During this current visit to Jerusalem I’ve been thinking a lot about an ancient prophecy of Zechariah.
The fact that unfolding political complications between Israel and Arab neighbors continue to be a problem for international peace has me reading again a prediction that in the last days Jerusalem will become a burden for the nations of the world.
In that day Zechariah tells us that all nations of the world will come against a besieged Jerusalem at which time God intervenes. The result is clearly Messianic. In this last days scenario God rescues a remnant of his people from international attack.
But here’s what I can’t get out of my mind: Wouldn’t those who are looking for Messiah’s rescue erupt in unparalleled joy and celebration when he finally shows up in their behalf? Isn’t that a moment when the nation of Israel should be on its feet jumping for joy, or falling to their knees in thankfulness for God’s faithful intervention?
That, however, is not what Zechariah foresees. At least, not initially. Instead his prophecy says that God will, in that day, give Jerusalem a spirit of repentance. The result of that repentance in turn is a kind of heart wrenching grief that is one of the most heartbreaking and emotional descriptions of the Bible.
So why will Israel mourn? Zechariah sees more than spiritual failure– at least on a moral level. What Zechariah foresees seems to be far more personal than that.
In that day, Zechariah quotes the God of Israel as saying, “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son” (Zechariah 12:10).
As the nation moves today past it’s holiday of Yom Kippur into a celebration of Succot (Feast of Tabernacles), I can’t help wishing all people of the world could sense the importance of this look into the future—to encourage wise decisions of personal faith—today– here in Jerusalem and around the world.
Who of any nation can afford to celebrate anything,.. before looking into the eyes of the One who is still saying, “Come unto me all you who are burdened and heavy laden, and I will give you rest… Matt 11:28
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