Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Zechariah
Book: Zechariah
Chapter: 9
Overview:
God's defence of his
Church.
(1-8) Christ's coming and his
kingdom.
(9-11) Promises to the
Church.
(12-17)
1-8 Here are judgements foretold
On several nations. While the
Macedonians and
Alexander's successors were in warfare in these
countries, the
Lord promised to protect his people.
God's
House
lies in the midst of an enemy's country; his
Church is as a
Lily
among thorns.
God's power and
Goodness are seen in her special
preservation. The
Lord encamps about his
Church, and while
armies of proud opposers shall pass
By and return, his eyes
watch over her,
So that they cannot prevail, and shortly the
time will come when
No exactor shall pass
By her any more.
9-17 The
Prophet breaks forth into a joyful representation of
the coming of the
Messiah, of whom the ancient Jews explained
this
Prophecy. He took the character of their
King, when he
entered
Jerusalem amidst the hosannas of the multitude. But his
kingdom is a spiritual kingdom. It shall not be advanced
By
outward force or
Carnal weapons. His
Gospel shall be preached to
the world, and be received among the
Heathen. A sinful state is
a state of
Bondage; it is a
Pit, or
Dungeon, in which there is
No water,
No comfort; and we are all
By nature prisoners in this
Pit. Through the precious
Blood of
Christ, many prisoners of
Satan have been set at liberty from the horrible
Pit in which
they must otherwise have perished, without
Hope or comfort.
While we admire Him, let us seek that his
Holiness and
Truth may
be shown in our own spirits and conduct. These promises have
accomplishment in the spiritual blessings of the
Gospel which we
enjoy
By Jesus Christ. As the deliverance of the Jews was
typical of
Redemption By Christ,
So this invitation speaks to
all the language of the
Gospel Call. Sinners are prisoners, but
prisoners of
Hope; their case is sad, but not desperate; for
there is
Hope in
Israel concerning them.
Christ is a
Strong-
Hold, a strong Tower, in whom believers are safe from the
fear of the wrath of
God, the
Curse of the
Law, and the assaults
of spiritual enemies. To him we must turn with lively
Faith; to
him we must flee, and trust in his name under all trials and
sufferings. It is here promised that the
Lord would deliver his
people. This
Passage also refers to the apostles, and the
preachers of the
Gospel in the early ages.
God was evidently
with them; his words from their lips pierced the hearts and
consciences of the hearers. They were wondrously defended in
Persecution, and were filled with the influences of the Holy
Spirit. They were saved
By the Good
Shepherd as his flock, and
honoured as jewels of his
Crown. The
Gifts, graces, and
consolations of the
Spirit, poured forth
On the
Day of
Pentecost, Ac 2 and in succeeding times, are represented.
Sharp have been, and still will be, the conflicts of Zion's
sons, but their
God will give them success. The more we are
employed, and satisfied with his
Goodness, the more we shall
admire the beauty revealed in the
Redeemer. Whatever
Gifts God
bestows
On us, we must serve him cheerfully with them; and, when
refreshed with blessings, we must say, How great is his
Goodness!