December 23, 2021
What does it say?
The Lord Almighty will shield Jerusalem, making her strong when nations gather against her. The city will mourn after God pours out a spirit of grace and supplication.
What does it mean?
For 70 years these returned exiles had mourned and fasted for all they had lost when Jerusalem fell. Zechariah gave an oracle of yet another battle followed by mourning in the distant future. During the Battle of Armageddon, the Lord will defend Israel against the world’s armies, supernaturally enabling even the weakest among them to defeat their enemies. Why would they mourn after such a great victory? A spiritual awakening will accompany their physical deliverance. God’s Spirit will graciously allow Israel to see Jesus for who He is – the Messiah they rejected and the Savior who led them in battle.
How should I respond?
We naturally grieve over the loss of someone close to us. You might also mourn the changes that accompany the loss of a home or a job. But do you grieve over your sin? Each lie and deception helped nail Jesus to the cross. Each immoral thought or hidden act was a stroke of the hammer. The Lord’s Supper is a remembrance of the price Jesus paid for our sin (Luke 22:19). Those moments of reflection should grieve our hearts, but grief turns to joy, knowing that He is the One who makes us victorious – daily and eternally. Will you allow godly grief over your sin to bring a spiritual renewal today?