A Examine of Zechariah 11
Our American politics and people of the world are in so some ways affected by the varied views folks maintain in regards to the nation of Israel. This outstanding nation had its beginnings 4000 years in the past when God known as Abraham to supply a particular race of people that can be the middle core for God’s program of redemption. He directed Abraham to a area of land that had been put aside within the Windfall of God for this folks.
We all know from historical past and from prophecy that each the primary and second coming of Jesus the Messiah are sure up with the historical past of this nation. No folks has suffered extra tragedy, genocide, hatred, and destruction—not simply by means of the centuries however by means of the millennia— than Israel. And nonetheless at present she is combating for her existence. The reason being that the good adversary—Devil—has a private objective of destroying each final drop of the bloodline of the Jewish race.
Properly, Zechariah 11 is all about that. That’s its theme. This chapter has been acknowledged as one of the vital tough within the Previous Testomony to interpret. Some commentators say this chapter gives essentially the most tough interpretive challenges of any chapter of the Bible. I assumed chapter 10 had a number of tough sentences, however we stumble upon them at each flip in chapter 11. However after we come to a tough passage we must always merely hold learning it. We don’t need to skip over it. In my humble opinion we will make good sense of this chapter. So let’s start by studying it, after which we’ll break it down into its nice general themes. On this chapter now we have the tragedy of Israel described within the type of an overarching story of two shepherds.
Scripture
11 Open your doorways, Lebanon,
so that fireside might devour your cedars!
2 Wail, you juniper, for the cedar has fallen;
the stately timber are ruined!
Wail, oaks of Bashan;
the dense forest has been lower down!
3 Take heed to the wail of the shepherds;
their wealthy pastures are destroyed!
Take heed to the roar of the lions;
the plush thicket of the Jordan is ruined!
4 That is what the Lord my God says: “Shepherd the flock marked for slaughter. 5 Their patrons slaughter them and go unpunished. Those that promote them say, ‘Reward the Lord, I’m wealthy!’ Their very own shepherds don’t spare them. 6 For I’ll not have pity on the folks of the land,” declares the Lord. “I’ll give everybody into the palms of their neighbors and their king. They may devastate the land, and I cannot rescue anybody from their palms.”
7 So I shepherded the flock marked for slaughter, notably the oppressed of the flock. Then I took two staffs and known as one Favor and the opposite Union, and I shepherded the flock. 8 In a single month I removed the three shepherds. The flock detested me, and I grew weary of them 9 and stated, “I cannot be your shepherd. Let the dying die, and the perishing perish. Let those that are left eat each other’s flesh.”
10 Then I took my workers known as Favor and broke it, revoking the covenant I had made with all of the nations. 11 It was revoked on that day, and so the oppressed of the flock who had been watching me knew it was the phrase of the Lord.
12 I instructed them, “If you happen to suppose it finest, give me my pay; but when not, hold it.” So that they paid me thirty items of silver.
13 And the Lord stated to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the good-looking worth at which they valued me! So I took the thirty items of silver and threw them to the potter on the home of the Lord.
14 Then I broke my second workers known as Union, breaking the household bond between Judah and Israel.
15 Then the Lord stated to me, “Take once more the tools of a silly shepherd. 16 For I’m going to lift up a shepherd over the land who won’t take care of the misplaced, or search the younger, or heal the injured, or feed the wholesome, however will eat the meat of the selection sheep, tearing off their hooves.
“Woe to the nugatory shepherd,
who deserts the flock!
Could the sword strike his arm and his proper eye!
Could his arm be fully withered,
his proper eye completely blinded!”
Exposition
At first studying it’s just a little tough to make heads or tails out of that chapter, however if you happen to proceed learning it the main target comes into view. I believe the easiest way to interrupt it down is to provide the three nice themes after which display how the respective verses fall into place when one understands these nice themes.
