STANDING ON THE PROMISES
Opening Prayer
My Incredible God, I am in awe of who You are. Thank You for Your love and care for me.
Read Zechariah 9:9–17
The Coming of Zion’s King
9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10 I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
and the warhorses from Jerusalem,
and the battle bow will be broken.
He will proclaim peace to the nations.
His rule will extend from sea to sea
and from the River[a] to the ends of the earth.
11 As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you,
I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.
12 Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope;
even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.
13 I will bend Judah as I bend my bow
and fill it with Ephraim.
I will rouse your sons, Zion,
against your sons, Greece,
and make you like a warrior’s sword.
The Lord Will Appear
14 Then the Lord will appear over them;
his arrow will flash like lightning.
The Sovereign Lord will sound the trumpet;
he will march in the storms of the south,
15 and the Lord Almighty will shield them.
They will destroy
and overcome with slingstones.
They will drink and roar as with wine;
they will be full like a bowl
used for sprinkling[b] the corners of the altar.
16 The Lord their God will save his people on that day
as a shepherd saves his flock.
They will sparkle in his land
like jewels in a crown.
17 How attractive and beautiful they will be!
Grain will make the young men thrive,
and new wine the young women.
Footnotes:
a Zechariah 9:10 That is, the Euphrates
b Zechariah 9:15 Or bowl, / like
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
We are “carried to heaven on the tide of his [Christ’s] victory.” (Thomas Merton, Praying the Psalms, Liturgical Press, 2014, p. 25) What does His victory mean for you?Clinging to promises is core to being one of the Lord’s people. Some are required to wait a long time to see promises fulfilled (Abraham and Sarah), some are called to believe without ever seeing fulfillment (1 Peter 1:10–12). The promise of Messiah fits that pattern. This promise was given through Zechariah to reassure people who were asking, “What now?” Returned from exile with the Temple rebuilt, they were tempted to disillusionment against a background of strong, militaristic powers, including the all-conquering Alexander the Great. The call is to wait and trust.
Ours is also a waiting period. The Messiah has come, but there is still much to be accomplished before God’s enemies are brought to book. Our Messiah is gentle, unpretentious and peace-loving (9, 10). But we believe he rules to the ends of the earth (10): one day every knee will bow to him. When Zechariah talks about God unleashing his power, it is on behalf of his people. The Lord works to free prisoners (11), restore (12), protect (15), cause rejoicing (15), save (16) and to enable people to thrive (17). He is on our side, his power is wielded so that “no weapon forged against you will prevail” (Isaiah 54:17).
Apply
How is your patience? How can you encourage yourself and others to keep true to God’s promises? Close your eyes and repeat to God, “God, I trust You.”
Closing prayer
I rejoice in You, God, that You bring freedom. You restore, protect, and save. You give me life abundant. All praise to You!
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