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Zec 9:1-17  The burden of the word of the LORD  in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus

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Zec 9:1-17  The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus

[Study Aired July 27, 2023]

Zec 9:1  The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD. 
Zec 9:2  And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise.
Zec 9:3  And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. 
Zec 9:4  Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire. 
Zec 9:5  Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. 
Zec 9:6  And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. 
Zec 9:7  And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite. 
Zec 9:8  And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes. 
Zec 9:9  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
Zec 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. 
Zec 9:11  As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. 
Zec 9:12  Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee; 
Zec 9:13  When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.
Zec 9:14  And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.
Zec 9:15  The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.
Zec 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. 
Zec 9:17  For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.

The first verse of this ninth chapter of Zechariah sets the stage for a prophecy that declares all the world will be judged by God through the church which will be an ensign upon the land revealing God’s goodness and beauty to all the earth, making the world rejoice in the word of hope the elect will bring (Rev 2:26-29). 

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Rev 2:28  And I will give him the morning star.
Rev 2:29  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

This judgment over the nations which are given to the elect is what “The burdenH4853 of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD” represents, and is a prophecy of the judgment of all the world symbolized by this statement, “as of all the tribes of Israel.“

It is a physical and mental burden to have our old man judged in this age (1Pe 4:12, 1Pe 4:17), but it is also a joyful burden (2Co 7:4) knowing that the present suffering we are enduring cannot compare to the glory that will be revealed in the first resurrection, and so we look to the joy that is set before us through Christ who gives us that vision through the church (Rom 8:17-18, Heb 12:2, Pro 29:18).

2Co 7:4  Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation [Act 14:22]

Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

This chapter of Zechariah talks about the judgements that will come upon Babylon through the church expressed as “the burdenH4853 of the word of the LORD“. That same expression can be found in Isaiah 19:1-25 where Egypt, representing all the world, will be judged by the LORD who will “rideth upon a swift cloud [God’s elect the great cloud of witness  (Heb 12:1)], and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it”.

Isa 19:1  The burdenH4853 of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it. 

This chapter of Zechariah is about God’s indignation against the nations of the world and how He will judge all men with a mighty stretched out arm (Exo 15:16, Isa 34:1-6).

Exo 15:16  Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased. [God’s elect being connected to the passover lamb (1Co 6:19-20, Rom 8:36, Col 1:24)]

Isa 34:1  Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it. 
Isa 34:2  For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.
Isa 34:3  Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.
Isa 34:4  And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree [Rev 6:12-13].
Isa 34:5  For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon IdumeaH123, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.
Isa 34:6  The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of IdumeaH123. [Rev 14:18-20]

When God’s judgments are in the earth, men will learn righteousness (Isa 26:9), so although these verses we have read speak of some very hard things that will happen unto the world at the hand of God via the elect, the end result will bring healing. This time in Christ’s life found in Mark 3:1-14 is a parable of what God’s elect will experience during the thousand-year reign, being like him in the earth (1Jn 4:17). The twelve disciples, who are sent forth by Christ to preach, are typical of the foundational [12] body of Christ that will be sent forth to preach to all the world during the thousand-year reign of the saints. Right down to the smallest detail, there are parallels to be drawn from this section of the gospel of Mark and the ninth chapter of Zechariah, which we will look at before we get into the actual verses of the study.

Mar 3:1  And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand [a withered hand in the synagogue represents our inability in Babylon to sow the word of God correctly].
Mar 3:2  And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
Mar 3:3  And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.
Mar 3:4  And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. 
Mar 3:5  And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
Mar 3:6  And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him [All of the physical healing during the reign of the saints does not prevent the events of Revelation 20:8  from transpiring, showing there was no spiritual healing taking place, no conversion].
Mar 3:7  But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea, 
Mar 3:8  And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him. 
Mar 3:9  And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him. 
Mar 3:10  For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.
Mar 3:11  And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
Mar 3:12  And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.
Mar 3:13  And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. 
Mar 3:14  And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, 
Mar 3:15  And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

Zec 9:1  The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD.

The judgment upon Hadrach (the country) and Damascus (the capital city), by way of the word of God which judges us, symbolizes what will happen to all men in time who will be dragged to Christ “when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD” (Joh 6:44). 

