Zechariah 12:10-14

Penitential mourning and supplication, Zechariah 12:10-14.

The blessings vouchsafed in Zechariah 12:1-9 are purely temporal and physical; but with few exceptions the Messianic anticipations of the prophets include spiritual blessings (compare Hosea 14:1-3; Joel 2:27 ff.; Isaiah 4:5-6). Zechariah is no exception to this rule. He also is convinced that the physical victory will be followed by the outpouring of rich spiritual gifts. The fullness of the latter is not touched upon until Zechariah 13:1 ff., but the “spirit of grace and supplication” (Zechariah 12:10) is one of them. Zechariah 12:10-14, speaks of the preparation of the people for the divine fullness. Like Hosea, our prophet emphasizes repentance as a condition of complete restoration to the favor of God, and of the enjoyment of the spiritual blessings (see p. 605). When the people become fully conscious of the depth of the divine mercy manifesting itself in the wonderful deliverance described in Zechariah 12:1-9, they will be seized by a heartfelt sorrow for past sins, and in deep humility they will prostrate themselves before Jehovah.