"And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on Me, on Him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over Him, as one weeps over a firstborn."
Zechariah 12:10
Zechariah is the next-to-the-last book in the Old Testament. As God was winding up what He had to say in the Old Testament He inspired His prophets to write some remarkable predictions of future events, some of which are yet to be fulfilled. This one, for example, is still in the wings, waiting for God’s timing to be complete.
Meanwhile this world continues in its age-long hatred for and persecution of the Jews. Have you ever wondered why there is so much hatred of the Jewish people?
The Bible reveals that the human heart naturally knows that God’s Law is in place and that each of us will have to answer to Him One day. But the human heart, born in sinful rebellion against God resents that fact. So any reminder of this truth is resented and rejected.
Israel - and every Jewish person - is a visible reminder of God’s Law and of His active presence throughout human history. So anti-semitism will continue so long as our hearts are full of rebellion and hatred toward God and His Law.
But God continues in His love for Israel and He continues to speak through Israel to the world. One day, this prophecy of Zachariah will be fulfilled. The city of Jerusalem will be full of Jewish believers, silently mourning as they come to the realization that the Messiah who came, who was rejected by most of the Nation, is the One for Whom they have waited all these years.
But that sorrow will be turned into joy as they realize that even now He can be known and His mercy and forgiveness is still available “to the Jew first.”
Christian, pray for Israel! May the day come soon when this Word is fulfilled. Meanwhile, love these people who brought the Word of God and the Savior Himself to us, even though many of them were unaware of it!
Lord Jesus, we pray today for our own nation, that you would turn our hearts back to You and to your Word in true repentance and faith. And we pray for Israel, Lord, the same thing. Lord, come soon! Amen.
Pastor Dan Giles