Zechariah 11:1-6 - Homiletics

A final warning.

"Open thy doors, O Lebanon," etc. The prophet, after having foretold ( Zechariah 10:6-12 ) the great future and final glory of the literal Israel, seems here, as it were, to "hark back" to a previous and very different scene, viz.—as most commentators, both Jewish and Christian, believe—to that which should happen in those evil days when Jerusalem should be destroyed. We noted a very similar transition at the beginning of ch, 9. (comp. also Luke 17:24 , Luke 17:25 ; Luke 19:11 , etc.; 2 Thessalonians 2:3 ). In the present case the destruction predicted seems to be of a threefold description. It was to be a destruction of the nation by being a destruction

I. OF THESE PALACES OR CONSPICUOUS PUBLIC BUILDINGS , in which they came afterwards to glory so much. To this interpretation of Zechariah 11:1 , Zechariah 11:2 we seem pointed by the peculiar word "doors;" as also by the fact that the "doors" of the Jewish temple, and almost all its inner linings as well, are said to have been made of cypress ("fir") and cedar (see 1 Kings 5:8 , 1 Kings 5:10 ); and, if so, we may notice:

1 . How thorough is the nature of the coming destruction. What the "fire" can "devour" will be utterly destroyed in that way. What the fire cannot devour will "come down," or be levelled. Even if the stones remain, that is, the buildings will perish (see Matthew 24:2 , end). Also:

2 . How wide its extent. All the buildings they gloried in would thus perish. They would perish thus,

II. OF THE PRIESTS . These are compared, in Zechariah 11:3 , to "shepherds" and "young lions," as showing, perhaps, on the one hand, what they ought to be to the commonalty of Israel, and, on the other band, what they ought to be to its foes (see Psalms 78:70-72 ; Genesis 49:9 , Genesis 49:10 ). We see:

1 . How complete their destruction. This evidenced

2 . How just their destruction, and that also in two separate ways, Namely,

III. OF THE PEOPLE AT LARGE — OF THE " FLOCK ." Of this destruction, note:

1 . How solemnly it was predetermined. The very appellation here given, viz. the "flock of slaughter," signifies as much. Almost all, also, that is said respecting the flock—"I will no more pity;" "I will deliver" to evil; "I will not deliver" therefrom—implies as much.

2 . How terribly it was accomplished. Whether

In conclusion, there are just two other points to observe and admire, viz.:

1 . How inexhaustible is God ' s mercy! In this awful scene of destruction, with all its aggravated guilt, shameless hypocrisy, and suicidal infatuation, the light of that mercy is yet not wholly extinguished. There are some in this "flock of slaughter" who are to be "fed" (verse 4). So, in the case of the Noachian Deluge, and in that of the destruction of Sodom, there were some to be saved. So it is said, also, that in the fearful, final destruction of Jerusalem—and the fact may possibly be referred to in the words now before us—the Christians were saved by their flight to Pella.

2 . How discriminating are God ' s Judgments! The people were guilty here as well as their leaders ( Jeremiah 5:30 , Jeremiah 5:31 ). Therefore the people are visited with anger as well as their leaders (see Isaiah 24:2 ; Hosea 4:9 ). The people, however, being less privileged and instructed, are also, in some measure, less guilty (see Jeremiah 5:4 , Jeremiah 5:5 ). The people, therefore, though punished as well, are not punished as much (see above, about some of these being "fed;" also below, in verse 7, about the "poor of the flock;" compare such passages as Matthew 11:20-24 ; Luke 11:29-32 ). The acknowledgment of David in Psalms 51:4 , end, will be the acknowledgment of all "in that day."