Israel’s Deliverance and Return

Transcript

GR1017
07/17/1977
Israel’s Deliverance and Return
Zechariah 10:5-12
Gil Rugh

Zechariah 10 in your bibles. The book of Zechariah and the 10th chapter. We begin with the section that talks about preparation for Israel in the coming kingdom. We saw some of this in chapter 9. The judgment that God is going to be bringing on the nations that had mistreated Israel. We come into chapter 10; we have the promise of blessing for Israel. We noted last week that verse 1 connected closely with the end of chapter 9 where, at the request of Israel, God would bring the rains, the later rains or the spring rains, which would provide the vegetation, which were so necessary to the prosperity of Palestine. Now, significant with these rains, is that there coming indicates that Israel is now in the position of experiencing God’s blessing. That the nation has subjected itself to God, is living in accord with His directives for them, and thus are in the position of blessing. All they have to do is ask, and they receive these rains.

Verse 2 was a contrast with that. Contrast with going to God for their needs. Israel made a practice of seeking help other places. The teraphim, the diviners. We noted last week that these simply lead Israel to problems. “Therefore, the people wander like sheep”, they “are afflicted, because there is no shepherd.” The teraphim, we noted, were household gods. The diviners would be the equivalent of prophets, false prophets. They promise something, they had visions, but there was no substance to them. Anger was kindled against the leaders. The shepherds and the male goats in verse 3, particularly here, dealing with the leaders of the nations that have oppressed Israel. There’s condemnation that comes to the leaders of Israel as well. But the focal point here, is against the nations that have oppressed Israel. These nations will be judged by God; and the leaders of these nations, in their being judged, they are representatives of their nations. So, when the leader is judged, the nation will be judged.

Verse 4, we noted, is one of the key Messianic passages in Zechariah. Where Jesus Christ coming out of Judah, “From them” (Him), referring to Judah, the house of Judah, in verse 3, “will come the cornerstone.” We looked at some of the passages which deal with Christ as the cornerstone. The foundation on which Israel will be constructed. We noted, that analogy carries over to the church today. He is the foundation for those who are believers, on which we are built. He will, in the future, be the foundation for Israel as well.

He is also the “tent peg”. We noted the prime reference here, is on the peg within the tent, upon which the valuables were hung. We connected this with the statement in Isaiah, where glory is hung on the tent peg. Thus, fully displayed in all the glory of His Father’s house, will rest upon Him.

Then, He’s the “bow of battle”. Now, this will carry us to the subject that is going to be talked about in verse 5, where Messiah is the bow of battle. Here He leads them in conquering and in victory. This is the first thing that will take place at the Second Coming of Christ to earth. Battles and conflict, as we’ll see. And “from them every rule, all of them together.” We noted that it probably is to be preferred, “From them every oppressor, all of them together”, focusing attention, that as a result of Messiah’s coming out of Judah, all oppressors will be done away with in Israel. All those who had oppressed Israel, will be punished. That would tie it to verse 3, where the shepherds and the male goats are punished as a result of the Messiah’s coming.

Now, we come into verse 5, we come to a period of time which carried this ultimately to the second advent of Jesus Christ to earth. Then events surrounding this Second Coming of Christ to earth. Note verse 5, “And they will be as mighty men, treading down the enemy in the mire of the streets in battle; and they will fight, for the Lord will be with them; and the riders on horses will be put to shame.” Very strong picture here. You have a picture of Judah going to battle, and they’re described as mighty men, trampling down the mire of the streets in battle. What is actually said here, is that the enemy are called “the mire”. The enemies of Israel are called dirt. The mud of the streets. They are trampled under the feet of Israel, just as in a great battle, as they press the victory, those who have fallen in the battle, the enemy that had been slain, are just walked over, as the battle is pursued. The victory is gained, Israel now, particularly Judah, is pictured in this position. They fight, “for the Lord will be with them; and the riders on horses will be put to shame.” Now, you have to be an Israelite of Old Testament time, to really appreciate that. Many of the great battles and the great armies of the Old Testament, were cavalry armies. But Israel was never famous for its cavalry. So here, to see Israel, in effect chasing the cavalry of other nations, is denoting a great and surprising victory.

