OUT OF HIM
Zechariah 10:3 Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle. 4 Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.
The Lord had just gotten through warning of his anger against the shepherds who had aided his people into their practice of idolatry, which got them into the punishment of the Babylonian captivity. Now he tells them he has visited his flock in the finishing out of this judgment, and has changed the character of the people of Israel from wandering aimlessly as troubled sheep (v.2), into the boldness and strength as that of a battle horse! And he instructs them that they have gone from the results of no shepherd, into the benefits listed in verse four, by the leadership that he would provide them. He reveals that their security of salvation would be provided them from within Judah. For he gives no less than four provisions that shall come forth Out of him!
But why out of Judah? Why not out of Levi? For that’s where the priesthood was established. Listen to the Apostle Paul addressing this matter:
Hebrews 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
The changing of the priesthood, and the focus of the law was that middle wall of partition that Christ broke down in the offering up of his flesh at Calvary! (Eph. 2:14, 15). Now the Gentile elect have entrance into the holy place, and a High Priest as well. Now both Jew and Gentile believers are simply “Christians.” They both have the same faith, the same Lord, the same High Priest, and are of the one spiritual body, the church.
And just who is this shepherd of the tribe of Judah? He is the one upon whom the gaze of John came to rest for the comfort from his weeping, as a representative man, watching the Old Testament end, and wondering how to proceed into the New Covenant. But when the character of Juda was revealed as the provider of eternal salvation, worship began! Revelation 5:4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
And let us compare the contents of Zechariah 10:2 with a verse in Matthew to see, without doubt, that the Lord Jesus Christ is that man! Zechariah 10:2 For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd. Matthew 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
Christ alone is the Good Shepherd, giving his life for the sheep. (John 10:11). He is the Great Shepherd, raising from the dead after providing his blood for the sheep. (Heb. 13:20). He is the Chief Shepherd, appearing again in his second coming to provide the believers with an unfading crown of glory! (1Pet. 5:4).
The Corner
Out of him came forth the corner, or as it is translated in Isaiah 28:16, corner stone. The church is revealed as a growing building, for the holy habitation of God. (Ephes. 2:21,22). And God is pleased to set forth his Son to both sustain and define that building. For in Ephesians 2:20 we read, And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
For just as no other being could provide the salvation of the elect, so, no one but the very Son of God could possible sustain their salvation eternally! Acts 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
And by this Corner Stone the church is defined. For the corner stone brings the two walls together. Their angle is determined by the square of the stone! And in Ephesians we read of the two portions, Jews and Gentiles, being made into one building for God’s in-dwelling. Eph. 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
The Nail
…out of him the nail… Consider this passage in Isaiah 22:20-25: And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah: 21 And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. 22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. 23 And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house. 24 And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father’s house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons. 25 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the LORD hath spoken it.
A natural king is set forth here to speak of the Person of the King of all kings! (John 5:39). He has the responsibility of the government. And of Christ it is said that the government shall rest upon his shoulder! (Isa. 9:6). He is also said to have the key of the house of David, shutting not to be reopened, and opening, not to be closed! Listen to Revelation 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; This Holy and True one is none other than Christ Himself!
Then we read in verse 23 of our Isaiah passage, And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; Dear Reader, Christ can be trusted to hang your eternal well-being upon! He has been forever fastened by God Himself; and that is a sure place! Psalm 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. 2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Notice that it does not say, “What I have believed,” but “whom!”
Then in verse 24 we read of a very special provision of God’s Nail; He shall bear the glory! That was the original problem in our sin! We failed at the glory! Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; And there is none among us who can regain it!
But thankfully we read of One who can, and did! 2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Zechariah had previously spoken of this. Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (6:13).
And the Apostle John confirms it in his writings: John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
And upon him, Isaiah states in this passage that all the vessels, large and small, shall be sustained and displayed upon this fastened nail. We now have the treasure of spiritual life in earthen vessels (2 Cor. 4:7). But it is Christ alone who sustains and displays our spiritual identities, for without him we can do nothing! (John 5:15).
And it is only Christ living within the believer that grants him any hope of eternal glory! Col. 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
All glory to the Lamb!
Pastor Gene Breed
March 26, 2011