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

All the world will labor to enter into that rest, “the rest thereof” each man in his own order (1Co 15:21-24). Being before Christ and believing because we have been dragged there by the Father requires that we continue in that relationship if we are going to grow unto maturity, as we are dragged to Christ to that “private place” [Hadrach], the hidden idols of our Adamic hearts’ “sack of blood” [Damascus] that are revealed and repented of in this age, Lord willing (Joh 8:31-32, Jas 1:18-20, 1Jn 1:7). That dragging for us today as the body of Christ (Joh 6:44) burns up the idols of our Adamic hearts typified by the names HadrachH2317 and DamascusH1834.

Zec 9:1 The burden of the Word of I was, I am, I will be against the land of private placeH2317 Hadrach BDB definition =”dwelling”, and its resting place, sack of bloodH1834 Damascus BDB definition = “silent is the sackcloth weaver” , (when the eye of man, and all the tribes of he will rule with God shall be toward I was, I am, I will be), [PNB-YLT-1]

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Jas 1:18  Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Jas 1:19  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 
Jas 1:20  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Zec 9:2  And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise.
Zec 9:3  And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. 

These next verses discuss the condition of man’s heart and the idols of the heart that will be destroyed by the body of Christ bringing great fear upon all the world, and they parallel very well with the story of Ananias and Sapphira (Act 5:1-11). 

The verses start off by describing cities that represent the strongholds of our flesh [HamathH2574 BDB=”walled”; PNB=wall of anger], the deceitful and desperately wicked heart (Jer 17:9) that is proud and “very wise” having built itself upon the negative rock [TyrusH6865 BDB=”a rock”; PNB=strength ] thinking we are complete and fulfilled in our self-sufficiency not having need of Christ’s words. Man’s wisdom is not the power of God, but God allows mankind to dwell in a place that creates a false sense of security where strongholds are laid up, “Tyrus did build herself a strong hold“; and riches of the flesh are accumulated through our industriousness [ZidonH6721 BDB = “hunting”; PNB=hunting place] and “heaped up as silver as the dust” along with “fine gold as the mire of the streets.” “Dust and mire” – that’s the conclusion Paul comes to regarding the wisdom of man versus the power of God which is revealed in the true gospel of Jesus Christ (Php 3:8, Rom 1:16-17).

Php 3:8 and  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 

This is the mindset that is needed to win Christ that Paul is describing for us and the fruit of that mindset is then described in Philippians 3:9.

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 

Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 
Rom 1:17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Zec 9:4  Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire. 
Zec 9:5  Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. 
Zec 9:6  And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.

Tyrus is being discussed now, which is the Phoenician way of saying the port city of Tyre. These verses are talking about the judgment of mankind at this time, and God uses the port city of Tyrus as a type of Babylon that must be judged by the saints and will be during their reign with Christ (Rev 8:9, Rev 18:17, Rev 18:19). 

Rev 8:9  And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. 

Rev 18:17  For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, 

Rev 18:19  And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

The “Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire“, tells us that it is with the word of God that man’s false sense of power will be taken away, “in the sea“, meaning in our flesh and amongst all the rest of humanity that we trade with and exchange our ideas, all based on the lie that we have free moral agency.

What this judgment causes is fear and sorrow and torment, described with these words, “Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.“

This thought of “AshkelonH831 BDB = the fire of infamy: I shall be weighed“ and “GazaH5804 BDB = “the strong”” seeing this judgment unfold on Tyrus, and fearing, reminds us of this verse previously mentioned (Rev 18:19). The king perishing from Gaza, “the king shall perish from Gaza“, is symbolic language meaning that mankind is being shown we are not the masters of our own destinies, our own kings with ten crowns (Rev 13:1), and so the king of kings in our hearts [small k], with its lie of free moral agency, has to die. Ashkelon, which means ‘the weighing place’, will consider these events and see an end coming to its self-willed enterprising mind, all happening in thirds, meaning a process of judgment that must occur to rid mankind of these idols, as mentioned in Revelation 8:9. Men’s ideas about themselves, in other words, are no longer going to thrive and flourish: “Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.” So, it is a bastardH4464  who dwells in AshdodH795, H7703 at this point, seeing that the legitimacy of mankind’s ‘Jewishness’ has been exposed (Deu 23:2, Rev 3:9).

Deu 23:2  A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD. 

