True greatness. I. NOT INHERITED , BUT PERSONAL . II. NOT IN CIRCUMSTANCES , BUT CHARACTER . III. NOT IN SELF - AGGRANDIZEMENT , BUT IN SOCIAL USEFULNESS . IV. NOT BOUND BY HUMAN WEAKNESS , BUT RISING TO THE GLORY OF DIVINE STRENGTH . V. NOT RESTRICTED TO INDIVIDUALS , BUT THE COMMON POSSESSION OF THE GOOD VI. NOT LIMITED TO EARTH , BUT LEADING TO THE HONOURS OF ... read more
I will seek to destroy. It shall be always my aim and my care to destroy the enemies of the Church, that they shall never prevail against it. The words cannot apply to the literal Jerusalem, against which no such confederacy of nations was ever formed. read more
Wonderful sorrow. "And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations," etc. There is much that is striking in the apparent connection of this passage with that before. Just when God shall be seen by his people to be "seeking" and bringing about (see Zechariah 12:9 ) the overthrow and destruction of their many enemies, they, on the other hand, will be seen to be overwhelmed with sorrow of heart. Their souls, as it were, will be plunged into darkness at the... read more
I will pour. The word implies abundance (comp. Ezekiel 39:29 ; Joel 2:28 ). The house of David, etc . The leaders and the people alike, all orders and degrees in the theocracy. Jerusalem is named as the capital and representative of the nation. The spirit of grace and of supplications. The spirit which bestows grace and leads to prayer. "Grace" here means the effects produced in man by God's favour, that which makes the recipient pleasing to God and delighting in his commandments ( ... read more
§ 2. There shall ensue an outpouring of God's Spirit upon Israel, which shall produce a great national repentance. read more
Penitential sorrow. "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," etc. To whatever particular event this passage refers, the subject is obvious and most important, viz. that of penitential sorrow. And five things... read more
As if the above comparisons were not strong enough, the prophet presents a new one, referring to an historical event, which occasioned a universal mourning in Jerusalem. As the mourning of ( at ) Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. This is generally supposed to refer to the death of King Josiah of a wound received at Megiddo, in the battle with Pharaoh-Necho (B.C. 60) ),and to the national lamentation made for him and long observed on the anniversary of the calamity (see 2 Kings... read more
The great mourning. The scene depicted has reference first of all to the Jews. Already partially fulfilled. But the principles involved are of universal application. Take it to illustrate true repentance. I. GOD FOR ITS CAUSE . Not man, but God. The Father of our spirits acting on our spirit. "The spirit of grace." II. SINNERS OF MANKIND FOR ITS SUBJECTS . Not angels. We read of their fail, but never of their rising again. For them there seems no place for... read more
The land. Not Jerusalem only, but the whole country. Every family apart. The mourning should extend to every individual of every family (comp. Ezekiel 24:23 ). David … Nathan. First the royal family is mentioned generally, to show that no one, however, high in station, is exempted from this mourning; and then a particular branch is named to individualize the lamentation. Nathan is that son of David from whom descended Zerubbabel ( 1 Chronicles 3:5 ; Luke 3:27 , Luke 3:31 ). ... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 12:8
He that is feeble (literally, that stumbleth ) among them .. shall be as David. God shall endue the inhabitants of Jerusalem with marvellous strength and courage, so that the weakest among them shall be a hero such as David, who killed the lion and bear and overcame the giant (comp. Psalms 18:32 ). The house of David shall be as God ( Elohim ). The chiefs of the theocracy shall be endowed with supernatural might, the expression, "as God," being explained in the next clause.... read more