ZECHARIAH LESSON 10

     We will begin this lesson in Zechariah 10:1 "Ask ye of the LORD
rain in the time of the latter rain; [so] the LORD shall make bright
clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the
field."

     This has a double meaning. In the physical, they should pray and
ask God for the rain the last time before the crop matures. This rain
would provide an abundant crop. Deuteronomy 11:13  "And it shall come
to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I
command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with
all your heart and with all your soul,"  Deuteronomy 11:14 "That I
will give [you] the rain of your land in his due season, the first
rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy
wine, and thine oil."  The other meaning is the outpouring of the
Spirit of God upon all flesh.  It is the latter rain, because Day of
Pentecost was the former rain.

     Zechariah 10:2 "For the idols have spoken vanity, and the
diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in
vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled,
because [there was] no shepherd."

     The only thing that brings results is prayer to God. Idols cannot
help in time of trouble. Diviners bring false messages of hope. They
will all vanish away. Our hope and help is in Christ Jesus. Matthew
9:36  "But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on
them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having
no shepherd."  Jesus is the great Shepherd.

     Zechariah 10:3 "Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and
I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the
house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle."

     The entire chapter of Ezekiel 34 is all about what God does to
the shepherd who destroys the sheep. Read the whole chapter. I will
give a few verses here. Ezekiel 34:2 "Son of man, prophesy against the
shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord
GOD unto the shepherds; Woe [be] to the shepherds of Israel that do
feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?" Ezekiel
34:5 "And they were scattered, because [there is] no shepherd: and
they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were
scattered." Ezekiel 34:7  "Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of
the LORD;" Ezekiel 34:10 "Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I [am]
against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and
cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the
shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from
their mouth, that they may not be meat for them."   Ezekiel 34:23 "And
I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, [even]
my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd."

     Zechariah 10:4 "Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the
nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together."

     This is speaking of out of Judah. Jesus is the Lion of the tribe
of Judah. Genesis 49:24 "But his bow abode in strength, and the arms
of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty [God] of
Jacob; (from thence [is] the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)"  He is
also the corner stone. Mark 12:10 "And have ye not read this
scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of
the corner:" Ephesians 2:20 "And are built upon the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner
[stone];"

     Zechariah 10:5  "And they shall be as mighty [men], which tread
down [their enemies] in the mire of the streets in the battle: and
they shall fight, because the LORD [is] with them, and the riders on
horses shall be confounded."

     This is speaking of a war fought on horses. The "mire" symbolizes
the sinful. This battle is fought by the Lord. Romans 16:20 "And the
God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you. Amen." Revelation 19:13 "And he
[was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called
The Word of God." The riders on horses shall flee at the sight of the
LORD and His army.

     Zechariah 10:6 "And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I
will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place
them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had
not cast them off: for I [am] the LORD their God, and will hear them."

     The Scripture above, is speaking of the two houses of Israel.
The physical house and the spiritual house of Israel are both saved by
the blood of Jesus Christ. Romans 11:25 "For I would not, brethren,
that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in
your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until
the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." Romans 11:26 "And so all
Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion
the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:" I Peter
5:10 "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal
glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you
perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle [you]."

     Zechariah 10:7 "And [they of] Ephraim shall be like a mighty
[man], and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their
children shall see [it], and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the
LORD."

     This symbolically is speaking of the Christians, who were filled
with the Spirit of God {wine}. They are the redeemed. Ephesians 5:18
"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the
Spirit;"

     Zechariah 10:8 "I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have
redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased."

     Look, who they are, the redeemed. They are God's people scattered
all over the world. Matthew 13:38 "The field is the world; the good
seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children
of the wicked [one];"  I Timothy 2:4 "Who will have all men to be
saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." I Timothy 2:5
" For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the
man Christ Jesus;" I Timothy 2:6 "Who gave himself a ransom for all,
to be testified in due time."

     Zechariah 10:9 "And I will sow them among the people: and they
shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their
children, and turn again."

     God's family was sown to the far countries of the world. We must
remember, that the Word of God had been entrusted to them to bring to
the unsaved world. This is speaking of the sowing of the Word of God
which brought great increase. It is the Word of God which turns the
people back to God.

     Zechariah 10:10 "I will bring them again also out of the land of
Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the
land of Gilead and Lebanon; and [place] shall not be found for them."

     All of the lands mentioned, here, are thought of as the unsaved
world. "Egypt" symbolizes the world. God will bring His people home
from all the heathen lands, and they will live in His land. There is,
at present, such a flow of Jews coming into the holy land, that there
is hardly place for them. There is even a dispute going on about some
of the land they are settling.

     Zechariah 10:11 "And he shall pass through the sea with
affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of
the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought
down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away."

     The judgement of God comes upon the lands that have been opposed
to God's people. God will do whatever is necessary to bring His people
out. He caused the Red Sea to part then, and He will again, if He has
to, to bring His people to the promised land. The world power will be
destroyed by God, Himself.

     Zechariah 10:12 "And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they
shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD."

     God did do wonders to save His people. Jesus won the victory over
Satan on the cross. He defeated sin's hold over the believers at that
time, also. He defeated death, when He rose from the grave. All
Christians walk up and down in the name of Christ. The first part of
the name Christians is Christ. Ephesians 3:16 "That he would grant
you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with
might by his Spirit in the inner man;" Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, my
brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might."
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me."  There are more Scriptures, but you get the idea.
                       Zechariah 10 Questions


1.  What are the two meanings of the latter rain?
2.  Quote Dueteronomy chapter 11 verses 13 and 14.
3.  When was the former rain?
4.  What is the only thing that brings results?
5.  What kind of messages did the diviners bring?
6.  Quote Matthew chapter 9 verse 36.
7.  ________ is the great Shepherd.
8.  Who was God's anger kindled against in verse 3?
9.  What chapter, in Ezekiel, is about this subject?
10. Jesus is the _________ of the tribe of Judah.
11. Quote Genesis chapter 49 verse 24.
12. _________ ________ Himself being the chief ________ ______.
13. The "mire" symbolizes ______.
14. Quote Romans chapter 16 verse 20.
15. He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is
    called the __________ ____ ______.
16. What is verse 6 speaking of?
17. What does the 11th chapter of Romans tell us about the natural
    Jew?
18. Quote 1 Peter chapter 5 verse 10.
19. Quote Ephesians chapter 5 verse 18.
20. Who is verse 8 speaking to?
21. Quote Matthew chapter 13 verse 38.
22. Who is the mediator between God and man?
23. What was one of the reasons God's people were sown to foreign
    countries?
24. What does "Egypt" symbolize?
25. What is verse 11 speaking of?
26. All Christians walk up and down in the name of _______.
27. How are we strengthened in our inner man?
28. Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His _________.
29. Quote Philippians chapter 4 verse 13?