Zechariah 11
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Destruction of Jerusalem (11:1-3)
The first three verses of chapter 11 seem to be rather tame and of the nature that we would simply pass over these words and look for something of importance. The Jewish temple was made of cedars from Lebanon, and from this some have seen a reference here to the destruction of the temple. What is very interesting to consider is that the Jews themselves interpreted these three verses as the destruction of the temple. According to Coffman’s Commentary, Rabbi Johannan said, “Now I know that the destruction of the temple is at hand, according to the prophecy of Zechariah, ‘Open thy doors, O Lebanon! That the fire may devour thy cedars.’� These words were said by this rabbi when the massive doors of the temple opened on their own accord during the Passover of the crucifixion of Jesus. This interpretation is in keeping with the theme of this chapter, which we will notice as we go on in our study. Coming out of chapter 10, these words of judgment are tied to the coming of the Messiah who will strike down the heathen nations.
Zechariah, a type of Christ (11:4-14)
In verse 4 it seems that Zechariah is told in act out a scene. Ezekiel was told to perform many actions to show the people the things that were going to happen in his prophecies. So it seems here as well, where Zechariah is to act as a shepherd for the flock doomed to slaughter. What we will see as we read this chapter is that the shepherd that Zechariah is acting as is a picture of the Messiah. Further, the flock that is doomed for slaughter is the people of Israel. With these things in mind, let us notice some points from the chapter. Since the shepherds were afflicting and slaughtering the flock on their own, the Messiah becomes the shepherd of the flock doomed to the slaughter (vs. 5-7). Since these images apply to the days of the Messiah, we need to look for the prophecy’s fulfillment by the things that happened in the days of Christ.
In verse 8 we see that the Shepherd destroyed three false shepherds in one month. One commentator points out that there are over 40 different interpretations as to who the three shepherds represent. I believe that there are two likely answers. One reasonable possibility is that these three shepherds refer to the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes or Herodians. These three groups of people were the religious leaders in the days of Jesus from whom the people of Israel received instruction. However, Jesus called these people “the blind leading the blind� and pronounced repeated woes upon them (Matthew 23 and 25) for how they had not good leaders but had led the people astray. The second reasonable alternative as to who the three shepherds represent are the classes of religious people: prophets, priests, and kings. All of these had let the people down. There were many false prophets who led the people astray and were hired to prophesy. They were not called by the word of the Lord. The priests had also been failures in tolerating the religious errors and distorting of the worship. They allowed the temple to become a marketplace (John 2:13-25). Also, we do not have to say much about the kings, for it was because of the kings of Israel that the people fell away from the Lord and introduced all types of false worship. Jesus, of course, became the fulfillment of these three duties, become the righteous prophet, priest and king for the people. His coming put an end to any kings in Israel, any need for priests, and an end to the prophecies by the end of the first century. With the destruction of Jerusalem, no one could claim to be king or priest any longer because the genealogical records were destroyed.
But the people did not accept His shepherding, so He said He would no longer be their Shepherd (vs. 9). “What is to be destroyed, let it be destroyed. And let those who are left devour the flesh of one another� seem to be further references to the events that took place in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. The siege against Jerusalem was so severe and intense that people did begin to eat their children because of the lack of food. In verse 10 we see the Shepherd breaking His staff, which is called Favor, thus annulling the covenant that was made with all the people. No longer would God show loving kindness and favor to His people because they had rejected Him. Therefore they were not His people any longer. The Shepherd then requests that He get paid according to His wages. Notice what the payment was: thirty pieces of silver. The foreshadowing of this prophecy is chilling, as this was the payment amount that Judas received to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:15). Further, Zechariah is told to throw the money to the potter. This is prophetic of Matthew 27:3-8 where Judas gives the money back and the money is used to purchase a potter’s field. In verse 14 the Shepherd then breaks the other staff called Union, annulling the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. The bonds between God and the nations of Israel and Judah had been severed. God has completely cast them off. The physical nation was no longer tied to the Lord and a spiritual remnant would now be God’s people.
Warning against false shepherds to come (9:15-17)
The woes are now pronounced against the worthless and foolish shepherds of God’s people. To be a shepherd of God’s people is a high calling with great responsibilities. I believe this has practical lessons for us today. We need to see the serious charge to those who are leaders of the flock. I believe this is applied not only to those who are fill the office of the eldership, but all who are teachers and leaders of the people. We must lead one another in the proper direction. If we do not, there are grave consequences that await us by the hand of the Lord. I can think of many shepherds and leaders who will be held accountable for their poor decisions and poor leadership of the flock. We must see the responsibility we hold before God as those who lead and are perceived as leaders in this congregation. Let us work to live up to the goals that God has set for us.
Conclusion:
All before the foundation of the world. We must be amazed to read these things being prophesied over 530 years before they would take place. The rejection of the Messiah, the price of the betrayal, and use of the betrayal money are all detailed in the prophecy. These things clearly show us that God had made a plan to redeem His people before the foundation of the world. Before the Messiah would come, God knew He would be rejected. Yet God used our rejection to save His people. “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!�
We can be rejected. We also must learn the lesson of the people of God who lived before us. When the people of God rejected the Lord, the Lord annulled the covenant with His people, removed His favor toward them, and broke the bonds of unity that tied His people to Him. This is not something that is only an isolated incident in history. God can and will do the same to us if we reject Him. When live in sin and reject the love He has shown toward us, God does not have to abide by the covenant because we have violated it and broken it. Because of sins, He removes His favor from us and no longer counts us as His until we return. We must see the anger of the Lord toward our sins and the consequences of us remaining in our sins. Let us turn to the Lord and receive His mercy so that we are not receiving His wrath for what we have done. Obey the Lord today!
