The King and His Subjects
Zechariah 14:9–15
📖 Scripture
9 The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.
10 The whole land, from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem, will become like the Arabah. But Jerusalem will be raised up high from the Benjamin Gate to the site of the First Gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses, and will remain in its place.
11 It will be inhabited; never again will it be destroyed. Jerusalem will be secure.
12 This is the plague with which the Lord will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths.
13 On that day people will be stricken by the Lord with great panic. They will seize each other by the hand and attack one another.
14 Judah too will fight at Jerusalem. The wealth of all the surrounding nations will be collected—great quantities of gold and silver and clothing.
15 A similar plague will strike the horses and mules, the camels and donkeys, and all the animals in those camps.
💡 Scripture Summary
The Lord will be king over the whole earth. There will be one Lord, and His name will be the only name. The land will become a plain, and Jerusalem will be raised and inhabited, never again to be destroyed. Its enemies will suffer a plague. Panic will cause them to turn on each other. Judah will collect the wealth of the nations.
📜 Memory Verse
“The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.”
– Zechariah 14:9
🔎 Reflection
The One True King (14:9)
From the beginning of time, there have been kings who vied for power, seeking the worship of man. Today, we are also surrounded by idols such as financial wealth, political power, and ever-changing technology that threaten to lord over our lives. Yet, one day, all will be exposed as utterly inadequate substitutes to the true Lord and King. All disputes will be settled, and all nations at peace as all recognize God as king over the whole earth. His name will be fully entrenched as the name above all names. Therefore, let us give to Him the worship that He is due each day. Let us surrender to Him anew, asking Him to be king over all areas of our lives including our hearts, values, and relationships.
Confess to God the areas of your life that are not fully surrendered to Him. Picture all other thrones being toppled and God assuming His rightful place as the King of all kings.
The Exaltation of God’s People (14:10–15)
Not only will God take His place as the one true Lord, but He will also make clear that we are His people. The whole land will be turned into a flat plain, but Jerusalem will be raised up, exalted in both place and purpose. God’s people will remain as secure as the covenant that God has made with us, signed by the blood of Jesus and sealed by the Holy Spirit. Meanwhile, those that conspire against God’s people will face judgment for their actions. We rest secure without any fear because we know that God is in control. We are in awe of His sovereignly orchestrated plan. May we live heartily for Him, knowing our assured status as His blessed children.
Re-read verses 10–11 and ponder the security that is found in God. How does knowing your position encourage you to live for Him today?
💬 Today’s Inspiration
“God does not always bring about such shocking, overnight turns in the outward circumstances of his people, but he is able. He has done it before, and will do it again. And when he does not, he has even greater designs in order than our outward relief.”
– David Mathis
🙏 Prayer
Dear Lord, You are the one true King. Help me to fight against the counterfeit gods in my life so that I may worship You alone. May I joyfully obey Your commands as I live in constant awe of the truth that I am a child of God. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
🖋 Essay
Sovereignty in the Seasons
At a recent church retreat, we were thankful to hear the words of our speaker, Dr. Timothy Witmer. He is an esteemed seminary professor and author of the bestselling book The Shepherd Leader. All weekend, he focused on the importance of God’s sovereignty and how we can hold on to this reality in all seasons of life, from spring to winter—from the most joyous to the most trying of times.
We were reminded of the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3. Because of their allegiance to the one true God, the men refuse to worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has set up. The king is enraged and threatens to cast them into the fiery furnace. Dr. Witmer focused on the response of the three men: first, they state that their God is able to deliver them. But even if He does not, no matter what happens, the three vow that they will not bow down to this image.
Dr. Witmer encouraged us to develop a similar trust in the Lord. God is able to deliver us and keep us from harm. He is able to provide breakthrough and answer our prayers how we want. But belief in a sovereign God means believing that, if He does not do as we wish, He is still worthy of our full trust and our uninterrupted worship. He is still the king who deserves for His people to follow Him with undivided hearts. Let us ever meditate on the sovereignty of our God so that our trust becomes robust, no matter what comes our way.
Written by Bob Koo