Zechariah 13

Atonement For Israel

On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity. Zechariah 13:1

The original sin of humanity is the one thing in the Bible that can be proven conclusively by our daily experiences. [1] We are all sinners and we will never get anywhere in the realm of salvation without acknowledging this fact. The Bible says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Rom. 3:23). Author Paul Copan says, “Without the language of sin, the language of salvation doesn’t make sense.” [2] We understand from the Bible that sin is extremely toxic and contagious. Historian Paul Johnson says: “Implicit in the Bible is the holistic notion that one man’s sin however small, affects the entire world, however imperceptibly, and vice versa.” [3]

Even Israel, God’s special and chosen people, did not escape the sin problem. In fact, it was sin that caused the defeat and destruction of Israel on two historic occasions in 586 BC and AD 70. Although David was chosen to initiate an eternal kingship, even he did not escape sin. Most prominent was the sin with Bathsheba which became a national disgrace. So, even David and his house needed cleansing from sin. However, the multitudes of offerings required in Israel never really dealt with sin and moral impurity. All the offerings were but types and shadows as they pointed to the coming of the Messiah who would at last deal decisively with the sin problem.

When the Messiah Jesus was revealed in Israel some twenty centuries ago Gentiles accepted him and his atonement, but most Jews refused anything to do with him. Since that time believing Gentiles have their sins forgiven while the Jewish people are left awaiting their atonement.

We note here that it is a fountain that will be miraculously opened for the house of David and for Jerusalem. This is a special fountain for the Jewish people. When we hear “fountain” we think immediately of water. However, the evidence is that this is a fountain of cleansing blood from Jesus the Messiah. That fountain began on the cross, especially with the piercing of Jesus’ side. Wiersbe remarks: “The Jews could cleanse their external ceremonial uncleanness by washing in water, but for internal cleansing, the sinful heart of men and women can be cleansed only by the blood of the Savior (Lev. 16:30).” [4] Leviticus 17:11 says: “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” Hebrews 9:22 says: “…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” The blood of animals was a type and pattern as we have said. It was a pattern and shadow of the true atonement that would come only through Jesus and his death on the cross. In fact, the Bible says, “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Heb. 10:4).

This reminds us of that old hymn, “ What Can Wash Away My Sin? ” by Robert Lowry:

What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

O precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow;

No other fount I know,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus. [5]

We think of another timeless hymn written by William Cowper back in the 1700s:

There is a fountain filled with blood

Drawn from Immanuel’s veins;

And sinners plunged beneath that flood,

Lose all their guilty stains. [6]

The sure meaning of verse one is that a National Day of Atonement is coming for Israel and the Jewish people. Israel will be bathed in the blood of the Lamb of God at last. As Gill said, “An entire volume could be written identifying this ‘fountain’ as the blood of Christ.” [7] The scripture says: “‘The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,’ declares the LORD” (Isa. 59:20).

It is sad and tragic that today we have almost lost the concept of original sin and even sin in general. If we have some spiritual problem we are prone to seek out a counselor and try to blame the problem on someone else.

For much of its history, Judaism was a very bloody religion. Continual sacrifices were required at the temple in Jerusalem and the blood constantly flowed from the altar down into the Kidron Valley. But in time, Judaism became an altar-less, bloodless religion, as it is today. What is even more alarming is that we are coming closer and closer to an altar-less, cross-less, and bloodless Christianity. A recent quote from a feminist theologian, Delores Williams, illustrates this trend. She says: “I don’t think we need folks hanging on crosses and blood dripping and weird stuff.” [8]

Idolatry And False Prophecy

“‘On that day, I will banish the names of the idols from the land, and they will be remembered no more,’ declares the LORD Almighty. ‘I will remove both the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land.’” Zechariah 13:2

In 10:2, we saw that there were still some problems with idols, even after the return from Babylonian captivity. Here we see the problem emerge again. The necessary companions to idolatry are always false prophecy and the spirit of impurity.

