Zechariah 13:6, 7
The Bible study term, “The Law of First Mention” teaches us that the first time that a word or phrase is used in the Bible, it sets a precedent for how that word is to be interpreted or used throughout the Bible. The first time that we see the word “sword” is in Genesis 3:24, when God drives man out of the Garden and places at the east of that Garden, Cherubims that wield a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep man from eating of the Tree of Life and living forever in a fallen state. The sword thus becomes a symbol of God’s judgment against the sin of man.
When Zechariah prophesies of the sword, it is prefaced by a verse telling us of the arrival of Christ on this earth. In that day many will ask the Lord what the wounds are in His hands, and He will answer, “Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends” (Zechariah 13:6). This gives us the context for the sword of verse 7, as now those wounds must be explained.
“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd…” (Verse 7). God is calling for the sword, held in reserve outside of Eden to wake up from its many years of slumber. As the judgment of God, this sword represents God’s pent up anger against the fall of Adam. He did not kill Adam at Eden, but now someone must pay; that someone will be the shepherd, which Jesus says is Himself (John 10:11).
“…smite the shepherd…” (Verse 7). It was Rome, who ordered the death of Jesus, and it was the Jewish High Council who convicted Him of the crime of blasphemy, but neither of them killed Jesus. In fact, Jesus stated that He was loved of His Father because He was willing to lay down His life (John 10:17). Jesus was not killed at Calvary, instead He, “gave up the ghost” (John 19:30). It was the Father who smote Him however, causing 3 hours of darkness at the cross, during which Jesus bore the sins of the whole world. God did the smiting, and it pleased God to do so (Isaiah 53:4, 10, 11).
“…and the sheep will scatter…” (Verse 7). To further prove that this verse is talking about Christ’s death on the cross, Jesus quotes this portion just before going to the Garden of Gethsemane, “All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad” (Matthew 26:31). Christ’s death on the cross scattered His sheep, with only one disciple remaining at the cross to watch Him die.
The good news is that God’s sword of judgment has been sheathed, and as believers, we never need to fear God’s anger against us. He poured His entire wrath out on Jesus at the cross and as long as people place their faith in Christ, they are spared the wrath that should have come on them. Jesus said as much when He told His disciples, “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John 12:31, 32). The word “men” is italicized in your Bible, meaning that it was added by the translators but does not appear in the original Greek. Remove it, and the meaning of these verses becomes clear: God was sending judgment into the world, and if Christ would go to the cross, He would be the lightning rod that took all of that judgment into His body. Praise God!
Saint, there is no more anger in God against you. Rest in the confidence that you are free in Jesus Christ, for He has paid it all. The sword woke up to smite Jesus, now let it rest against you.
The Bible study term, “The Law of First Mention” teaches us that the first time that a word or phrase is used in the Bible, it sets a precedent for how that word is to be interpreted or used throughout the Bible. The first time that we see the word “sword” is in Genesis 3:24, when God drives man out of the Garden and places at the east of that Garden, Cherubims that wield a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep man from eating of the Tree of Life and living forever in a fallen state. The sword thus becomes a symbol of God’s judgment against the sin of man.
When Zechariah prophesies of the sword, it is prefaced by a verse telling us of the arrival of Christ on this earth. In that day many will ask the Lord what the wounds are in His hands, and He will answer, “Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends” (Zechariah 13:6). This gives us the context for the sword of verse 7, as now those wounds must be explained.
“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd…” (Verse 7). God is calling for the sword, held in reserve outside of Eden to wake up from its many years of slumber. As the judgment of God, this sword represents God’s pent up anger against the fall of Adam. He did not kill Adam at Eden, but now someone must pay; that someone will be the shepherd, which Jesus says is Himself (John 10:11).
“…smite the shepherd…” (Verse 7). It was Rome, who ordered the death of Jesus, and it was the Jewish High Council who convicted Him of the crime of blasphemy, but neither of them killed Jesus. In fact, Jesus stated that He was loved of His Father because He was willing to lay down His life (John 10:17). Jesus was not killed at Calvary, instead He, “gave up the ghost” (John 19:30). It was the Father who smote Him however, causing 3 hours of darkness at the cross, during which Jesus bore the sins of the whole world. God did the smiting, and it pleased God to do so (Isaiah 53:4, 10, 11).
“…and the sheep will scatter…” (Verse 7). To further prove that this verse is talking about Christ’s death on the cross, Jesus quotes this portion just before going to the Garden of Gethsemane, “All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad” (Matthew 26:31). Christ’s death on the cross scattered His sheep, with only one disciple remaining at the cross to watch Him die.
The good news is that God’s sword of judgment has been sheathed, and as believers, we never need to fear God’s anger against us. He poured His entire wrath out on Jesus at the cross and as long as people place their faith in Christ, they are spared the wrath that should have come on them. Jesus said as much when He told His disciples, “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John 12:31, 32). The word “men” is italicized in your Bible, meaning that it was added by the translators but does not appear in the original Greek. Remove it, and the meaning of these verses becomes clear: God was sending judgment into the world, and if Christ would go to the cross, He would be the lightning rod that took all of that judgment into His body. Praise God!
Saint, there is no more anger in God against you. Rest in the confidence that you are free in Jesus Christ, for He has paid it all. The sword woke up to smite Jesus, now let it rest against you.
