Zechariah 10:1-6

Zechariah 10:1

Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.

 

In this verse the LORD is reminding the returnees from Babylon that if they are to experience prosperity, they are to seek the LORD for the blessings of rain upon their crops.  The latter rain came in the spring which would begin the sprouting of the plants and of the grass.  Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.  (Hosea 6:3)  The bright clouds we see on sunny days which are either the precursor to rain or are seen after a rain storm.  Before the rains come we see the bright clouds begin to coagulate and then as they become thicker, the LORD stated that he will give those clouds the showers of rain which will begin the growth of all the crops and will bring the grass of the field which would be used for grazing by the livestock.  He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.  (Psalm 135:7)

 

Zechariah 10:2

For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.

 

God here is warning the returnees that they must never seek the vanity of the idols since the idols can deliver nothing but trouble.  {15} The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.  {16} They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;  {17} They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.  (Psalm 135:15-17)  The false prophets did not deal in truth but in lies for their own cause.  They had false dreams in that they either made them up or had dreams and interpreted them falsely.  Their comfort was in vain because all their teachings did was lead the people into idolatry resulting in a seventy year captivity.  There was no true comfort coming from them.  Just as a flock of sheep will follow without question, so did the people follow these false shepherds and the people followed them right into the judging hands of God for seventy years in Babylon.  They had no true shepherd to guide and lead them because they chose to follow the false ways of idolatry.  The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  (Psalm 23:1)  If they would have followed the true shepherd, then they would not have gotten into trouble.

 

Zechariah 10:3

Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle.

 

The LORD’s anger was kindled or ignited against the shepherds.  These were the ones who were the priests that should have known the law and kept the people from straying into idolatry.  Then the LORD stated that he punished the goats which are those who were the political leaders of Judah.  And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.  (Zephaniah 1:8)  Zephaniah prophesied that God would punish the princes of Judah for allowing the people to go into idolatry for profit motives.  God would change Judah from being the meek victims of bondage into a strong nation which will have the ability to repel any invaders.  This was seen in the Maccabean wars which was dated about 167-160 B.C.  Job 39:19-26 gives a good understanding of how the horse was an instrument for battle.  As noble and strong as the horse is, so will the nation of Judah be as strong.

 

Zechariah 10:4

Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.

 

From God would come the Messiah who would be the one who would dispense punishment and blessing.  He is described in four ways.  First he is described as the corner which would refer to the cornerstone.  And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:  (Mark 12:10)  The cornerstone is a stone which connects two walls.  The two walls would be the Jews and the Gentiles who would become saved down through time.  Then he is called the nail.  Nails were used to fasten things together like a tent or a house.  Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;  (Job 38:6)  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;  (Ephesians 2:20)  The true Christian is built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets with Christ being the chief cornerstone because it was through his sacrifice on Calvary that the body of believers is fastened together.  Then he is described as the battle bow.  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  (Revelation 19:11)  The battle bow was used in war by a warrior and in Revelation 19:11, we see Christ making war which would be against the kingdom of Satan.  Then the fourth description is “oppressor” or “exactor” as Christ would demand that his people have faith in him and his children will teach throughout the world that one must be born again to be saved.

 

Zechariah 10:5

And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded.

 

The people of Judah will be like a mighty army that will destroy any enemy that comes after them.  The LORD will strengthen the warriors of Judah so they will protect the land and the temple because the Messiah would eventually come to his temple plus he must be born in Bethlehem.  The enemy that comes to them as mounted cavalry will be confounded or confused.  Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.  (Psalm 97:7)  They will not be conquered and removed from the land until the time of 70 A.D. when God himself sends the Roman army to destroy Jerusalem and lay it desolate.  And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down.  (2 Kings 21:13)

 

Zechariah 10:6

And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them.

 

Then God promises to strengthen both the house of Judah which is the southern kingdom and the house of Joseph which had the tribe of Ephraim which was also a name given to the ten northern tribes.  So God will strengthen the remnants of both kingdoms.  He will protect the land from Dan to Beersheba.  Here God talks about having mercy upon them and that he will hear them.  He will treat them as if he never cast them off which would apply to the true believers in Israel because the ones who receive the mercy of God are the true believers in Christ.  The fact that he will hear them means the remnant of those who are saved since God does not hear the prayer of the unbeliever because they are spiritually dead.  He only hears the prayers of those who are spiritually alive.

Back