When the Holy Spirit Comes

 O. T. #2323 "When the Holy Spirit Comes"

Nov. 17, 2022

Zechariah 12-Part 6

LET IT GLOW

We are reading about the last days-the Lord will destroy the enemies of Jerusalem and deliver them from evil. the battle is not won by military might or strategy. Every nation who tried to destroy Israel, and will attempt to do so, will be destroyed. Also, it will be a time of repentance. What will lead the Jews to repent of their sins and rejection of Jesus as The Messiah?

• God will pour out His Spirit of grace and supplication upon them.
• They will realize that they, the Jews, pierced Jesus causing His death.
• They will mourn and be bitter over this. (verse 10)

The Jews will finally recognize that Jesus Christ is The Messiah, whom they killed. 

Look at the meanings of some words found in this verse:

grace-kindness, favor, bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; have mercy upon; precious;

supplications-prayer, intreaty;

bitterness-grieved; provoked;

mourneth-lament.

So there will be great weeping and mourning throughout the land of Israel, as individual and corporate repentance takes place. (Tony Evans)

The Holy Spirit is so identified because He brings saving grace and because that grace produces sorrow which will result in repentant prayer to God for forgiveness. (MacArthur)

The Jews rejected and crucified Jesus, their ancestors. Yet, they are also guilty. We are guilty. It is our sins that put Him on the cross. He loves us so much that Jesus was willing to do this for you and me. Mmm. How can we but love and serve our Savior?

Do you know my Jesus? 

LET IT GROW

This mourning is compared to:

The bitter mourning of that day will be a public display compared to the death of righteous king Josiah, who was slain by Pharaoh Necho. (2 Kings 23:29-30) It took place in the Valley of Megiddo. It is not far from Jezreel, where the Battle of Armageddon will take place. (The territory belonged to tribe of Issachar.)

When king David died the nation mourned. Also, the house of Nathan the Prophet mourned. (2 Samuel 7:2) 

The families of Levi, the priestly tribe, mourned. 

All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart. (verse 14) 

So the grief will spread through the Jewish society, from royalty, to priestly, and the common citizen. Godly sorrow brings repentance.

Friends, we should mourn over our nation, its sinful state, and beg God for His grace and mercy. 

LET IT GO

Father, our nation is deep in sin. Please send Your Spirit of conviction.

Please forgive us of our sins of abortion, homosexuality, materialism, idolatry.

Your mercies are new every morning. Great is Thy faithfulness.