Remember...#13

Background: God had spoken through Zechariah a message of hope and comfort. Through visions and oracles He gave them a charge to return not just to Jerusalem, but to Him.  They were to remember what God is really like: Holy, but forgiving; patient but punishing sin; powerful both to save and to destroy.  This was all done to challenge them to trust God to rebuild and prepare for the future He had for them. In this chapter he speaks mostly prophetically about: "On that day" - the day when the Lord will bring his ultimate salvation and restoration.  He will send a shepherd, a prophet, who will bring a message rejected. This One will be beaten, and killed, and His sheep scattered, yet, the ultimate response will be a repenting and turning to God. 

Key Verses: 

7 “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,
    against the man who stands next to me,”
declares the Lord of hosts.
“Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered;
    I will turn my hand against the little ones.
8 In the whole land, declares the Lord,
    two thirds shall be cut off and perish,
    and one third shall be left alive.
9 And I will put this third into the fire,
    and refine them as one refines silver,
    and test them as gold is tested.
They will call upon my name,
    and I will answer them.
I will say, ‘They are my people’;
    and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’”

Thoughts: There are so many parts of this chapter we see fulfilled in Christ's coming.  The bottom line is found in the last verse: after begin tried and tested, a faithful remnant will be committed to God, and He will claim them as His own.