November 06, 2024 | Be God's Light
The Coming of Zion's King on a Donkey
Scripture: Zechariah 9:9-17(NIV)
9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10 I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
and the warhorses from Jerusalem,
and the battle bow will be broken.
He will proclaim peace to the nations.
His rule will extend from sea to sea
and from the River[a] to the ends of the earth.
11 As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you,
I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.
12 Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope;
even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.
13 I will bend Judah as I bend my bow
and fill it with Ephraim.
I will rouse your sons, Zion,
against your sons, Greece,
and make you like a warrior’s sword.
14 Then the Lord will appear over them;
his arrow will flash like lightning.
The Sovereign Lord will sound the trumpet;
he will march in the storms of the south,
15 and the Lord Almighty will shield them.
They will destroy
and overcome with slingstones.
They will drink and roar as with wine;
they will be full like a bowl
used for sprinkling[b] the corners of the altar.
16 The Lord their God will save his people on that day
as a shepherd saves his flock.
They will sparkle in his land
like jewels in a crown.
17 How attractive and beautiful they will be!
Grain will make the young men thrive,
and new wine the young women.
Devotional
Most scholars believe Zechariah 1-8 was written during the time of the temple reconstruction. Chapters 9-14 were written about forty years later. The temple was completed, and new generations of Jews were living in Israel surrounded by oppressive nations hostile to the people of God. The walls of Jerusalem had not been rebuilt, leaving the city exposed and vulnerable.
The first eight verses of this reading are a declaration against those surrounding people groups. Then, with great hope, Zechariah speaks of a future Messiah:
“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Five hundred years later, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey that had never been ridden. Matthew 21:4-5 tells why:
“This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
“Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
On the way to his crucifixion, Jesus fulfilled this prophecy of Zechariah as the Messiah, that is, the Christ for all who believe!
Zechariah knew that the mere completion of the temple was only a first step to restore the people to God. He prophesied a Messiah who would proclaim peace to the nations. Look at the Lord’s promise in Zechariah 9:11, “As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.”
That is a picture of Jesus freeing us from hell through His blood shed on the cross! Colossians 2:15 says, “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, [Jesus] made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
In Matthew 5:17, Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Take a moment and thank Jesus that He is the fulfillment of everything in the Old Testament!
Poem
What Shall I Ride?
Shall I ride in the womb
Of a virgin maid
As to Bethlehem
I’m carried?
Shall I ride in the arms
Of a mother mild
As to Egypt
I’m carried?
Shall I ride in the hidden cloak
Of an obscure village
As I wait for my time
To come?
Shall I ride upon dusty feet
Of an itinerant rabbi
As I teach my disciples about the Kingdom
To come?
Shall I ride upon the wind
Of my baptizing Spirit
As I am transfigured into glory yet
To come?
Shall I ride upon a colt
Of a Peace-loving king
As I enter into the Holy City yet
To come?
Shall I ride upon the tree
Of a Roman crucifixion
As I pay the price of salvation yet
To come?
Shall I ride upon the clouds
Of the space between earth and heaven
As I ascend to the Father until
I come?
Shall I ride upon the White Horse
Of the Victor of heaven
As I return to make all things new when
I come?
Shall I ride upon the throne
Of my Father’s right hand
As I break the seven seals of the scroll
I’m worthy?