I. Nice Destruction is Coming to the Center East (verses 1-3)
The primary three verses are a poem utilizing figurative and maybe literal language involving timber. The purpose is that nice destruction is coming to the Center East. It should engulf Lebanon, Syria, Israel, and your entire land. This chapter is closely predictive; it’s closely Messianic. All of this stuff middle across the first and second comings of Jesus Christ. In that mild, it is a poetic rendering of the destruction that can engulf Israel after the rejection of the Messiah.
Verse 1 says: Open your doorways, Lebanon, so that fireside might devour your cedars!
Lebanon was well-known for its cedars of Lebanon, however a forest fireplace of violence and warfare would devastate the land. That’s truly what we see taking place proper now in our headlines, isn’t it? And never simply the cedar timber, however all the opposite timber. Verse 2 says: Wail, you juniper, for the cedar has fallen; the stately timber are ruined! Wail, oaks of Bashan; the dense forest has been lower down!
However not simply the forests. The pastures too. Verse 3 says: Take heed to the wail of the shepherds; their wealthy pastures are destroyed! Take heed to the roar of the lions; the plush thicket of the Jordan is ruined!
Destruction and judgment are coming and can sweep by means of Lebanon, Syria, and down Israel’s Jordan Valley. Why is the realm round Israel and together with Israel going to be devastated? The passage will clarify that it’s as a result of they will reject the Messiah when He involves be the Good Shepherd of the Jewish folks. And that leads us to the following theme:
II. The Judgment Will Come As a result of the Good Shepherd Will Be Rejected (Verses 4-14)
Why this coming destruction? It’s as a result of the Good Shepherd goes to come back to Israel, however Israel will detest and reject its shepherd. This can be a outstanding set of predictions in regards to the coming Messiah. It reminds us of Isaiah 53 in regards to the Struggling Servant who would come to His folks however be abused and rejected, a person of sorrow and struggling. That is the second theme. The primary is a warning of coming destruction within the Center East and Israel; and the following part provides the rationale. Israel will reject its Shepherd.
Now, earlier than I learn verse 4, let me clarify what I believe is occurring. The Lord is telling Zechariah to provide the folks an object lesson. He’s to interact in a task play. Commentators differ as as to whether Zechariah actually acquired a flock of sheep and acted all of this out or not. That may have been very tough contemplating the way it’s all described. It’s extra probably that Zechariah both preached this and painted a verbal image or maybe, like Ezekiel, he used object classes. Ezekiel famously used numerous visuals in his sermons, what we used to name props or object classes. Simply assume with me that Zechariah right here is doing the identical.
Somebody not too long ago gave me a ravishing spherical little stone on which she had painted a sheep. Zechariah might have gotten some spherical white stones and used them the way in which we’d do in a sermon, utilizing them as object classes or visible aids. He dressed up like a shepherd and had his rod and workers and flock of stone sheep on the desk.
4 That is what the Lord my God says: “Shepherd the flock marked for slaughter.
In different phrases, the Lord stated to Zechariah: I need you to decorate up and picture you’re a shepherd. You might be to painting My Messiah who’s coming because the Good Shepherds. However I would as properly inform you that this story is just not going to finish properly. Your flock can be slaughtered.
Verse 5: Their patrons slaughter them and go unpunished. Those that promote them say, ‘Reward the Lord, I’m wealthy!’ Their very own shepherds don’t spare them.
The patrons listed here are the Romans who will slaughter the Israelites in A.D. 70. The sellers are their very own shepherds—their very own leaders—who’re extra concerned with cash than within the women and men they’re imagined to be serving. It reminds us of Jesus overturning the tables of the moneychangers within the temple. By the point of Christ, the priesthood—and particularly the excessive priesthood—below Annas and Caiaphas—had been utilizing their workplaces to complement themselves.
Discover that the patrons of the flock who’re accountable for them are “their very own shepherds.” Zechariah is in prophetic mode right here. The present leaders of his time—Zerubbabel and Joshua—had been good males. However Zechariah is predicting judgment on the land as a result of Israel’s personal leaders would come up and can be extra concerned with cash than within the women and men over whom they served. And that was actually true for the priesthood—particularly the excessive priesthood—within the time of Christ.
