Zechariah Chapter 13

Zechariah Chapter 13 Treasures From The Book of Zechariah

Zech 13: [1] In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.

1. The Cleansing from the Defilement of Sin (1)

The last chapter closed with Israel’s return to the Lord at the close of the Tribulation.

This return came through the once rejected and now embraced Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Flowing from their embrace of the Messiah is a fountain that brings cleansing to Israel.

This defilement came because of Israel’s disobedience to the law of God; repeated time and again.

Isaiah chapter 5 speaks of the Lords favor for Israel.

Yet, Israel forsook the Lord and ultimately He forsook them.

Isaiah 5:1-7

[1] Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:
[2] And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.
[3] And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.
[4] What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
[5] And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:
[6] And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.
[7] For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.

This defilement also came because Israel rejected Jesus as their Messiah.

Matthew 21, gives us further insight as to Israel being a vineyard and their rejection of God’s Son.

Matthew 21:33-43

[33] Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: [34] And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. [35] And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. [36] Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. [37] But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. [38] But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. [39] And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. [40] When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? [41] They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. [42] Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? [43] Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

Today Israel is guilty of sin and uncleanness through unbelief.

But “in that day” Israel will repent.

“That day” refers to the Tribulation when Israel will realize their sin of rejecting God’s Son, Jesus.

Zechariah 12:10

[10] And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Please understand there can be no cleansing from sin until repentance takes place.

“In that day” Israel will truly repent and there will be great weeping and sorrow for their sins.

It is in the day of repentance that God opens up a fountain to cleanse Israel from their sin.

This fountain is “opened” which is a reference to a permanent, continual opening.

Right now, for the believers, we have perpetual cleansing from our sins at Calvary, through Jesus blood.

This perpetual cleansing through Jesus blood stems from the words “cleanseth us from all sin.”

1 John 1:7-9

[7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
[8] If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
[9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

One day, Israel will repent of their unbelief and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ.

No one can be saved except by faith in Jesus.

“There is a fountain filled with blood,

Drawn from Immanuel’s veins,

And sinners plunged beneath that flood,

Loose all their guilty stains.”

Zech 13: [2] And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. [3] And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth. [4] And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive: [5] But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth. [6] And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

2. The Cleansing from the Deception of the Shameful (2-6)

Not only will God cleanse from sin, but He will cut off the source of uncleanness.

There are two shameful things that have led Israel away from God; they are idolatry and false prophets.

In 1 Kings 18, King Ahab and Jezebel had 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the grove.

God had one prophet, Elijah.

Elijah challenged those false prophets on Mt Carmel. The odds were 850 to 1.

Yet it was the Lord God that answered by fire and defeated those false prophets.

You would think that Israel would abstain from idolatry.

Historically Israel slew the true prophets and listened to false prophets.

You see true prophets called for “right behavior” and Israel did not want that.

Israel wanted a form of religion that allowed them to do anything they wanted.

Scripture teaches that at first Israel will receive the anti-Christ through the false prophet.

But God will expose them and Israel will realize the foolish of their sin.

And what is behind idolatry and false prophets? It is “the unclean spirit.”

All false religion is the handiwork of the devil.

1 Timothy 4:1

[1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

[2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

In verse 3, God says there is coming a day when public opinion will not tolerate false prophets.

This will happen with the cleansing of Israel.

If someone rises up as a false prophet, his own parents will kill him for “speaking lies in the name of the Lord.”

Though it be their own child, a false prophet will not be permitted to live.

In verse 4, counterfeit prophets will no longer wear deceptive garments and act like a prophet.

False prophets will be ashamed of their office and their false proclamations.

In verse 5, false prophets will say they are farmers and denounce their hypocritical office.

In verse 6, false prophets will be asked about the “wounds in their hands” where they have cut themselves.

Many today practice “masochism”, which is cutting themselves to prove their commitment.

1 Kings 18:24-39

[24] And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken. [25] And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. [26] And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. [27] And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. [28] And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. [29] And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. [30] And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. [31] And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: [32] And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. [33] And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. [34] And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.[35] And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. [36] And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. [37] Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. [38] Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. [39] And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.

