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Worship Service for 5 May 2024

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Building up the Church of Christ:

Behold, Your King Is Coming!

Life B-P Church Worship Service, 5 May 2024

Text: Zechariah 9:1-17

The first eight chapters of Zechariah contain visions and prophecies which were given when the Jews were rebuilding the Temple.
The Temple was finally completed and dedicated on 12 March 515 BC. (Ezra 6:15,15)
But their restoration as a nation was not yet complete. Something very important was missing: Having their very own king.
In chapters 9-14 God revealed His will to give them a Messianic King who will protect them and subdue all nations.

In Zechariah’s time, Judah belonged to the fifth satrapy of the Medo-Persian Empire.
Damascus was the capital of this satrapy (v.1). It fell to the Greek forces of Alexander the Great about 140 years later.
His army went on to conquer all the cities named in verses 2-7.
However, the Lord was using him to bring judgment upon them for their sins. (cf. Tyre’s judgment prophesied in Isaiah 23 and Ezekiel 26)
When Christ comes as the King of kings no nation on earth will be able to withstand Him. (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:24,25)
As the eyes of the Jews turned to the Lord, He delivered their land from being invaded by Alexander. (vv.1,8; cf. Proverbs 21:2)

The prophecy of the coming of their king would have been very meaningful to the Jews who were subject to Gentile kings. (v.9)
It was fulfilled in AD 30 when Christ made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. (Matthew 21:4,5)
The prophecy foretells that He will subdue all things not with aggressive force and violence, but by winning the hearts of sinners. (v.11; cf. Luke 4:18; 22:20)
Christ made peace by giving His own life and shedding His blood on the cross. (Colossians 1:20)
When He reigns on earth, He will usher in a time of peace that will last for a thousand years. (v.10)

The Jews are urged to turn to their stronghold (v.12a; cf. v.3)
This stronghold is the Lord who loves them and protects them from all their foes.
When they turn to Him, He will restore double the number of blessings they had experienced before. (v.12b; cf. Job 42:10)
But since they rejected Him, they suffered the loss of everything they had. This is still true for Jews who continue to reject Him.
The time is coming when they will be fully restored. The Jews will finally turn to Christ as a nation during their worst crisis when everything they trust in fails them. (v.13)
Christ will come visibly to defeat all the armies that have gathered against Israel. (vv.14-15)
Their restoration as a nation will be complete when He becomes their king. (vv.16-17)

Application: Your Need for a King

“Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope…” (v.12a)
As long as you do not have the right king in your life you cannot be fully restored.
Will you let Christ rule your life?

Questions for Reflection:

Should you be worried when you see the world becoming increasingly troubled and politically divided? Why?
How should the accurate fulfilment of Bible prophecies affect you?
How much are you looking forward to the return of Jesus Christ?