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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Zechariah 13:7 - 13:9
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The Shepherd Smitten.
With great abruptness the prophecy here takes a different turn, as the prophet sets forth the manner in which redemption was secured.
v. 7. Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, the same one who addressed the people in 11:12, and against the Man that is My Fellow, Him who is true God, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, for the Messiah is the eternal Son of God, who was in the bosom of the Father from eternity and by Him begotten in the great eternal today, saith the Lord of hosts, who here summons the sword for time Messiah's great Passion, to carry out the infliction of suffering by which the redemption of mankind was to be gained. Smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered, a word which Jesus applied to Himself on the evening before His death, Mat_26:31; and I will turn Mine hand upon the little ones, literally, "I will bring back My hand upon the little ones"; for He intended to redeem the wretched, the poor and lowly, for of these was made up His Church.
v. 8. And it shall come to pass that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein, the great majority of the people, shall be cut off and die, being offended in Him and therefore rejected from His herd; but the third, only a small part, shall be left therein.
v. 9. And I will bring the third part through the fire, the test of affliction and persecution as it soon came to the first congregation, and will refine them as silver is refined and will try them as gold is tried, Cf 1Pe_1:6-7. They shall call on My name, and I will hear them, graciously giving them the attention which assured them of His certain assistance; I will say, It is My people, and they shall say, The Lord is my God. This has ever been the relationship obtaining between the God of the covenant and His Church on earth, and this intimate communion is one of the miracles of the Church till the end of time. Cf Joh_14:23.