Now, as we think of the Second Coming of Christ to earth, we think of Jesus Christ doing battle. But from what Zechariah says, not only will Christ do battle, but there will be a turnaround of events taking place at that time, and Israel will join together, in routing the enemies of Jesus Christ. Turn over to Daniel, just to set that scene a little bit in your mind. We’ll be doing a little more of it in later chapters in Zechariah. But just to fix this time in your mind, we’re going to Daniel 11, a little toward the front of your Old Testament. Daniel 11:36, we undergo a transition that carries us to a future time. A time yet future, not only from Daniel’s perspective, but from our perspective. “The king will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous things against the God of god; and he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done.” I take it, here we are talking about the antichrist. We’re being carried now, to the tribulation that will follow the rapture of the church. Something of his character and conduct described here, verse 40, “And at the end time the king of the south will collide with him, and the king of the north will storm against him with chariots, with horsemen, and with many ships; and he will enter countries, overflow them, and pass through. He will also enter the Beautiful Land, and many countries will fall; but these will be rescued out of his hand; Edom, Moab and the foremost of the sons of Ammon. Then he will stretch out his hand against other countries, and the land of Egypt will not escape. But he will gain control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and Libyans and Ethiopians will follow at his heels.” What happens here, is depicting the conquering of the antichrist. As in the middle of the tribulation, events are such, that he moves the armies of the western world into Palestine. This may well be in connection with the covenant that he has signed with them, described in Daniel 9. That as the king of the south and the king of the north, come, moving toward Palestine, then this western leader moves these armies in, in defense of Israel. We note from Ezekiel 38 and 39, that these armies are supernaturally destroyed by God. Then his description. Come to verse 44, “But rumors from the East and from the North will disturb him, and he will go forth with great wrath to destroy and annihilate many. And he will pitch the tents of his royal pavilion between the seas and the beautiful Holy Mountain; yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.” Now, as he has ruled the world for about 3 ½ years, the dominate power, then there are rumors from the east and from the north. The book of Revelation talks about this. Where the armies from the east, 200 million in number, begin to march toward Palestine, to now challenge world domination of the antichrist. At the same time, the remnants of the northern armies, Russia and her allies, have reassembled, now to mount a challenge against this world domination. Now, as they move together, for the great battle in Palestine, an event takes place. The sign of the coming of the Son of Man, is seen in the heavens. The armies of the world unite to battle with Jesus Christ. Now, Revelation 19, describes the coming of Christ and something of the glory of that scene. It is around these events, that Zechariah is talking about in chapter 10. When Judah will fight and chase the enemy. Because of His coming, Judah will rally now, to recognize Him as Messiah, and to do battle with Him and for Him, for the setting up of the earthly kingdom. As you read Revelation 19, you see Jesus Christ doing the battle and destroying the enemies. But as you come to Zechariah, you find that He is using Israel as well, in the victory that He accomplishes. That is the battle of Armageddon, that we’re talking about mentioned in Revelation 16, and then described in Revelation 19. That’s the significance of Daniel 11:45, “Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.”

So, we’re told in Revelation, that what God is doing, is gathering all the armies of the world, for a confrontation with Jesus Christ. Now, the armies of the world, think they’re gathering for confrontation with each other, at that point in history. But God says they’re gathering for confrontation with Jesus Christ. Because when His appearance in His coming is made known, then these armies unite against a common enemy. Remember, we talked this morning about how those of the world are at enmity with God? So, even though they battle with each other, what welds them together, into a unified force, is opposing One who is the enemy of them all, and that is Jesus Christ.

Come back to Zechariah 10:5, when you read that “they will be as mighty men, treading down the enemy in the mire of the streets in battle”, you can appreciate that description. Described in other places, where the blood flows to the horses’ necks. Where the garments of the Messiah are splashed with blood in Isaiah 63, as He tramps the grapes of His wrath. All depicting the same thing, they’re crushing annihilation of the enemy. That is the event surrounding the First Coming of Christ, necessary to the setting up of the kingdom. “The riders on horses will be put to shame”, because all the armies of the world, will be routed at this battle. Israel will be victorious, because their Messiah has given them the victory. “And they will fight, for the Lord will be with them.” All those years, finally Israel, now has a kingdom established. Thus, that having taken place, now of course, Zechariah is not giving chronological things with all the details. That, having taken place, then we’ll have the judgments set up of Matthew 25. Zechariah doesn’t talk about that, because that’s not pertinent to what he’s doing right now.

After having Israel given the great victory in routing their enemies, then you come to verse 6, “And I shall strengthen the house of Judah, and I shall save the house of Joseph.” Now, expanded here, talking about Judah, the house of Joseph refers to the northern kingdom. So, here we have northern and southern kingdom now, united. I’ll strengthen, I’ll save. “I shall bring them back, because I have had compassion on them; and they will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the Lord their God, and I will answer them.” That explains all the passages. The Old Testament, where it seems that God is going to cast off His people. Where it says, He has rejected them for their unfaithfulness. That’s not a permanent rejection. That ought to be clear from the covenants that He established. That He cannot reject them permanently. God cannot reject Israel permanently, anymore than He can reject you or me permanently. Because He had called them on the basis of His own faithfulness, on the basis of His own character. He’s obligated to fulfill His promises. We ought to be encouraged, you know, its really encouraging to study the history of Israel. Because if Israel, in spite of all their unfaithfulness, is going to reach the ultimate goal. That ought to settle firmly in our minds, the question of eternal security. I realize how unfaithful I am. But you know, I’m encouraged as I read about Israel. As unfaithful as they are, you know what God said? Because I had compassion on them, I shall bring them back. Same reason you and I are going to make it to heaven, we’ve believed in Jesus Christ. Because He has been merciful. He's had compassion. Same reason Israel will not be permanently rejected. It “will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the Lord their God, and I will answer them.” That cannot change. Even today, God, Jehovah God, is the God of Israel. Now, Israel is under the chastening hand of God today; and will be, through the seven-year tribulation. It’s all part of God’s purpose, in bringing them to the point of being willing and ready to have Jesus Christ as their Messiah. At that time “Ephraim will be like a mighty man, and their heart will be glad as if from wine; indeed, their children will see it and be glad, their heart will rejoice in the Lord.” So, this description of God’s relationship with them, is a joyous time. They will be like a mighty man. Ephraim, connecting of course, to Joseph. Again, being sure that we understand that the northern kingdom is included. Because at this point, it could have been misunderstood. Because centuries before, the northern kingdom had gone into captivity. It may have given the appearance that the northern tribes were done. Any hope there was, was a hope for Judah, the southern kingdom. But God had called the twelve tribes of Israel, and in the establishing of the kingdom, there will be the twelve tribes of Israel.

So, they “will be glad as if from wine.” That special joy, that is given to them. “Indeed, their children will see it.” Now, that’s of special importance. Because, what that indicates, is this is not a passing time. Israel has gone through phases in their history, where they had times of blessing. Then the times of blessing faded, and they had times of trouble. But the statement here, ‘Their children will see it.” Is an indication that these blessings will continue. That it will not only be one generation, but the next generation, and the next generation, will experience these blessings. Because when God establishes the kingdom under the leadership of Jesus Christ, the millennial kingdom, the thousand years, is the first stage in an eternal kingdom, a kingdom of God on earth.

Look over in the book of Hosea, a passage that ties to this, of God rejecting Israel, and then not rejecting them. You had Daniel, if you can find Daniel again, you can find Hosea, because Hosea is just after Daniel. The book of Hosea, we studied Hosea one time, many years ago. In the first chapter of Hosea, some children here in Hosea’s marriage, and the children that come out of the marriage, are a picture of God’s relationship to Israel. Hosea marries a harlot. As a harlot, she is unfaithful to him. She pictures Israel, the wife of Jehovah, who was unfaithful to Israel. The children that are born of this, note in verse 6, “Then she conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. And the Lord said to him, ‘Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel’.” The one who has no compassion, depicting that God is not going to operate with compassion on Israel. Not forever, as we see in Zechariah. But go down to verse 9, “And the Lord said”, she conceived and gave birth to a son, in verse 8. Then verse 9, “And the Lord said, ‘Name him Lo-ammi’.” Lo-ammi means, not My people. Lo – not, Ammi – not My people. “Not My people, for your not My people and I am not your God.” You remember that God says, over in Zechariah 10, that “I have compassion on Israel.” It won’t be as though I rejected them. But here, He rejects them. But it’s clear in Zechariah, that rejection is not permanent. It’s clear here in Hosea as well. Because note how verse 10 goes on, God just says, you are not My people, I’m not your God. “Yet the number of the sons of Israel will be like the sand of the sea.” We’re going to see this in Zechariah 10, so we’ll read it now ahead of time, “which cannot be measured or numbered; and it will come about that, in the place where it is said to them, ‘You are not My people’, it will be said to them, ‘You are sons of the living God.’ And the sons of Judah and the sons of Israel will be gathered together, and they will appoint for themselves one leader, and they will go up from the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel.”

So, here, God’s promise consistent through the prophets, that God is rejecting Israel for a time. He is removing compassion for Israel. The last couple of thousands of years, have been time of great trial and testing for the Israelites. As millions of them have been executed and the worst is yet to come. Because they have seven years, which is more terrible than anything they’ve ever experienced, and that will be the final refining time. Then God says, I’ll pick up with Israel again. You know, finally after you’ve given enough beatings, enough paddling to your children, they finally decide that its better to obey, than to be beaten. What Israel is finally going to decide, is that Jesus is indeed the Messiah. All the trials, all the tribulations, all the struggles, cause them to realize, that our only hope is in the God, who has called us.

So, you come back to Zechariah 10. When God says, it “will be as though I had not rejected them”, “because I have had compassion on them.” Understand Hosea, in light of that, it’s a further explanation. “Their children will see it.” “Their heart will rejoice in the Lord. I will whistle for them to gather them together, for I have redeemed them; and they will be as numerous as they were before.” You note, the promise of increased numbers. We read about that in Hosea. “Like the sand of the sea.” The great multiplication now, of the nation Israel. The “whistling for them”, probably connects to the practice of the shepherds, who have a flute type instrument, didn’t make real pretty music. But when that was sounded, the sheep would respond to it. Often, the way the shepherd would then collect the flock together, by sounding this instrument. Here, God “whistles”, He sounds for them, and they are gathered together now, as His flock. The reason that I have redeemed them. That’s the reason that Israel must experience the fulfillment of the promises. They have been redeemed by Jehovah. Not because of their faithfulness or unfaithfulness, because of the redemptive act of Jehovah, in compassion and mercy. “When I scatter them among the peoples, they will remember Me in far countries, and they with their children will live and come back.”

Now, there’s a promise God would scatter them, and He would bring them back. We’ve seen something of that, even in our day. But, our day, is not the fulfillment of that. The fulfillment that God is talking about, is when God called them back to set up the kingdom. I take it, what is happening in our day, may well be preparatory to that event. Then, if someone moves in and chases Israel out of Palestine, that doesn’t change the promise of the Word. When we get to this point in history, God is going to call them back, and establish them in Palestine. Palestine belongs to the Jews. God promised it to them, and they will have it someday.

“I’ll bring them back from the land of Egypt, and gather them from Assyria.” Depicting here, the collection from various parts of the empires and the oppressors. “And I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon.” Expressing something of the scope that they will now possess under the covenant that God had entered into with them, with Abraham, the Davidic covenant, the Palestinian covenant. “Until no room can be found for them.” Now, that’s getting strong. Israel faces annihilation at one point. Now, it’s getting overly crowded. So many Jews flocking into the land, that they’re going to have a population problem. “And He will pass through the sea of distress, and strike the waves in the sea, so that all the depths of the Nile will dry up; and the pride of Assyria will be brought down, and the scepter of Egypt will depart.” What is being pictured here, the “He” in verse 11, refers to Jehovah, the leader of His people. The Messiah at the forefront. He goes ahead of them. He removes all obstacles. Just as He did when they come out of Egypt, and He dried up the sea. The Nile, that will dry up. Nothing will be able to stand in the way of the return of the people of Israel now, back to Palestine. Because the Messiah is there, to set up the kingdom. Assyria and Egypt, they are brought low. They’re no longer an obstacle. So, now you find Israel being established without opposition. That will occur when Jesus Christ comes to set up the kingdom. “I shall strengthen them in the Lord, and in His name, they will walk, declares the Lord.” You note how God refers to Himself here, in the third person? “I shall strengthen them in the Lord, and in His name, they will walk, declares the Lord.” Total transformation occurs.

What you’re seeing in Israel now, is not the fulfilment of this verse. Many Jews are back in Palestine. But they are not walking in the name of the Lord. They’re not acknowledging Jesus Christ as the Messiah. That awaits a future time.

Come back to the book of Ezekiel. Ezekiel very graphically describes this. Ezekiel is just before Daniel. So, you’re going to about the same place. Just before the book of Daniel, the book of Ezekiel, and the 37th chapter. Ezekiel describes the same time period and the same events, under a rather striking picture, it’s them dry bones. Ezekiel’s dry bones. In Ezekiel 37, and sometimes what people do, makes it hard to appreciate a passage. Every time I read Ezekiel 37, that song starts going in my mind, “bones and bones, them terrible old dry bones”. Well, there are dry bones, and those bones are going to be put together, in spite of the song. Pick up with verse 1, “The hand of the Lord was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. And He caused me to pass among them round about, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and lo, they were very dry.” Now, these are bones that are, for all intense and purposes, dead. Ezekiel 37 ought to make everyone of us dispensationalists. Because what it says is, it looks as though God had been done, finished, through, over with, with Israel. All you’ve got, is a bunch of bleached out bones of dead people. They’re dead, they were very dry. They weren’t just bones; these were very very dry bones. Ok, you’ve got the point. “He said to me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ Now, you appreciate Ezekiel’s faith here. Because you know what I would have said, they’re very very dry bones, and very very dry bones don’t live. What does Ezekiel say? “O Lord God, [You know]” I mean, Lord, you’ve asked me, You know whether they can or not. Because if they’re going to live, its up to You. But its not impossible, since God’s already involved. “He said to me, ‘Prophesy over these bones, and say to them’.” Boy, I think that sometimes I got a hard job preaching, ha ha, “Go preach to these dry bones.” Ha ha. “O dry bones, hear the Word of the Lord.” “Thus says the Lord God.” This is encouragement that every preacher takes, Ezekiel preached to these dried-up old bones, and you know what? They heard him. Note that, “Thus says the Lord God to these bones, ‘Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin, and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the Lord’.” Again, I have great appreciation for Ezekiel. Because if God had given me that message, to go to preach to a valley of dry bones, I’d have probably tried to reason, and say, look, why don’t I go where there’s hope? But what does Ezekiel do in verse 7? “So, I prophesied as I was commanded.” That’s amazing! Go preach to those dried-up old desert bones, so I went and preached, just like I was commanded. What happened? “As I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone.” After these bones have laid around so long, they get disconnected. That’s still not a problem. If you’ve got dry dry bones, it doesn’t matter whether they’re in order or not. If you went out and found a skeleton, you know, that had been buried in Egypt 3000 years before Christ, you wouldn’t say, well there’s hope for this skeleton to come alive, all the bones are in order. That would be irrelevant. It’s irrelevant that they’re all, alright, ha ha. Verse 8, “And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh grew, and skin covered them.” Amazing! These dry bones now, are getting flesh put back upon them. “But there was not breath in them. Then He said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, thus says the Lord God, come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life’.” So, I told the Lord, you don’t preach to the wind, Lord. No. “So, I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life, and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.” Fantastic! Just a little bit earlier, Ezekiel had been surrounded by dried-up old bones, and now here, he’s got a mighty army, breathing, alive, ready to go.

Now, its very difficult to interpret who’s in view here, in these bones. Unless you read verse 12, “Therefore prophesy, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. And I will put My Spirit within you, and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it, declares the Lord’.” Then he goes on with a picture, that we’re going to see when we get to chapter 11, with the uniting of Israel, although Zechariah is going to see it from a judgmental standpoint.

So, what does Ezekiel say? There is hope for Israel. In their dried-up dead spiritual condition, God is going to intervene, and bring that nation back to life, and establish them in the land that He promised. Now, that is an irrevocable promise of God! That’s all. That’s why I believe that there is a future for Israel, simply because God says there’s a future for Israel. In spite of its washed-out spiritual condition, has nothing to do with it. I don’t believe that there’s a future for Israel because of the spiritual condition of Israel. I believe there’s a future for Israel, because of the power of God, that He promises there’s a future for Israel.

Back in Zechariah 10:12, God says, “And I shall strengthen them in the Lord, and in His name they will walk.” The same place we did with those dry bones, they stood up, alive as a mighty army, ready to function now, at God’s bidding. So, Zechariah gives a message of hope. There’s coming a time, when Jesus Christ, the Messiah, will establish Israel in Palestine, and God’s kingdom on earth, will be underway.

Again, I take great courage from that to myself. Now, we talked about, this morning, about being the temple of God. About God, evaluating His temple, in Ezekiel 8. The glory of God left that temple in Ezekiel 10. But the amazing thing is, that God does not abandon Israel. That’s amazing to me. That’s a positive thing. In spite of the fact that He chastens me. In spite of the fact that He has to deal with me, sometimes as a disobedient son, He can never cast me off. He can never abandon me, because I belong to Him. It doesn’t depend on my faithfulness; it depends on His. You know why He can’t? He promised. You know why Israel has a future? He promised. Something of the security, that we have, as God’s children. The tragedy of it, we’ll come to it in chapter 11, is that Israel has to come through the fire and the furnace. Because they are unwilling to be what God wants them to be, without the fire and the furnace. That’s the tragedy of you and I, often as believers today, I’m afraid. We are unwilling to be what God wants us to be, until He applies pressure. Then, under the pressure, under the discipline, we realize that it is better to submit to Him, and allow Him to have His way, so that we might enjoy His blessings. Many of us don’t enjoy all the blessings of our life in Christ, because we’re unwilling to enjoy them. Just like Israel is not enjoying the kingdom right now. Because they were unwilling, when God wanted them to have it.

Let’s pray together. Father again, we thank You for Your perfect faithfulness. Father, we take courage, as we see Your compassionate dealing with Israel. That as firmly as You had to discipline them, as harshly as You dealt with them, Father, it was all in love. Father, it was all with the ultimate goal of preparing them to function in a permanent relationship with Yourself. Father, we thank You, for the future that they have. Lord, for the clarity of Your Word on that subject. Lord, we’re thankful for Your power, that gives life to the dead. Lord, we’re thankful for the future hope that is ours, as believers. Father, we pray that we might even take hope from Zechariah. Hope from Ezekiel. These men who were faithful in proclaiming as You instructed. Lord, we’re glad that even today, as we proclaim the message of life to dead men, that by the work of the Spirit of God, that they are made alive in Christ, and function as new persons in that relationship. Pray that we might function, submissive and obedient to You, in order that You might bless us, with all the blessings that are ours, in Jesus Christ. For we pray in His name. Amen