If a false prophet is asked about the scars in his hands in that day, he will say I was wounded by my friends.

A false prophet will not want to show his face in Israel anymore, or he will be put to death.

Zech 13: [7] Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.

3. Cleansing Through the Death of the Shepherd (7a)

This death of the Shepherd speaks of the death of the True Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd and the Chief Shepherd.

You see there can be no cleansing without a sacrifice for sin.

This sacrifice is the blood of Jesus. The shepherd must be smitten.

The death of Jesus was the plan of God!

Isaiah 53:10

[10] Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief:

The Lord Jesus is God’s Shepherd. In fact in this verse God called Jesus “my shepherd.”

It is God that raised the sword to His own Son and allowed Him to be put to death!

The phrase “against the man” in Hebrew speaks of the Mighty Man. Jesus is the Mighty Man.

The phrase “my fellow” in Hebrew speaks of a union and is reference to God’s equal.

Jesus said “I and my Father are one”, John 10:30.

Read what God said through the writing of the Holy Spirit in 2 Corinthians 5:19.

2 Corinthians 5:19

[19] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself

4. Cleansing from the Dispersion of the Sheep (7b)

Because of their sin of unbelief, Israel has been scattered across the world.

To scatter is to break in pieces and certainly Israel has been broken as a nation over recent history.

The night Jesus was betrayed, the sheep scattered.

Matthew 26:31

[31] Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

First the disciples scattered, then in 70AD when Jerusalem was destroyed, Israel was scattered.

Israel was leaderless, confounded and was without direction.

Even the believing remnant experienced the chastening hand of God’s judgment fall upon them.

Ever since, Israel has experienced persecution, warfare and terrorism.

But “in that day”, when Israel repents of her sin, Israel will be cleansed and restored by God.

Zech 13: [8] And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. [9] And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

5. Cleansing from the Devastation of the Slaughter (8-9a)

During the Tribulation, the anti-Christ will turn against Israel and there will be a terrible slaughter.

Verse 8 says this slaughter will claim the lives of 2 of every 3 in Israel.

More Jews will die during this period than any other time in history; including days of Hitler & Stalin.

Matthew 24:21

[21] For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

I believe that this third that is spared from the slaughter are those who repent and turn to Jesus.

This third included the 144,000 sealed evangelists of Revelation 7 and 14.

Zech 13: [9] And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

6. Cleansing Through the Decision of Souls (9b)

The group that calls on the name of the Lord will come through the fire of the Tribulation.

God will forgive those who come by faith to Jesus.

Acts 2:21

[21] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

These will come through the fire of the Tribulation just like the 3 Hebrew children in the fiery furnace.

Thinking about the 3 Hebrews in the fire, I think it is a prophecy about the Tribulation.

First, the image to which the king tried to force everyone to worship represents the abomination of desolation. The anti-Christ will place an image in the new temple and force the world to worship it.

Secondly, the fiery furnace represents the suffering of the Great Tribulation. The furnace was heated seven times hotter. The Great Tribulation will last for seven years and will be the most horrible time.

Thirdly, King Nebuchadnezzar, represents the anti-Christ devil trying to force the world to worship.

Fourthly, the three Hebrew children represent Israel. There will be the remnant of Jews, that will not bow and serve the anti-Christ.

Fifthly, Daniel is not mentioned in this chapter. He is an ambassador of the kingdom, maybe he is away on the kings business. I believe what’s not mentioned is important here. Daniel represents the Redeemed, the ambassadors of Christ, the Church, who are raptured before the Great Tribulation.

Sixthly, remember the men that cast the three Hebrew children into the fire? They could not withstand the heat of the flames and perished. All who serve the anti-Christ will be destroyed forever and ever.

Seventhly, the fourth man in the furnace represents Jesus. He was there with the Hebrew children in the fire, and He will be with those who will not bow to the anti-Christ during the Great Tribulation.

Concl: Praise God there is a fountain that cleanses sinners from all sin

Praise God I am saved and don’t have to worry about the destruction of hell.

But I am burdened for our families and friends who are not saved.