On account of the greed and idolatry and sinfulness of the folks—particularly their rejection of the Messiah—the land would face destruction. Have a look at verse 6:
6 For I’ll not have pity on the folks of the land,” declares the Lord. “I’ll give everybody into the palms of their neighbors and their king. They may devastate the land, and I cannot rescue anybody from their palms.”
This can be a prediction of the approaching destruction of Jerusalem. This truly occurred two occasions. First throughout the interval between the Previous and New Testaments when Israel was invaded and ravaged by the Syrian dictator Antiochus IV Epiphanes, whom the e book of Daniel footage as a prototype for the approaching antichrist. But it surely additionally occurred once more in A.D. 70 when Rome destroyed Israel in a slaughter that ended the Jewish state for almost 2000 years, till it was resurrected in 1948. The precise software appears to be with Rome as a result of this whole part facilities across the rejection of the Good Shepherd and what occurs to Israel in consequence. However there’s additionally a potential achievement within the Final Days. There could possibly be a number of fulfillments to this prediction of the devastation of the Land of Israel, however the main interpretation appears to be the destruction of Israel by Rome.
So Zechariah arrange the little stone sheep and dressed up like a shepherd. Once more, I don’t know if he did this as an precise function play the way in which Ezekiel did, or whether or not he merely defined all this in a sermon. Verse 7 says that he did as he was instructed.
7 So I shepherded the flock marked for slaughter, notably the oppressed of the flock. Then I took two staffs and known as one Favor and the opposite Union, and I shepherded the flock.
So let’s recount. Zechariah opened by saying the Center Japanese lands round and together with Israel had been going to be invaded and devastated. Then he stated, “Let’s faux I’m a shepherd. Right here is my flock. See these white stones on the desk? They signify my sheep, and I’m representing the approaching Messiah who’s coming to be Israel’s Good Shepherd. Do you see my rod? It represents the favor, the love, the kindness I’ve because the Good Shepherd. And do you see the one which has the phrase Union marked on it? It represents the united fellowship that can once more bind Israel to 1 one other and to Yahweh, their God.
Now take a look at verse 8: In a single month I removed the three shepherds.
That is essentially the most tough verse within the chapter, and it might be essentially the most tough verse in your entire Bible. There are about fifty interpretations which were steered. John MacArthur speculates that it refers back to the monks, elders, and scribes of Israel—these three lessons. He calls that one of many oldest interpretations. The Bible Information Commentary suggests these three shepherds signify the three principal branches of Israeli authorities—prophet, priest, and king.
Merrill F. Unger, in his commentary, believes the which means of this verse is that within the month main as much as and together with the crucifixion of Christ—ardour month—all three of Israel’s nice symbols of management failed and had been disavowed—the monks, the civil magistrates who in earlier occasions would have been kings and royalty; and the prophets.
I wouldn’t have a greater interpretation than that. It appears to be that throughout the ardour week of Christ, each a part of Israeli management failed. Through the month of rejection culminating within the demise of the Good Shepherd, God disavowed the monks, the political leaders, and the prophets of Israel.
The final a part of verse 8 says: The flock detested me, and I grew weary of them….
Simply think about Zechariah dressed as a shepherd together with his flock on the desk representing Israel with its under-shepherds—the prophets, monks, and kings. And so they all detest him. The sheep have come to hate, to despise, the detest their Shepherd. So what does the Shepherd say?
Verse 9: “I cannot be your shepherd. Let the dying die, and the perishing perish. Let those that are left eat each other’s flesh.”
This can be a stunning assertion, particularly the ultimate half about cannibalism, however based on the first-century historian, Josephus, that is truly what occurred throughout the tragic siege of Jerusalem by Rome.