We might wonder why idolatry has been so popular with humanity and why it is still popular today. The writer Donald McCullough says of this: “We will be tempted, therefore, to create for ourselves gods who will not threaten us with transcendence, gods who will be manifestly useful in a world of confusing voices, and gods who will conform to the contours of our individualistic desires.” [9] In our grossly materialistic age, we are prone to make idols of cars, houses, jobs, salaries, educational programs, sports and a host of other things. Where we spend our time and money is usually a pretty good indicator of what we are worshipping.

In our 21st century, we often worship ourselves. We become our gods or else we choose Hollywood, music or sports idols to worship. This was really the first temptation to humanity, “…you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:5). “Sociologist Robert Bellah tells of Sheila Larson, a young nurse who describes her faith as “Sheilaism.” She says, “I believe in God. I’m not a religious fanatic. I can’t remember the last time I went to church. My faith has carried me a long way. It’s Sheilaism. Just my own little voice.” [10]

Unfortunately, our idols provide us with no sure moral direction. Jeremiah Johnson says: “Indeed, the gods of the Greeks and Romans seemed to be just as lustful and untrustworthy as humans were.” [11] Perhaps one of the worst things about idolatry is its corrosive effect upon human nature. The Christian philosopher Nancy Pearcey says: “The lesson is that idol-based ideologies are invariably dehumanizing, and if unchecked they lead to repression, coercion, oppression, war, and violence.” [12] The Bible says of idols: “Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them” (Psa. 135:18).

On Israel’s coming National Day of Atonement, the acceptance of Jesus as Messiah will put a final end to idolatry. The nearness of Christ will drive uncleanness and false prophecy out of the land. Even the names of the idols will be no longer mentioned (cf. Exo. 23:13; Psa. 16:4).

“And if anyone still prophesies, their father and mother, to whom they were born, will say to them, ‘You must die, because you have told lies in the LORD’s name.’ Then their own parents will stab the one who prophesies” (13:3). Pfeiffer and Harrison say that, “in the day of Israel’s purification no prophet will pride himself on his office.” [13] The Apostle Paul says: “For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears” (1 Cor. 13:9-10). When that which is perfect comes the imperfect passes away. In such a time prophecy, or rather false prophecy, will become a dangerous business. This will so much be the case that one’s own parents will kill that son or daughter for prophesying.

“On that day every prophet will be ashamed of their prophetic vision. They will not put on a prophet’s garment of hair in order to deceive” (13:4). Prophets were often identified by their robes of hair (cf. 2 Ki. 1:8; Matt. 3:4; Mk. 1:6). This robe could be made of goat’s hair, coarse wool, or camel’s hair. Henry Ward Beecher once said, “Clothes do not make the man, but once he is made, they greatly improve his appearance.” [14] Beecher’s generalization would probably not apply to hairy prophets.

“Each will say, ‘I am not a prophet. I am a farmer; the land has been my livelihood since my youth’” (13:5). Author David Kupelian says, “There’s dark magic in boldly lying, in telling a ‘big lie’ – repeatedly, with a straight face and with confidence and authority.” [15] Lying came quite naturally to the false prophets since their master Satan was a liar and the father of lies (Jn. 8:44). They would claim anything to save their skin.

“If someone asks, ‘What are these wounds on your body?’ they will answer, ‘The wounds I was given at the house of my friends’” (13:6). Commentators think these wounds were gained in the service of pagan deities (cf. 1 Ki. 18:28; Jer. 48:37). The false prophet is quick to deny this saying that the wounds were the result of some private brawl. Occasionally, an interpreter will try to link this passage to the sufferings of Jesus. Guzik says: “the context and the original Hebrew argue against this referring to Jesus and his wounds…” [16] We can understand the reluctance of false prophets to identify themselves as prophets since the Bible plainly required that they be put to death (Deut. 13:2-6).

