No matter what sad circumstance of disaster have trapped a person. God has bound Himself by the holy covenant, sealed by the blood of Jesus, to enable those who trust in Him to escape the snare laid by Satan to keep them away from our Savior and God.

So why isn't everyone delivered from their prisons?
Looking back to Israel, why were heathen nations able to take them captive and destroy their city? Why wasn't God protecting them from "prison" ?
Basically it was their lack of trust and surrender in obedience to Christ; they were clinging to sin and habits not willing to give them up. People can get quite comfortable with their prison thinking freedom outside is just a myth.

Also this isn't really about physical prisons.
John the Baptist, and others have found themselves in literal captivity with no relief. Some, like Peter were miraculously delivered, while some have died in literal prisons. Those that experience true deliverance will be given grace and peace to endure if they still find themselves in physical prisons. Christ is with them , and someday soon no literal prison can hold anyone whose life is hid in Christ.

The chapter ends in awesome hope and praise!
God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land. For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty!