Author’s note: If you are new to my blog and are interested in reading the 23.xx series, please first read the 23.01 through 23.09. Consider how I arrived where I am and maybe we’ve crossed spiritual paths. I am impassioned by Jesus Christ’s teaching of the “narrow gate” (Matthew 7:13-14) and, in love, my posts are focused on driving your attention to that critical truth.
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ZECHARIAH 12
This chapter, as in many instances of Israel’s Old Testament history, God, the Lord of Hosts, goes to war and this prophetic, glorious and pivotal battle describes one of the greatest empowerments of His Chosen people where “… the one who is feeble shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, the Angel of the Lord before them…” That’s prophetic talk for, “If you are going up against this force, you are headed to a certain devastating defeat.”
However, what struck me was the last part of Chapter 12 subtitled in the NKJV as “Mourning for the Pierced One.” It begins, “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes. they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a first-born.”
The remainder of the chapter contains several verses describing the intensity of the mourning of this people who had just won a mighty victory, perhaps the battle of all battles. Most victories there is great rejoicing in the deliverance, but what is happening here?
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THE HIGH SCHOOL DRIVER WHO RAN OVER A YOUNG CHILD BICYCLIST
It was a disturbing news story in the local paper, a high school student who was driving to school in the morning had limited visibility due to weather. While driving down a narrow road, she struck a small girl riding her bicycle and dragged her under the car for a distance.
The high school student continued to drive as though nothing had happened. Initial news reports suggested when confronted she denied anything had happened.
Have you ever done something wrong and do not see or ignore any consequences? As a result, have you have assured yourself that you have done nothing wrong?
Like this teenage driver, the consequences may be too shocking, too hard to accept or to comprehend.
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A FAILURE OF HUMAN NATURE
I see both the personal tragedy, as exemplified in the story of the teenage driver, and the story of an entire people given in prophecy in Zechariah as connected.
There’s something in human nature that we are tempted with, which is, one does not accept responsibility for an error if there appears to be no consequences. Therefore, the lack of consequences then means there is nothing wrong.
This is contrary to a spiritual rule where the greater the clarity is towards your brokenness, the greater you are able to see and receive the grace and mercy of God.
But is that the end purpose simply to become contrite and be healed by the mercy of God?
Somewhere in the majesty of God’s great mercy one may come to arrive to the greater understanding of God’s truths, blessings and glory in addition to purpose for your life now and into eternity.
In the case of the death of a child, the family must live with the loss of a loved one and their incidental contributions to the tragedy. Guilt imposed on the driver will not remove the bitterness of their loss or of their own regrets. How could it?
The driver, soon confronted with reality, having coming to grips with her errors, will learn, as she suffers into maturity, the grief of great loss experienced by others and the value of another’s life, as she works through the lamenting over the destruction of her own innocence.
Both sides will suffer the deterioration of their self-pride and what their imagined control of their own lives.
Through unspeakable grieving, mourning and regrets of both the driver, her family and the parents and family of the dead child, the incessant “what if I had done something differently” or “what if I had do this [or that]”… even “why have I lived only to suffer this devastating loss?” or “Why me?” or “Why us?” will persist without the intervention of the supernatural peace that defies understanding.
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IN THAT DAY
In the case of the people of Israel in That Day yet to come, they will be convicted. With a seared conscience given their devastating error promulgated through generations of deep religious belief reinforced by ritual and tradition.
In that Day, an entire remnant of Israel will be miraculously delivered from their enemies as in the days of old but instead of the overwhelming joy normally contained in absolute victory will be a time of conviction because of their face-to-face awareness of living Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah “whom they pierced.”
With the “utmost bitterness” (quoted from Charles Spurgeon) will they gravely mourn their former enmity with God.
Do you think that somehow this pivotal drama is somehow constrained upon the pages of Scripture?
The Lord is Lord of all, not only the Israelites and not only Christians. From the very beginning, it has been God’s intention to reconcile all peoples of the world to Himself.
I can only imagine, from my own regrets on a personal level (that I have had to release to the Lord), the Jewish people will lament not only for themselves, but for those they loved who are lost because of their lack of faith and understanding of the Risen Lord, the Living Christ.
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Seek the Narrow Gate. Wide is the path to destruction.
CKY
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