The Shepherd

“‘Awake, sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!’ declares the LORD Almighty. ‘Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones.’” Zechariah13:7

There is certainly no question as to whom this verse speaks. The Holy Spirit has placed this passage into the New Testament and has ascribed the words to Jesus in Matthew 26:31 and Mark 14:27. Jesus knew that when evil men would strike him, his sheep or disciples would become scattered. The shepherd is described as the one close to God. Baldwin says of the Hebrew “my shepherd indicates that this is no ordinary leader, but the Lord’s gift to his people.” [17] Pfeiffer and Harrison add: “God speaks of his Shepherd as his Fellow, his Equal…There is no stronger statement in the Old Testament regarding the unimpeachable deity of Israel’s Messiah, the Son of God.” [18]

“‘In the whole land,’ declares the LORD, ‘two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it’” (13:8). Some commentators have tried to tie this section to the destruction of Jerusalem and much of the land by the Romans in AD 70. However, no one has been able to substantiate the “two-thirds” and the “one-third” figures mentioned here. Certainly, a holy remnant survived Jerusalem in AD 70 as the Christians escaped to Pella in today’s Jordan.

It seems far more likely that the prophet is speaking of a significant purging to come, perhaps in the Great Tribulation. Baldwin says, “In some terrible catastrophe two-thirds of the population of the land of Israel is to be killed (cf. Ezk. 5:1, 12).” [19] We must remember that God has always worked with a holy remnant (Isa. 10:21-22; 37:31-32). The doctrine of the remnant is seen in Rom. 9:27-28: “Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: ‘Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved. For the Lord will carry out his sentence on earth with speed and finality.’” From what we can tell of the final days in scripture, we see a people purged by the fires of tribulation and made holy for their Master. Not everyone called “Jew” will be saved and neither will everyone called “Christian.”

“This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God’” (13:9). The remnant of Israel will be put through the fire of God in the last days. That remnant will surely include some Gentile Christians who are now grafted into the nation (Rom. 11:17-18: Eph. 2:11-22; 3:6) and probably some who even reside in Israel. This will be another Holocaust of unimaginable proportions.

Many believers today do not feel they will have to endure suffering but the scripture soundly disputes this. The Psalmist says: “ For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance (Psa. 66:10-12).” Paul and his associates assure us, “…We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God…” (Acts 14:22). Peter instructs us: “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Pet. 1:6-7).

Though many perish in the last days God will have a holy remnant refined in the fire. Isaiah assures us of this saying in 37:32: “For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.”

Footnotes

1. Paul Copan, How Do You Know You’re Not Wrong? (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2005), p. 208.

2. Ibid., p. 211.

3. Paul Johnson, A History of the Jews (NY: Harper & Roe, 1987), p.159.

4. Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, OT, p. 1520.

5. Hymn Net: https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/1008

6. Ibid., p. 1006.

7. Quoted in Coffman, Coffman’s Commentaries on the Bible, v. 13:1.

8. Carl Olson & Sandra Miesel, The Da Vinci Hoax (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2004), p. 92.

9. Donald W. McCullough, The Trivialization of God: The Dangerous Illusion of a Manageable Deity (Colo. Springs: Nav Press, 1995), p. 24.

10. Ibid., p. 22.

11. Jeremiah J. Johnston, Unimaginable, What Our World Would Be Like Without Christianity (Minneapolis: Bethany House, 2017), p. 42.

12. Nancy Pearcey, Finding Truth (Colorado Springs: David Cook, 2015), p. 135.

13. Pfeiffer & Harrison, The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 909.

14. Gregory Spencer, Awakening The Quieter Virtues (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2010), p. 78.

15. David Kupelian, How Evil Works: Understanding and Overcoming the Destructive Forces That Are Transforming America (New York: Threshold Editions, 2010), p. 14.

16. Guzik, Enduring Word, Zechariah, vs. 13:2-6.

17. Baldwin, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, p. 197.

18. Pfeiffer & Harrison, The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 910.

19. Baldwin, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, p. 198.