ZECHARIAH LESSON 13
We will begin this lesson in Zechariah 13:1 "In that day there
shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the
inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness."
The day, spoken of here, is in the day of Messiah. Matthew 5:4
"Blessed [are] they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." John
4:10 "Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of
God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest
have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water." The
fountain, spoken of here, is that fountain of Emmanuel's blood that
washes away the sin. It does away with all uncleanness and causes
those washed to put on the righteousness of Christ. Revelation 1:5
" And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the
first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.
Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,"
Hebrews 8:12 "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and
their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more."
Zechariah 13:2 "And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the
LORD of hosts, [that] I will cut off the names of the idols out of the
land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the
prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land."
We know there will be a time when God, Himself, will do away with
the idols and false prophets in the land. The unclean spirit is
speaking of a devil Spirit. Jesus will chain up the devil so he, or
his unclean spirits, will not be able to deceive the nations for a
thousand years. Revelation 20:2 "And he laid hold on the dragon, that
old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand
years," Revelation 20:3 "And cast him into the bottomless pit, and
shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the
nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and
after that he must be loosed a little season."
Zechariah 13:3 "And it shall come to pass, [that] when any shall
yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say
unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of
the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust
him through when he prophesieth."
This is speaking of the false prophets. The punishment of death
is not because he prophesies, but because he claims to prophesy from
God, and it is really his own prophesy. Even his natural mother and
father would be against him, because he is against God.
Zechariah 13:4 "And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the
prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath
prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive:"
The rough garment had been an outward show that he was a prophet.
This really speaks of a time, when men are afraid and ashamed to give
a prophecy for fear the people would ridicule them. It, also, appears
they do not want to be recognized as a prophet, so they do not wear
the prophet's garment. Many in our day, do not believe in modern
prophets, but the Bible speaks of it as part of the ministry of the
church. I Corinthians 12:28 "And God hath set some in the church,
first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that
miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of
tongues." There is nothing worse than a false prophet, but there is
nothing better than being able to be warned of God through a true
prophet. We must be able to discern between the two.
Zechariah 13:5 "But he shall say, I [am] no prophet, I [am] an
husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth."
This is a denial of being a prophet. This would be correct, if he
was a false prophet. It would be bad, if he was truly called to be a
prophet.
Zechariah 13:6 "And [one] shall say unto him, What [are] these
wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, [Those] with which I was
wounded [in] the house of my friends."
This has suddenly jumped to the mention of the Lord Jesus who
came and ministered to His friends. He was a true Prophet, who was not
recognized by His fellows, as such.
Zechariah 13:7 "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against
the man [that is] my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the
shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand
upon the little ones."
Jesus is the good Shepherd. He is smitten. The idea is, that if
He is smitten, His followers will scatter. We do know that the
crucifixion of Jesus was part of the divine plan to save all of
mankind who would believe. Luke 9:22 "Saying, The Son of man must
suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests
and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day." John 18:14
"Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was
expedient that one man should die for the people." Acts 10:43 "To him
give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever
believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." It was the plan
from the foundation of the world, that Jesus would become the
substitute for our sin, that we might be saved. Matthew 25:34 "Then
shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of
the world:" I Peter 1:20 "Who verily was foreordained before the
foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for
you," I would like to show one more Scripture which shows that it was
the will of Jesus to be crucified, that we might be saved. John 10:17
"Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I
might take it again." John 10:18 "No man taketh it from me, but I lay
it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to
take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."
Zechariah 13:8 "And it shall come to pass, [that] in all the
land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off [and] die;
but the third shall be left therein."
The sad part of this is the fact that the two parts are speaking
of the ones who do not accept Jesus as their Saviour. This could be
speaking of the double portion that was given to the firstborn. In
this instance, the firstborn would be the natural Israelite. The third
would be speaking of those who are not depending on their birthright
to save them. They could be Jew, or Gentile, who accept Jesus as their
Saviour.
Zechariah 13:9 "And I will bring the third part through the fire,
and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold
is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will
say, It [is] my people: and they shall say, The LORD [is] my God."
There is much tribulation on this earth. "Silver" symbolizes
redemption. This is speaking of the redeemed. "Gold" is connected to
the purity of God. This means that all of the trials the believers
have on this earth bring them closer to God. Acts 2:21 "And it shall
come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord
shall be saved." Not only do we accept Him as our God, but He claims
us as His people. Romans 8:14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of
God, they are the sons of God." Romans 10:12 "For there is no
difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all
is rich unto all that call upon him." Romans 10:13 "For whosoever
shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:14
"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and
how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how
shall they hear without a preacher?"
Zechariah 13 Questions
1. What is the day spoken of in verse 1?
2. Quote Matthew chapter 5 verse 4.
3. What is the fountain, in verse 1, really?
4. Quote Revelation chapter 1 verse 5.
5. I will be merciful to their _____________.
6. What does God do away with, besides the idols?
7. What is the unclean spirit?
8. Quote Revelation chapter 20 verses 2 and 3.
9. What do parents do to false prophets?
10. Quote Zechariah chapter 13 verse 4.
11. Why did the prophets wear a rough garment?
12. Quote 1 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 28.
13. What is verse 5?
14. Who is verse 6 speaking of?
15. ________ is the good Shepherd.
16. Quote Luke chapter 9 verse 22.
17. Who gave the counsel that one should die for the people?
18. How do we receive remission of sins?
19. When was it planned that Jesus would be the substitute for our
sins?
20. Quote 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 20.
21. Quote John chapter 10 verses 17 and 18.
22. Who are the two parts speaking of in verse 8?
23. I will bring the third part through the _______.
24. "Silver" symbolizes ___________.
25. Quote Acts chapter 2 verse 21.
26. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the ______
of God.
27. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be ________.
28. Quote Romans chapter 10 verse 14.
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