Zechariah 9:9

 Zechariah 9:9 says, Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.  The people of Israel were called on to rejoice because the Redeemer was coming.  He would come in a lowly estate, not as a regal King, though He was the King of glory.  They were told that their King would come on the foal of an ass, and Jesus Christ fulfilled this prophesy.  Verse ten adds, And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.  The coming King, the Messiah, would establish His kingdom, not by military might, but by bringing spiritual peace to those who put their faith in Him, even the heathen if they put their faith in Him.  God does not call us to us to convert people by military might, but by spreading the gospel of Christ, which is based on the love of God.  Verse eleven states, As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.  God said the coming Messiah would bring hope where there had been no hope.  Whether they realize it or not, until people accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, they are without hope.  Verse twelve adds, Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;  God called on people come to His stronghold where they would where they would be prisoners of hope.  God also said He would bless them with double blessings, and He stands ready to do so today.  Verse thirteen declares, When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.  God said He would be with the people of Judah and give them victory over their enemies.  Through our faith in Jesus Christ, we have victory over all the forces of the world that work against us today.  Verse fourteen adds, And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.  God's people were not to be victorious because of their own ability, but because God was going to give them the victory.  We today will not be victorious over sin because of our own abilities, but because Jesus Christ has given us the victory.  Verse fifteen continues, The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.  God said that His people would be able to eat in peace and make a joyful noise to Him.  We today as followers of Christ should eat in peace no matter what is going on in the world because God is our protector and we should therefore rejoice in the Lord.  Verse sixteen states, And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.  Zechariah said that the LORD their God would save them in that day.  As Christians, we know the day is coming when God will bring His judgment on the world, and as followers of Christ we will be as stones in the crown of Christ.  Verse seventeen concludes, For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.  We need to always proclaim the goodness of God, just as the His people were called on to do then.