Jerusalem Will Be Attacked
”This is the burden of the word of the LORD concerning Israel. Thus declares the LORD, who stretches out the heavens and lays the foundation of the earth, who forms the spirit of man within him: “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples. Judah will be besieged, as well as Jerusalem.
On that day, when all the nations of the earth gather against her, I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who would heave it away will be severely injured. On that day, declares the LORD, I will strike every horse with panic, and every rider with madness. I will keep a watchful eye on the house of Judah, but I will strike with blindness all the horses of the nations. Then the leaders of Judah will say in their hearts: ‘The people of Jerusalem are my strength, for the LORD of Hosts is their God.’
On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among the sheaves; they will consume all the peoples around them on the right and on the left, while the residents of Jerusalem remain secure in Jerusalem. The LORD will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and of the people of Jerusalem may not be greater than that of Judah. On that day the LORD will defend the residents of Jerusalem, so that the weakest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the LORD going before them. So on that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
Mourning the One They Pierced (John 19:31-37)
Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns an only child, and weep bitterly for Him as one grieves a firstborn son. On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning of Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. The land will mourn, each clan on its own: the clan of the house of David and their wives, the clan of the house of Nathan and their wives, the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, and all the remaining clans and their wives.”
One of the challenges of considering prophecy is the question of “When?” When will these prophecies be fulfilled? At first, it is tempting to remember the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 A.D.; however, this passage speaks of an attack by “all the nations of the earth.” This phrase implies a more internationally mixed host.
“I will strike with blindness all the horses of the nations.” God is promising to make Jerusalem and Judah a heavy stone that will literally crush all those who attack. God is also promising to strike horses of attacking armies with panic. Armies don’t use horses very much anymore; however, computer failures could wreak havoc with attacking weapons. God is speaking to people who have never imagined computers; He must use language that will convey His fundamental meaning to His people.
“On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among the sheaves; they will consume all the peoples around them on the right and on the left, while the residents of Jerusalem remain secure in Jerusalem. The LORD will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and of the people of Jerusalem may not be greater than that of Judah. On that day the LORD will defend the residents of Jerusalem, so that the weakest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the LORD going before them.
So on that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.”
As I write these words, huge forest fires have been consuming millions of acres in Canada, spreading smoke across much of the United States. A lack of rain, coupled with lightning strikes has resulted in a conflagration of enormous proportions. For the ancient Israelites, one of the worst catastrophes imaginable would be someone setting fire to the dry sheaves of grain. There would be one loud “WHOOF!” and everything would go up in flames. Now God is promising that the clans of Judah and the city of Jerusalem will be so mighty that they will consume all the nations around them. God promises to revive the house of David, transforming David’s descendants into an unstoppable force.
“Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns an only child, and weep bitterly for Him as one grieves a firstborn son.” This is Messiah speaking! At a certain point, God will send the conviction of the Holy Spirit on His people and those who have hitherto refused to acknowledge Jesus as Messiah will do so, grieving deeply that they have waited so long.
APPLICATION: It’s easy to understand the verses about God protecting Jerusalem and Judah, but why will people who have refused to acknowledge Jesus as Messiah grieve so deeply? People of all ages need love above all else and will do nearly anything to get it. But Jesus Christ can offer something nobody else can: pure and unadulterated love, the love that has sent him to the cross to die for the sins of all the people of the world. When people encounter love of that purity, they suddenly realize that they have been fighting the One who loves them better than anybody else. Looking at lost time and opportunities, no wonder that people will grieve! All that loneliness, all that suffering, and all the time, Jesus has been waiting for them to turn to Him.
Do we really have to wait for a catastrophe to happen before we turn to Jesus? Why can’t we lay down our foolish pride and allow Jesus’ love to transform us? Let’s pray.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we don’t understand how or why You can love us, but we are thankful that You do. Help us to lay down our foolish pride and allow You to change us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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