Day 990: God is on watch - Zechariah 9 vs 1 - 8

1-2 The burden of the word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrach and Damascus is its resting-place. For the Lord has an eye on mankind and on all the tribes of Israel, and on Hamath also, which borders on it, Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise.

3-4 Tyre has built herself a rampart and heaped up silver like dust, and fine gold like the mud of the streets. But behold, the Lord will strip her of her possessions and strike down her power on the sea, and she shall be devoured by fire.

5-6 Ashkelon shall see it, and be afraid; Gaza too, and shall writhe in anguish; Ekron also, because its hopes are confounded. The king shall perish from Gaza; Ashkelon shall be uninhabited; a mixed (Hebrew: bastard) people shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of Philistia. 7 I will take away its blood from its mouth, and its abominations from between its teeth; it too shall be a remnant for our God; it shall be like a clan in Judah, and Ekron shall be like the Jebusites. 8 Then I will encamp at my house as a guard, so that none shall march to and fro; no oppressor shall again march over them, for now I see with my own eyes. Zechariah 9:1-8 English Standard Version

The places named in today's reading are all situated in the region we know today as Israel, Syria and Gaza. Then, as now, there was warfare taking place. God gave Zechariah a solemn message about what was going to happen. What was the encouragement in vs 1-2 for the Jews who'd returned to Jerusalem after a long exile in a foreign lands?

Zechariah reminded them that the Lord had His eye on mankind, and on all the tribes of Israel. God wasn’t only fully aware of what was going on in the world, He was also watching over His people and acting on their behalf. As the Jews were battling to rebuild Jerusalem which had been destroyed by the armies of Babylon, they would have been aware of other cities in the region, such as Tyre, which seemed to thriving. But God announced through Zechariah that Tyre was doomed to destruction. This would lead to fear in other cities, and places such as Ashkelon would be repopulated with people from other countries. What was one reason why the cities of that area were going to be destroyed? (vs 7)

It was because of their pagan sacrifices. Hundreds of years earlier God had brought judgment on previous nations who had occupied that part of the world, and who had filled it with all sorts of evil ways. Notice the strong word God used for deeds that really displease Him. He calls them 'abominations'. That word is mostly used for when people worship things rather than God. On one occasion Jesus warned His disciples and said: “You cannot serve God and money.” But when the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard that, they ridiculed Him. And Jesus said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:13-15) All forms of idolatry are an abomination to God, including self-worship.

I'm indebted to Charles L Feinberg in the Wycliffe Bible Commentary for explaining how the conquests Zechariah spoke of here were going to be the result of when Alexander the Great invaded that region as he expanded his large empire. History records that when the people of Tyre fortified themselves on an island, Alexander used the ruins of the old city to build a pier, by which his troops reached and captured the island fortress of Tyre in 332 BC.

What was the encouragement the Israelites could take from Zechariah's words in vs 8?

God speaks there of guarding His people so that none shall march over them. Feinberg makes the point that history also records that Alexander passed by Jerusalem more than once on his campaigns. And although he was harsh on the Samaritans, he did the Jews no harm. Here is encouragement for Christians today as well. God's eye is still upon the nations, and His eye is still on the lives of His people. Jesus said: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.” (Matthew 10:29-30) Indeed, God is on watch.