13. Advent of Christ

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Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church

Adult Sunday School

6 May 2018

ADVENT OF CHRIST

Zechariah 9:1-17 (KJV)

1  The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall bethe rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall betoward the LORD. 2  And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise. 3  And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. 4  Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire. 5  Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. 6  And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. 7  And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall befor our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite. 8  And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes. 9  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he isjust, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. 10  And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall befrom sea evento sea, and from the river evento the ends of the earth.  

  • GOD’S INSTRUMENT OF JUDGMENT (1) 

1  The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall bethe rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall betoward the LORD. 2  And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise. 3  And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. 4  Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.

Ezekiel 28:1-10 (KJV) 1 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart islifted up, and thou hast said, I ama God, I sit inthe seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou arta man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God: 3 Behold, thou artwiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee: 4  With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures: 5 By thy great wisdom andby thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches: 6 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God; 7 Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness. 8 They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that areslain in the midst of the seas. 9 Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I amGod? but thou shalt bea man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee. 10 Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD. 

This section is a description of God’s judgment upon the nations surrounding Israel. Hadrach is a town in the north-western part of Lebanon, mentioned only in Zechariah 9:1, where it is grouped with Damascus, Hamath, Tyre, and Sidon. Alexander the Great was God’s instrument to carry out these judgments. Syria and Palestine fell to his lightning conquests after the battle of Issus in 333 B.C. over Darius and the Persians. Zechariah 9:8a is fulfilled concerning Jerusalem, “And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth.” The Macedonian armies of Alexander the Great passed by the city of David without laying siege to her. 

The prophecy against Tyre is given in Zechariah 9:2b-4, “Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise. And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.” 

Tyre of Phoenicia was singled out for special mention in this prophecy. Nebuchadnezzar spent 14 years trying to conquer the city and gave up. Her prosperity and worldly wisdom constituted a ‘standing moral difficulty’ for the Jews. Why should this city, devoted so unscrupulously to the pursuit of wealth, go unharmed, while God’s people were afflicted with one calamity after another? This island kingdom had built a fortress or citadel of great strength and has seemingly an impregnable position. Her pride against God is described vividly in Ezekiel 28:1-10. When the city resisted Alexander, he besieged it for seven months, building a vast mole to the island which remains to this day. It was a monument to the execution of Divine wrath upon the proud, luxurious and idolatrous city! 

The pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world. Keep me, Lord, in humble dependence upon You. 

  • GOD’S INSTRUMENT OF JUDGMENT (2) 

5  Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. 6  And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. 7  And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall befor our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite. 8  And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.

Jeremiah 47:1-7 (KJV) 1 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza. 2Thus saith the LORD; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl. 3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and atthe rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to theirchildren for feebleness of hands; 4 Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, andto cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor. 5 Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off withthe remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself? 6 O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it beere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still. 7 How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it. 

No doubt Alexander the Great ravished the Philistine cities in Palestine. Ashkelon saw the coming judgment of God, and feared. Gaza shall also be severely distressed, and for Ekron, her hope turned to shame: Gaza’s king perished, and the city of Ashkelon was removed from its ancient place, ceasing to exist. Moreover, a child of illegitimate birth shall dwell in Ashdod as a result of the ravishes of war. Ashdod lost her native population as a result of Alexander’s conquest. 

Four of the five cities of Philistia are mentioned here: Ashklelon, Gaza, Ekron and Ashdod. Only Gath is omitted. Only Gaza is mentioned in the annals of Alexander’s conquest as a stout, impregnable fortress that fell after five months of siege. The king was slain. The pride of the Philistines was subdued. Zechariah saw that they were being delivered from the idolatrous abominations of the Philistines that were a bad influence upon Israel. “…take away his blood out of his mouth and abominations from between his teeth” refer to the polluting foods and other practices of idolatry. These pagan customs shall be purged away for they were detested and abominable. The Philistines purged of their idolatry will be amalgamated with the people of God as did David when he took Zion from the Jebusites. 

