Zechariah 12-14

Pastor Tynna Dixon

Redemption, Restoration, and Deliverance

The closing chapters of Zechariah take us to the end of times. He describes the Gentile nations attacking Jerusalem, the Jews experiencing severe trials and then the Lord returning in power and great glory to deliver His people and establish the promised kingdom. Zechariah speaks to those who had returned from exile, still staring at ruins and unfinished walls. He speaks of a God who does not abandon His people but steps into history to redeem, restore, and deliver.

Redemption:

Zechariah shares an affirmation of God’s sovereign power. If we look above us, we see the heavens He created; if we look beneath us, we see the earth that He formed; and if we look within ourselves, we find His Spirit he deposited. The God of creation is the God who cares for us. Psalm 147:5-6 reminds us “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite. The Lord lifts the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground.

Zechariah says in v. 10 “They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child.” This points us directly to the cross, where God bore our wounds. Redemption is not a fleeting thought or an idea, no, it is personal, it is costly, and it is evidenced by love. The grief of Israel over the pierced one is a solemn indication of the sorrow of humanity faced with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As Zechariah 13:1 contends “out of that sorrow flows grace: a fountain is opened to cleanse from sin and impurity.”

This is the heart of redemption: our sin is not the end of the story, God has made a way back through the pierced One. To Him be all Praise.

Restoration:

Based on Zechariah’s assertion in Chapter 13:7-9 he doesn’t schmooze over hardship; it says “strike the shepherd, scatter the sheep, and the remaining 1/3 will be put in the fire. This is a fire of refinement not of ruin. Because through this fire, God restores His people to Himself. Jesus Christ will demonstrate His great power as He defends His people and defeats His enemies.

Restoration is not simply about rebuilding what was lost; but it’s about being made new, being purified, and being realigned with God’s heart. These verses bring to mind the value God puts on His people Israel; they are like gold and silver that need to be refined in the furnace of affliction. A goldsmith refines the gold or silver so that the scum can be removed. The Godly remnant who call on the Lord will be saved and become the most important part of the kingdom.

In Christ, we are not just patched up but we are restored to live as His own people.

Deliverance:

“And the Lord shall be king over all the earth; in that day shall there be one Lord and His name one” (14:9). The bible tells us that after the nations have been punished and Israel has been purified, that the Lord will establish His righteous kingdom and reign on David’s throne. Zechariah’s vision culminates in the “Day of the Lord” (chapter 14), when God Himself descends to fight for His people, splitting the Mount of Olives and sending living waters to flow out of Jerusalem. In that day, the Lord will be King over all the earth. Every false power will fall silent, every nation will see His glory, and worship will fill the world.

I believe this is the kind of deliverance we wait for, the full unveiling of God’s reign. Deliverance is not only rescuing us but it is the God’s peace, His justice, and His Holy presence with us forever.

Zechariah’s heavy prophecy reminds us that the story of God’s people is always moving towards hope. For every place we feel burden and stricken by the world, Jesus offers us His redemption. As we tarry and toil through our seasons of grief, angst and uproar God offers us His restoration. When we feel afraid of what’s to come certainly, we can look up because God offers us deliverance. Redemption at the cross, restoration in the fire, and deliverance in the reign of the King are all promises of Jesus that will not and cannot be broken.

As we wait, let’s look to the day when “The Lord will be King over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and His name the only name”, Zechariah 14:9.

Until then, we walk in hope, knowing the pierced One has redeemed us, the Refiner will restore us, and the Coming King will no doubt deliver us.

That’s some good news!