Chapter 12 introduces “the oracle of the word of the Lord concerning Israel” (12:1), a solemn pronouncement that runs through the rest of the book (chapters 12-14). This oracle about Israel’s future is especially focused on events that happen “on that day” (12:4, 6, 11; 13:2; 14:4, 6, 8, 9, 13, 20). The “day” spoken of is the great and final “Day of the Lord”, a period of time (far more than 24 hours) when the Lord brings history to a climax.
Chapter 12 begins the oracle about the “day” with a reminder of who is making this declaration: “Thus declares the Lord, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him” (12:1). The reason the Lord can accomplish all He announces is He created the heavens and earth (Gen 1:1) and gives life to the humans who inhabit it (Gen 1:27).
The Lord declares He will “make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples” (12:2). The nations that “gather” to attack Judah and besiege Jerusalem will experience the Lord’s intervention on behalf of His people (12:3-5). They will find Jerusalem, like a “heavy stone”, cannot easily be moved. In fact, their efforts to displace (“lift”) Jerusalem will only “hurt” themselves (12:3). “On that day” the Lord will fight for His people, striking the enemy’s horses with “panic” and “blindness” and their riders with “madness” (12:4). The Lord will watch over Jerusalem (“I will keep my eyes open”—12:4), causing those in Judah to exclaim “The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the Lord of hosts, their God” (12:5).
“On that day” the clans of Judah will become like a “blazing pot in the midst of wood” and “like a flaming torch among sheaves” (12:6). They will “devour” the armies of the attacking nations, leaving Jerusalem “inhabited in its place” (12:6). As we find out in the following chapters, this does not mean Jerusalem remains unscathed by the attacks; however, in spite of their suffering at the hands of the nations, Israel will ultimately be delivered physically and renewed spiritually by the Lord (see 14:1-3, 20-21).
When the Lord saves His people, He “will give salvation to the tents of Judah first” (12:7). The reason? He does not want “the glory of Jerusalem” to “surpass that of Judah” (12:7). Still, on that day, the Lord will indeed “protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem” (12:8). The people of the city will be made strong, both the “feeblest” and the leaders (“the house of David”—12:8). “On that day” the Lord will “destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem” (12:8).
Beginning in verse 10, Zechariah shifts to what will be happening in the hearts of the people of Jerusalem as they are attacked by the nations and delivered by the Lord. On that day, the Lord will “pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn” (12:10). These words, written 500 years before Christ Jesus was “pierced” on the cross, speak of the lament that takes place among the Jews when they realize they killed their own Messiah. Their mourning will be “great”, like that of the nation when good king Josiah was killed in the “plain of Megiddo” (12:11; 2 Chron 35:22). The royal family (David, Nathan) will mourn by themselves (12:12); the Levitical families (Levi, Shimeites) will do the same (12:13). All the other families “that are left” will also lament “by themselves” (12:14).
Knowing God: Understanding His Person and Ways
The Lord controls the future of Israel and their enemies. Zechariah envisions the finale of history, the Day of the Lord, when the Lord intervenes to rescue Judah and Jerusalem from the powerful nations invading and besieging them (12:2-6). In chapter 14, we learn these attacks will initially succeed, causing great suffering to the people of Jerusalem (14:2). When Israel’s defeat looks certain, the Lord will intervene, blinding and confusing the invaders (12:4) and rescuing His people (12:6). Here is a reminder that historical events, though bloody and violent, are sovereignly controlled by the Lord. The One who “formed the spirit of man within him” ultimately determines what happens in human affairs (12:1, 9). He plans to rescue and redeem Israel despite the united attacks of their enemies.
The Lord allows Israel to be alone and attacked before He rescues them. On the climactic Day of the Lord, “all the nations of the earth will gather against” the nation of Israel (12:3). Israel will stand alone, attacked by many nations. Zechariah describes the attack using the military weapons of his day (horses and riders—12:4). This terminology implies the nations will use their best military might (modern equivalents of horses and riders) to invade Israel. The Lord does not prevent the attack; however, He supports Israel by giving them “strength” (12:5) and by thwarting the impact of the attack: “I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness” (12:4). The book of Revelation echoes this theme of an international attack against Israel and divine intervention to protect them (Rev 19:17-21).
The Lord will graciously bring about a national repentance in Israel. During the “Day of the Lord”, as Israel experiences God’s help when under attack, the nation will return to the Lord they have rejected. Because of God’s “grace” and “mercy”, the people of Israel will come to realize a terrible truth: they rejected the Lord’s Messiah, Jesus. In language that precisely describes what will happen, the people of Israel will have their eyes opened to look on “him whom they pierced” (12:10). In their sorrow, they will “weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn” (12:10). They will repent of their crucifixion of Jesus, God’s Son, the firstborn from the dead (Col 1:18). This national repentance, referenced by Paul, replaces Israel’s “partial hardening” with saving faith (Rom 11:25-27).
Joining God: Moving with God on Mission
Repentance comes from the gift of God’s grace and mercy. Israel’s deep repentance comes because of God’s grace and mercy: “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy so that, when they look upon me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him. . .” (12:10). It’s God prevenient grace that brings about Israel’s heart-felt repentance. The apostle Paul highlights this truth when he explains that God grants “repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim 2:25). Even our ability to repent of sin flows from the grace of God.
National repentance impacts a nation on a personal, individual level. The people of Israel will repent in a deeply personal way; “families” (clans) and “wives” will mourn for their sin “by themselves” (12:13, 14). While national repentance impacts many people at once, it is also very individualized and personal. Repentance moves us to personally grieve for our sins and turn for mercy to the Lord.
Repentance involves sorrowing for the pain our sin has caused the Lord. True repentance involves more than regretting the consequences of our sin. Genuine repentance grieves over the pain our disobedience brings to our God. When the Lord pours a spirit of grace and mercy on His people, they weep over how they have “pierced” the Lord, wounding His heart and His Son (12:10). King David understood this when he wrote, “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight” (Ps 51:4). While our sin damages us and others, true repentance mourns for the way our sin pierces the Lord.
Rick and Linda Reed 