10 Then I took my workers known as Favor and broke it, revoking the covenant I had made with all of the nations.
Most commentators say that when the Good Shepherd breaks the workers of His favor towards Israel, the nations at the moment are free to come back and destroy her.
11 It was revoked on that day, and so the oppressed of the flock who had been watching me knew it was the phrase of the Lord.
Zechariah stated, in impact, “Once I broke that workers on the day I shared this with those listening to me, they knew it was the Lord who was talking.” He was foreshadowing Christ. When Jesus was rejected, He introduced the implications of that to the folks of Israel. Take heed to His phrases on the finish of Matthew 23:
33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? 34 Subsequently I’m sending you prophets and sages and academics. A few of them you’ll kill and crucify; others you’ll flog in your synagogues and pursue from city to city. 35 And so upon you’ll come all of the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Really I inform you, all this can come on this technology.
Jesus was referring to this Zechariah, our Zechariah. As I stated initially of this collection of research, we imagine Zechariah was the final Previous Testomony martyr. Jesus stated, “You killed Zechariah, who spoke of Me.” The Lord went on to say:
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone these despatched to you, how usually I’ve longed to collect your youngsters collectively, as a hen gathers her chicks below her wings, and you weren’t keen. 38 Look, your home is left to you desolate. 39 For I inform you, you’ll not see me once more till you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes within the title of the Lord.’”
In different phrases, you’ve misplaced your essential alternative to obtain Me as Messiah and now you’ll not see Me once more after My crucifixion this week till I come once more and also you say, on that event, “Blessed is He who comes within the title of the Lord.”
How a lot did Israel despise their Messiah? To them, He was price thirty items of silver. Have a look at verse 12: I instructed them, “If you happen to suppose it finest, give me my pay; but when not, hold it.” So that they paid me thirty items of silver. 13 And the Lord stated to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the good-looking worth at which they valued me! So I took the thirty items of silver and threw them to the potter on the home of the Lord.
In Exodus 21:32, we’re instructed that thirty items of silver was the worth of a slave. If a slave was gored to demise by a neighbor’s ox, the proprietor of the ox needed to pay the proprietor of the slave thirty items of silver. The Good Shepherd stated right here, “That’s how a lot Israel valued me. They paid thirty items of silver for me, after which it was thrown into the home of the Lord and given to the potter.”
Now, let’s go to Matthew 26:14-15: Then one of many Twelve—the one known as Judas Iscariot—went to the chief monks and requested, “What are you keen to provide me if I ship him over to you?” So that they counted out for him thirty items of silver. From then on Judah watched for a possibility handy him over.”
And now take a look at Matthew 27:1-10:
Early within the morning, all of the chief monks and the elders of the folks made their plans on tips on how to have Jesus executed. 2 So that they sure him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor. 3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, noticed that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with regret and returned the thirty items of silver to the chief monks and the elders. 4 “I’ve sinned,” he stated, “for I’ve betrayed harmless blood.”
“What’s that to us?” they replied. “That’s your accountability.”
5 So Judas threw the cash into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. 6 The chief monks picked up the cash and stated, “It’s in opposition to the regulation to place this into the treasury, since it’s blood cash.” 7 So that they determined to make use of the cash to purchase the potter’s subject as a burial place for foreigners. [In other words, a local potter ended up with the thirty pieces of silver because he sold a field to the priests so they could use it to bury foreigners].
8 That’s the reason it has been known as the Area of Blood to this present day. 9 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty items of silver, the value set on him by the folks of Israel, 10 and so they used them to purchase the potter’s subject, because the Lord commanded me.”
This prophecy got here true right down to the small print based on what Zechariah had stated. Now, Matthew attributes the prediction to Jeremiah, however that’s as a result of the Hebrew Scriptures had been divided into three components—the Regulation, the Writings, and the Prophets. Within the latter part, Jeremiah got here first; so typically folks referred to any of the statements in that part as coming from Jeremiah.