Rev 3:9  Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Zec 9:7  And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite. 

Still speaking of Tyre, we are told that God will “take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth“, symbols of ‘another Jesus’ based upon our own understanding of Christ. Taking away our Adamic blood is what is required to understand the precious blood of Christ (1Pe 1:19). The abomination between our teeth is the man of perdition who sits on the throne of our hearts and represents our self-willed spirits that reject God’s sovereignty at first. So, God taking away “his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth” is a good thing and something that requires a process of judgment (Luk 21:19-20, 2Th 2:8, Mat 24:15, Lev 7:18). 

Then we’re told, “but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.” There will be no conversion during the thousand-year reign of the saints, but this verse shows us that there will be different levels of comprehension with the unconverted masses and even those who will befriend the elect acting as governorsH441 in Judah [typifying the elect], and EkronH6138, as a JebusiteH2983, H2982.

governorsH441 
BDB: 1. tame, docile 
friend, intimate
3. chief

Strong’s:  From H502; familiar; a friend also gentle; hence a bullock (as being tame; applied although masculine to a cow); and so a chieftain (as notable like neat cattle): – captain duke (chief) friend governor guide ox.

Ekron H6138
BDB: Ekron = emigration or torn up by the roots 
the most northerly of the 5 principal cities of the Philistines; located in the lowlands of Judah and later given to Dan.
Strong’s: From H6131; eradication;

H6131: A primitive root; to pluck up (especially by the roots); specifically to hamstring; figuratively to exterminate: – dig down hough pluck up root up.

Jebusite H2983 
BDB: descendants of Jebus 
Strong’s: Patrial from H2982

H2982: BDB = threshing place ; Strongs = trodden that is threshing place;

Zec 9:6  The people in Ashdod will not even know who their real fathers are. I will completely destroy the proud Philistine people.
Zec 9:7  They will no longer eat meat with the blood still in it or any other forbidden food. Any Philistine left living will become a part of my people—they will be just one more family group in Judah. The people of Ekron will become a part of my people, just like the Jebusite people did (1Ch 11:4; 1Ki 9:19-22). I will protect my country. (ERV)

1Ch 11:4  And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. 

1Ki 9:19  And all the cities of store that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
1Ki 9:20  And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel, 
1Ki 9:21  Their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy, upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bondservice (forced labour / slaves / servants) unto this day.

Mary was not converted, nor were any of Christ’s disciples at the point where He was on the cross. However, there was a closeness they had with Him that others did not share, and Mary’s heart was threshed and pierced at seeing her beloved son dying in such a horrific manner (Luk 2:35). This should give us hope for those who are yet  unconverted in our midst, still blessed to have known Christ within the body of Christ (Gal 2:20). 

Zec 9:8  And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes. 

Now the reality is in front of the world, God is dwelling on earth with His saints in the person of Jesus Christ, “I will encamp about mine house” where His bride “encamps about” to protect the holy city (Mat 26:53) so that “the exactor shall not pass over them furthermore” (CLV). “No oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes” (Rev 21:26-27) is another way of saying we will see him face to face in that day, when we are spirit beings who cannot be oppressed by the world. The natural precedes the spiritual in that regard as well, knowing that all those who are raised up as spirits in the second resurrection will not be able to oppress the elect but will be judged by the saints (1Co 13:12, 1Co 6:3, Mat 22:29-30).

Mat 26:53  Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

Rev 21:26  And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 
Rev 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. 

1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 

Mat 22:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 
Mat 22:30  For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

Zec 9:9  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

This verse is commonly thought of as a prophecy that points to the time when Christ makes His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and it is, but that moment in Christ’s life was also typical of His coming into the life of the elect, who are typified as Jerusalem (Gal 4:26) and now have taken on the perfected mind of Christ in the first resurrection and are glad and rejoicing for this loving relationship we have with our husband (Rev 19:7). We are glad and rejoicing and are also called the “daughter of Zion” and the “daughter of Jerusalem” throughout the scriptures. In light of the thousand-year reign though, we can also see this declaration spoken to ‘the other sheep not of this fold’ (Joh 10:16), the rest of humanity who are going to be saved and told, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee” (Oba 1:21, Psa 127:3, Psa 113:9, Isa 54:1-5)

Psa 127:3  Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Psa 113:9  He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.

