Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war-horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. Zechariah 9:9-10
“This prophecy was intended to introduce, in contrast to earthly warfare and kingly triumph, another Kingdom, of which the just King would be the Prince of Peace, who was meek and lowly in His Advent, who would speak peace to the heathen, and whose sway would yet extend to the earth’s utmost bounds…If ever was a true picture of Messiah-King and His Kingdom, it is this: and if ever Israel was to have a Messiah, or the world a Savior, He must be such as is described in this prophecy—not merely in letter, but in the spirit of it.”
David Baron (1855-1926) in The Visions and Prophecies of Zechariah (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1918) 303-304.
It is not difficult to see the generosity of God in today’s prophecy. He will establish another kingdom, one that encompasses all nations, and it will be ushered in with humility and characterized by peace. The question we must all ask ourselves as we learn to wait in this first week of Advent is this: Am I under His reign and experiencing His peace? The latter is likely a sign of whether or not the former is true.
This morning I am training a group of EFCA pastors and marketplace leaders again today in California: encouraging them to take hold of faith and work in light of God’s economy. Then I fly home to Denver to attend the annual Christmas party in our old Eagle View neighborhood tonight. It’s a privilege to be invited back to lead it though we have moved to the Cattails townhouses only a mile away. There will be great food, fun, fellowship, and I plan to remind them of this truth in our world filled with troubles:
“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11
Remember: The most generous thing we can do this season is to share the Christ of Christmas with the world. I believe that must start with our neighbors.