Then what occurred? We all know traditionally that the nation of Israel and the folks and rulers of Jerusalem broke right into a thousand factions. They grew to become so divided it was inconceivable for them to type a united entrance in opposition to Rome. And take a look at verse 14. Zechariah stated: 14 Then I broke my second workers known as Union, breaking the household bond between Judah and Israel.
In different phrases, the nation will merely disintegrate, which is what occurred.
So let’s summarize. Zechariah 11 opens with a warning that the Prophet of Encouragement, Zechariah, goes to be truthful a couple of darkish chapter forward for Israel. Destruction goes to brush throughout the Center East and the Holy Land. Why is that?
“I’ll present you,” stated Zechariah. Think about I’m a Good Shepherd. Think about I’m the approaching Good Shepherd, who’s Israel’s Messiah. I’m going to come back to shepherd my flock, however my flock goes to reject me. They may truly detest me. They are going to be extra concerned with cash than in me. And in consequence an awesome enemy will come and destroy the nation. They may worth me like a slave, for thirty items of silver, which can be thrown into the temple and find yourself within the palms of a potter. My favor with them can be revoked, and their union can be fragmented. And the enemy will come and sweep them away.”
And at that time maybe Zechariah took his arm and swept all of the little play sheep off the desk, flying and crashing across the room.
That’s what we’ve realized to this point. That quantities to 2 of the three themes. However there’s a ultimate theme that jumps ahead once more. It leaps ahead to the Final Days and it units the stage for the ultimate dramatic chapters of Zechariah.
3. An Evil Shepherd Will Seem on the Finish of the Age.
He tells us that an evil shepherd will seem on the finish of the age. There may be yet another act to the function play. Zechariah whips off his shepherd garb and places on one other costume—that of an evil shepherd. Maybe a black outfit, and now he’s going to painting, not the approaching Christ however the coming antichrist. Have a look at verse 15:
15 Then the Lord stated to me, “Take once more the tools of a silly shepherd. 16 For I’m going to lift up a shepherd over the land who won’t take care of the misplaced, or search the younger, or heal the injured, or feed the wholesome, however will eat the meat of the selection sheep, tearing off their hooves.
“Woe to the nugatory shepherd, who deserts the flock! Could the sword strike his arm and his proper eye! Could his arm be fully withered, his proper eye completely blinded!”
The antichrist is the silly shepherd. Within the Bible, the phrase “idiot” didn’t imply somebody who lacked intelligence. A idiot was somebody who rejected God. He can be a person of cruelty, consuming the sheep and tearing off their hooves. In keeping with Daniel 9, he’ll make a treaty with Israel however after three-and-a-half years he’ll desert them. He’ll seem like shepherd to them, however he’ll desert them and ravage them.
However a sword will strike him. The Lord will render him helpless. His arm of energy can be withered and the attention of ambition can be blinded. In order that’s the overarching which means of this unusual chapter. The land of Israel can be devastated in judgment as a result of they will reject the Shepherd-Messiah, valuing Him like a slave for 30 items of silver. In consequence, they may lose the favor of God and their very own nationwide unity till the Finish Instances when an evil shepherd will come up. However woe to him; he can be defeated. And that units the stage for Zechariah’s final set of sermons in regards to the Battle of Armageddon and the return of Christ, which we’ll get to subsequent week.
Conclusion
I need to conclude by studying among the phrases of Jesus in John 10. You and I’ve a Good Shepherd and we acknowledge and love Him. He stated: “I’m the Good Shepherd. The nice shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…. I’m the great shepherd; I do know my sheep and my sheep know me—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I’ve different sheep that aren’t of this sheep pen. I have to carry them additionally.”
And John tells us: “He got here unto His personal, and His personal acquired Him not. However to as many as acquired Him, to them gave He energy to develop into youngsters of God, even to those that imagine on His title.”
Let’s embrace our fantastic Shepherd and luxuriate in each second of the considerable life He gives us.