With Christ being our head, the elect are like Him and are represented by “a colt the foal of an ass“, the tamed beast Christ controls and rides triumphantly into Jerusalem above, where we are raised in heavenly places (Eph 2:6). Because the Lord has guided our lives in this age, and we have been led by God’s spirit (Rom 8:14-16), we have been crushed and have suffered, making it possible for us to become that meek bride, being made ready to rule and reign under Christ (1Pe 3:4, Pro 18:22). 

1Pe 3:4  But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 

Pro 18:22  Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. 

That crushing of the elect is directed by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who is “riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass” that is going over the tree branches and clothes (Mat 21:8) which represent the elect whose lives have been lost and cut down and crushed under the stone, Jesus Christ (Mat 21:44), as a glorious witness of His power and might that is able to finish this work of salvation (Zec 4:6, Psa 149:4, Luk 12:32) within the elect as His kind of first fruits (Jas 1:18).

Psa 149:4  For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. 

Luk 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Zec 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. 

This verse contrasts with Christ “riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass“ showing us the need for judgment in the earth in order for the world to learn of His righteousness. God will take away the power of the nations, symbolized by these words, “I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off.“

There will be no area of the world where Christ’s and His Christ’s influence will not be felt and implemented, declared here saying, “and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.”

Zec 9:11  As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. 
Zec 9:12  Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee; 

These two verses are talking about God’s elect today who are being given hope in His word that tells us because of our communion with Christ (1Co 10:16), He will, at the appointed time, send “forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water”, which has both an inward application and a dispensational one as well. We are told today to “Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope” as we look to Christ as our hope of glory within who can deliver us from our wretched flesh. We are hoping in those things which are not seen, by the faith of Christ (Col 1:27, Rom 7:24, Heb 11:1). He declares to His elect even today the double blessing which will be given to those who endure until the end and overcome by God’s power in this life “even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee.“

Zec 9:13  When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.
Zec 9:14  And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.

These verses show us that God is preparing us for the battles that have been ordained for us to go through, battles that belong to the Lord (1Sa 17:47) but are executed through His bow, “When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.” The spirit of Christ in God’s elect is against the fleshly carnal heart of man, to which is what this section of the verse is referring, “and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece [representing carnal, gentile flesh, which is what all flesh is in God’s eyes], and made thee [God’s elect] as the sword of a mighty man.“

1Sa 17:47  And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands. 

The world will see this work of judgment unfolding upon them through the elect, which is what we are being told here, “And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.” The arrows represent His word that will go forth from our lips as lightning. All God’s elect do will be directed and guided by Christ, who will “blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south“, meaning we will take our lead from Christ. Coming from the south means we will go forth with the prosperity of His word in our quiver to do His bidding on the earth (Psa 127:3-5).

Psa 127:3  Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Psa 127:4  As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 
Psa 127:5  Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Zec 9:15  The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.

The imagery in this verse describes the certainty of God’s judgments that will prevail throughout the earth. He will defend us and win our battles for us, and the giants in the land at that time will be slain, which was typified by King David slaying Goliath. “The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones” (1Sa 17:49-50).

This will be a great time of rejoicing for the bride of Christ as we see the loving protection and mighty arm of our saviour taking us into battle and giving us victory at every turn. That is why it says, “and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine.“ We shall be “filled like bowls and as the corners of the altar“, representing the complete power of judgment that will go forth from the body of Christ. The corners of the altar are where there are horns representing that power of God working in our lives. Today that power is made known to us as we die daily being, bound to the altar by the grace-through-faith relationship we have with our Lord (Psa 118:27).

Zec 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. 
Zec 9:17  For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.

Again, some reassuring verses that remind us of God’s love toward the bride of Christ and the little flock who will be an ensign unto all the earth, “for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land” (Mal 3:17).

How great is God’s goodness toward us, and how great is His beauty, indeed! Our joy will be in living lives that have learned throughout our lifetime of overcoming that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Rev 4:8, Act 20:35), having been prepared as the bride of Christ for that service to all the world. That service is what this verse foreshadows, “For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.” We will have the privilege of giving the world the truth, represented by “corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.”

Rev 4:8  And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 
Rev 4:9  And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 
Rev 4:10  The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Rev 4:11  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

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