ZECHARIAH ~ CHAPTER TEN

V-1. Zec 10:1 Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.
A. This refers to the spring rain which causes the grass to grow and become green after the winters cold. Israel is being admonished to turn to God for the needed blessings.

V-2. Zec 10:2 For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.
A. Their troubles had been caused by turning to idols and listening to false prophets.
B. These false prophets had tried to reassure Israel that God would not send them into captivity and that those who had already been carried away would soon return.
Isa 9:15 The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.
Isa 9:16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.
1.An example of a false prophecy;
Jer 28:1 And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,
Jer 28:2 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.
Jer 28:3 Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the LORD'S house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon:
Jer 28:4 And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the LORD: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.

V-3.  Zec 10:3 Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle.
A. God's anger towards leaders who caused the flock to suffer.
B. A promise concerning Judah. explained in v-4.

V-4. Zec 10:4 Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.
A. Out of Judah came the corner (stone).
Psa 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
B Out of Judah came the Nail.
Isa 22:23 And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house.
C. The battle bow.
Isa 41:2 Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow.
D. Out of Judah, every oppressor shall be driven.

V-5. Zec 10:5 And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded.
Even now, God is true to this promise as they defeat their enemies in battle after battle.

V-6. Zec 10:6 And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them.
A. God began the fulfillment of this promise in 1948 when Israel again became a nation. The final fulfillment will be at the end of the Tribulation.

V-7. Zec 10:7 And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD.
The joy of the returnees after WW2 is but a small example of the elation of the people as they gain the fulness of the promise in the Millennial reign.

V-8. Zec 10:8 I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased.
A. Hiss - this is the traditional 'psst' by which one gets the attention of another.
B. The world has marveled at their productivity, but it is nothing compared to what shall come.
Isa 35:1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
Isa 35:2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.

Vv-9,10. Zec 10:9 And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again.
Zec 10:10 I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them.
A. It is no accident that Jews have been found in every nation. God planted them there.
B. They have retained their ethnic identity and taught their children their own religion while others in the same predicament have been assimilated.
C. They are now being brought back and many feel out of place anywhere else.

Vv-11,12. Zec 10:11 And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away.
Zec 10:12 And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD.
A. The sea is used in prophetic symbols to picture a multitude of humanity.
The Jews have been afflicted in almost every land.
B. Their enemies as represented in Assyria to the north and Egypt to the south are to be defeated.
1. Assyria was brought down or totally defeated.
2. Egypt has spent most of her history since then being ruled over by others and even now is a 3rd world country.
C. Israel will stand tall. Her pride and self confidence now is nothing compared to that which is to come.