Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Zechariah
Book: Zechariah
Chapter: 14
Overview:
The sufferings of
Jerusalem.
(1-7) Encouraging prospects, and
the
Destruction of her enemies.
(8-15) The
Holiness of the
latter days.
(16-21)
1-7 The
Lord Jesus often stood upon the
Mount of Olives when
On
Earth. He ascended from thence to
Heaven, and then desolations
and distresses came upon the Jewish nation. Such is the view
taken of this figuratively; but many consider it as a notice of
events yet unfulfilled, and that it relates to troubles of which
we cannot now form a full idea. Every believer, being related to
God as his
God, may triumph in the expectation of
Christ's
coming in power, and speak of it with pleasure. During a long
season, the state of the
Church would be deformed
By Sin; there
would be a mixture of
Truth and error, of happiness and misery.
Such is the experience of
God's people, a mingled state of
Grace
and corruption. But, when the season is at the worst, and most
unpromising, the
Lord will turn
Darkness into
Light; deliverance
comes when
God's people have done looking for it.
8-15 Some consider that the progress of the
Gospel, beginning
from
Jerusalem, is referred to
By the living waters flowing from
that
City. Neither shall the
Gospel and
Means of Grace, nor the
graces of the
Spirit wrought in the hearts of believers
By those
means, ever fail,
By reason either of the heat of
Persecution,
or storms of
Temptation, or the blasts of any other affliction.
Tremendous judgments appear to be foretold, to be sent upon
those who should oppose the settlement of the Jews in their own
land. How far they are to be understood literally, events alone
can determine. The furious rage and malice which stir up men
against each other, are faint shadows of the
Enmity which reigns
among those who have perished in their sins. Even the inferior
creatures often suffer for the
Sin of
Man, and in his plagues.
Thus
God will show his displeasure against
Sin.
16-21 As it is impossible for all nations literally to come to
Jerusalem once a
Year, to keep a
Feast, it is evident that a
figurative meaning must here be applied.
Gospel Worship is
represented
By the keeping of the
Feast of
Tabernacles. Every
Day of a
Christian's
Life is a
Day of the
Feast of
Tabernacles;
every
Lord's Day especially is the great
Day of the
Feast;
therefore every
Day let us
Worship the
Lord of hosts, and keep
every
Lord's Day with
Peculiar solemnity. It is just for
God to
withhold the blessings of
Grace from those who do not attend the
Means of Grace. It is a
Sin that is its own
Punishment; those
who forsake the duty, forfeit the privilege of
Communion with
God. A time of complete peace and purity of the
Church will
arrive. Men will carry
On their common affairs, and their sacred
services, upon the same holy principles of
Faith,
Love and
obedience. Real
Holiness shall be more diffused, because there
shall be a more plentiful pouring forth of the
Spirit of
Holiness than ever before. There shall be
Holiness even in
common things. Every action and every enjoyment of the believer,
should be
So regulated according to the will of
God, that it may
be directed to his
Glory. Our whole lives should be as one
constant
Sacrifice, or act of devotion;
No selfish motive should
prevail in any of our actions. But how far is the
Christian
Church from this state of purity! Other times, however, are at
Hand, and the
Lord will reform and enlarge his
Church, as he has
promised. Yet in
Heaven alone will perfect
Holiness and
happiness be found.