A Remnant in Judgment
Zechariah 9:1–8
📖 Scripture
1 A prophecy: The word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrak and will come to rest on Damascus— for the eyes of all people and all the tribes of Israel are on the Lord—
2 and on Hamath too, which borders on it, and on Tyre and Sidon, though they are very skillful.
3 Tyre has built herself a stronghold; she has heaped up silver like dust, and gold like the dirt of the streets.
4 But the Lord will take away her possessions and destroy her power on the sea, and she will be consumed by fire.
5 Ashkelon will see it and fear; Gaza will writhe in agony, and Ekron too, for her hope will wither. Gaza will lose her king and Ashkelon will be deserted.
6 A mongrel people will occupy Ashdod, and I will put an end to the pride of the Philistines.
7 I will take the blood from their mouths, the forbidden food from between their teeth. Those who are left will belong to our God and become a clan in Judah, and Ekron will be like the Jebusites.
8 But I will encamp at my temple to guard it against marauding forces. Never again will an oppressor overrun my people, for now I am keeping watch.
💡 Scripture Summary
The word of the Lord comes with a prophecy against Hadrak, Damascus, and other cities. Tyre has built a stronghold but the Lord will destroy it and other cities will see and fear. Those who are left will belong to the Lord. He will encamp around His temple to protect His people from oppressors.
📜 Memory Verse
“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey.”
– Zechariah 9:9a
🔎 Reflection
Enemies into Friends (9:1–7)
God gives Zechariah a prophecy of judgment against the enemies of Israel such as Tyre, Sidon, and the city-states of the Philistines. These nations and cities all had power and prestige but none of it mattered when it came to God’s judgment. But while God’s judgment is thorough and complete, He also promises to leave a remnant that will become engrafted into His people. Those who were once enemies are now friends. It is amazing to think that God would save those who were rightfully destined for judgment. He still does this in the life of every Christian. When Christ paid the penalty for our enmity, He made us who were once opposed to Him part of His people.
What is your attitude toward the non-believers around you? Ask God to make you His instrument to turn His enemies into friends.
God Keeps Watch (9:8)
God makes a promise to protect His people. He does not just say that He will send a military force to be their protection; He Himself will keep watch over them. He promises that His people will never again be overrun by oppressors because He will encamp at His temple to guard it against those who would attack it. God’s promise to watch over His people remains valid for us today. Our oppressors can be both physical and spiritual. While we may feel overwhelmed with the trials of life, God is beside and behind us as our support and refuge. When you feel afraid, remember that God is watching over you and He will never leave you.
What other promises from Scripture do you remember regarding God’s protection over His people? Take this time to be honest with God about any doubts you have regarding these promises.
💬 Today’s Inspiration
“Rather than destroy his enemies, the king has provided a way for some of his enemies to become friends—even though turning enemies into friends cost the king the life of his only son.”
– Brad Green
🙏 Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, send me as someone who will help reconcile to You those who are far from You. I thank you that I do not have to be afraid of opposition because You have promised to protect me and to never leave me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
🖋 Essay
Impossible?
The late preacher Charles Stanley once recounted a story about preparing for the funeral of one of his church’s deacons. The man had been a believer for over thirty years. Before he knew Christ, he lived a kind of life that eventually led to his being sentenced to jail. But once he began to follow Christ, his life was transformed and he eventually spent much of his time in prison ministry. The inmates who believed after hearing him share the gospel agreed that only God’s power could have transformed this man’s life. Stanley sums up their realization thus, “If God can save that man, He can save anyone.”
I think we all know at least one person who seems like they could never follow Christ. They just seem so resistant to the gospel. You have prayed for them for years on end but they keep on rejecting the only way to peace with God. It can feel frustrating. It is humanly impossible to get someone to acknowledge Christ for who He is. But in Matthew 19, when the disciples are puzzled at whether anyone can be saved at all, Jesus tells them, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (v. 26). God created a whole universe out of nothing. He can certainly open eyes that have been blinded by sin. So do not give up praying for and witnessing to that seemingly impossible person. You never know when the Holy Spirit will convict them of sin and lead them to turn to God in repentance.
Written by James Eppley