“ON THAT DAY” Thoughts from today’s Bible readings – Dec. 27th


Nine times we read the phrase “on that day” in just 15 verses in Zechariah Chapter 12 through to the first 2 verses of chapter 13. We note the prelude to these pronouncements, “Thus declares the LORD who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him” [12 v.1].  These words fascinate us as a way to announce the character of God, a declaration of his absolute almightiness as the originator of all that exists.

It is the first “on that day” that has captivated the attention of believers throughout our lifetime. “On that day” we read, “I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves.  And all the nations of the earth will gather against it.” [12 v.3]

Jerusalem has been the centre of attention in the Middle East, attracting more and more the attention of the whole world since Israel became a nation again in 1948 after being “dead” since AD 70.

Efforts in recent years to “lift” the stone to solve the problem seem to have only made matters worse, but recentlu attention has been focussed on Islamic countries.  The next “on that day” is when God “will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness” [v.4]    Today men have invented a great variety of “vehicles” to replace the horse. They get around at great speed. What is this madness?  We suggest it means totally irrational behaviour in a situation which gets totally out of control.

Now notice the declaration in the next verse. “The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the LORD of hosts their God.”  We are strongly inclined to believe this happens because God has poured out on “Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him they have pierced, they shall mourn …” [v.10]

This portrays the wonder of the return of Christ, the Jews recognise their Messiah at last; but Ch. 13 v.8,9 appears to indicate they first experience a traumatic time when God will “refine them”.  There is an incredible turnaround of events “the LORD will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet shall stand upon the Mount of Olives” [14 v.4] from where Jesus ascended ( Acts 1 v.9-12)

But also “on that day there shall be a fountain opened for … the inhabitants of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness” [13 v.1]  The most momentous climax possible to human history. Will you be there on that day?

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