Alexander marched down to Jerusalem, according to Josephus, and demanded of the Jewish high priest Jaddua the payment of tribute which the Jews had customarily paid to the king of Persia. The high priest refused to break his agreement of loyalty with Darius. Alexander, in a rage threatened to inflict a severe punishment on Jerusalem as soon as Tyre and other Philistine strongholds were fallen. Because of the similar dreams which Alexander and the high priest had, the Jews were kindly treated. The priests who ordered Jerusalem to make sacrifices to God and pray for deliverance gave thanks for a marvelous deliverance according to the prophecy of Zechariah. 

Jesus lives to make intercession for me. Thank You, Lord, for praying for me in heaven. 

  • 1st ADVENT OF CHRIST IN HUMILITY 

9  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he isjust, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Matthew 21:1-10 (KJV) 1And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring themunto me. 3 And if anymansay ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 4All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set himthereon. 8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed themin the way. 9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed ishe that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. 10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 

Zechariah 9:9 is the prophecy of Jesus’ First Coming in humility. Riding on a donkey is a sign of humility as contrasted with the grandeur and glory of His Second Coming riding on a white horse with the heavenly armies symbolizing great military power. Before Solomon’s time, the princes of Israel rode on donkeys (Jud 5:10, 10:4). It was only from Solomon’s time, that kings rode on horses. In the coronation of Solomon, he rode on David’s mule (1 Kings 1:38). The King of kings who is infinitely holy came riding on a donkey to save the unholy at His first advent.

Jesus paid the price in full by His life and death for the purchase of our redemption. Jesus came as our substitute. The sins of all mankind since the fall so heinous in the sight of God will be borne by the lowly Messiah. Men throughout the world and in all ages have this hope over their greatest enemy – physical and eternal death in the everlasting torment of hell fire. 

We cannot fully fathom the condescension of God in the person of His only begotten Son but we can bow in gratitude and thanksgiving that He made the way possible for us to be reconciled to our Maker. The humility of Christ sets for us the example as to how we are to approach the Thrice Holy God. Jesus taught this blessed way of humility in the Sermon on the Mount. His first public discourse and His first words were, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The brokenness of spirit to realize our sinfulness is pleasing in God’s sight. This is contrasted with the pride of the world characterized by the self-sufficient attitude of the inhabitants of Tyre who were so proud of their own strength. 

“Humility, that low, sweet root from which all heavenly virtues shoot.” (Thomas Moore, 1779-1852) Help me, Lord, to know my total depravity and to recognize my sins before You and to repent of them. 

  • 2nd ADVENT OF CHRIST AS GLORIOUS KING 

“And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.” (Zech 9:10) 

Isaiah 9:4-6 (KJV) 4For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. 5 For every battle of the warrior iswith confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but thisshall be with burning andfuel of fire. 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Romans 11:25-27 (KJV) 25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this ismy covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

From deep humiliation and affliction of Messiah at His first advent in verse 9, Zechariah was then directed to the glory that will follow the Second Coming of Israel’s Redeemer-King. These prophecies were given not only for Jerusalem and Israel but for the whole earth. We are today living in days just before the rapture. It can come anytime (1 Thess 4:13-18, 1 Cor 15:51- 58). Unbelieving Israel will be sorely tried and purified before Messiah comes to save them to establish His Millennial Kingdom from Jerusalem. The rule and reign of Messiah in power and glory is given here. Israel’s King will announce peace and end all hostilities.

Ephraim and Jerusalem (Isa 7:1-2) speak of the disunited Israel that will give way to a united Israel under the Messiah. Peace will prevail in all the lands of the earth. Messiah will speak true peace to all the nations who will “kowtow” or pay obeisance to Him. His dominion will be global from “sea even to sea” and “from the river even to the ends of the earth.” With the economic meltdown of global financial systems today, job losses abound and a credit crunch causes many companies to shut down for want of cash flow. Individuals who have been living on borrowed money will suffer as banks tighten lending. Famines inevitably lead to hunger and force men to go to war. The many weapons of mass destruction that fall into wicked hands can cause untold misery and suffering. Truly, Jesus must come quickly! 

“Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Rev 22:20). Help me, Lord, to be watchful and ready for Your return!