The theme of the first eight chapters of Zechariah dealt with the restoration of the Temple and the rebuilding of the nation. The last four chapters have several Messianic prophecies in them. Although this chapter has a great promise of the Messiah Zechariah nine and ten have to do with events that were future to Zechariah, especially God's judgments against Gentile cities and nations. Zechariah's exact prophecies and their fulfillment is another proof of the inspiration of the Scriptures. God's eyes were upon everyone, especially the Jews. So He pronounced judgment against the wicked places like the land of Hadrach and Damascus. God's judgment also fell on the city of Hamath, as well as on Tyre and Sidon. Tyre had piled up silver and gold, as though it was mud from the streets. The Lord punished them with poverty. The Jews would be spared as cities like Ashkelon, Gaza and Ekron were punished. The Philistines would be conquered and their pride would be gone. God later provided special protection for the Temple and the Jewish nation. 

          Zechariah nine contains a great promise of the Messiah. It is not easy to see how it fits in this context other than the reason that God protected the Jews was for the coming of the Messiah. The prophecy said, "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." (Zechariah 9:9) This prophecy is directly applied to Jesus in Matthew 21:5. The prophecy was so specific that it was pointed out that the Messiah would ride into Jerusalem on a male donkey. Zechariah 9:9-11 is a beautiful picture of the rescue of sinful people from the deep pits of sin. The Messiah would speak peace unto the heathen. It is by the blood of the Messiah that people are released from the prison of sin.

          Judah and Israel are pictured as restored and joined with God as He protected them in battle. The Jews were the special people of God until the time that the Messiah could be born. The protection and preservation of God is the only way the Jewish nation could exist until the Messiah could come through them. "How lovely they will be. Young people will grow there like grain in a field or grapes in a vineyard."

          Enemies of Israel will be punished -- Zechariah 9:1-8: In Zechariah nine verses one through eight prophecies were made about God's judgment coming against the nations. We see God's judgment against the land of Hadrach, and Damascus. Other Gentile locations that would feel God wrath would be Hamath, Tyrus, and Zidon, the land of Philistia, including Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and Ashdod. The abominable things of false religion and the blood-thirsty activity of the sinful Gentiles would face certain and severe punishment. God has always hated the shedding of innocent blood. At the same time the Gentile nations were being judged God promised to protect the Temple and His people. He would stand guard to protect the Temple against attacks and He would preserve the Jews for the coming of the Messiah. These events were fulfilled in the days of Alexander the Great. These events were to take place before the promised time of the Kingdom of Christ.

          The King, the Messiah is coming -- Zechariah 9:9-10: In a powerful prophecy of the Messiah Zechariah wrote, "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." (Zechariah 9:9) This prophecy is directly applied to Jesus as He made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem. "And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass." (Matthew 21:1-5) This was indeed a time for rejoicing. Observe the four descriptions that were given of the King, (1) He is just or righteous, (2) He brings salvation, (3) He is lowly or meek, and (4) He is riding upon an ass colt. Today we can rejoice because the King has come. “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest." (Matthew 21:9)

          Rescued from sin by blood -- Zechariah 9:11-13: The covenant that God made with Abraham (Genesis 12) and later Isaac, Jacob, and the Israelites was ratified with the blood of many godly victims. The time finally came when the Messiah shed His precious blood, a sacrifice that had been vividly pictured by many Old Testament sacrifices. It is by the precious blood of the Son of God that those bound in the misery and pits of sin can be set free. "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." (Hebrews 9:12) The stronghold to which we look for deliverance from sin is Jesus. He was delivered for our offences and raised for our justification. (Romans 4:25) Those who become children of God through the blood of Jesus receive the double blessing of peace and salvation. Zechariah then returned to described events that would lead up to the coming of the Messiah King. God said, "I will use Judah as my bow and Israel as my arrow. I will take the people of Zion as my sword and attack the Greeks."

          God protected His people -- Zechariah 9:14-17: In Zechariah 9:14-17 God declared that he would be with and bless His people. There are many times that God blesses and protects His people physically but the primary reference here is to how God would bless the Jewish nation spiritually and how that He would later bless us spiritually through Jesus. There are times when prophecies have a physically fulfillment and later a more complete spiritual fulfillment. The case here is likely that God will remain with His people and bless the nation physically and will later bring the Messiah through them as the redeemer for the people. You can be assured that the Lord will protect His people. "The LORD All-Powerful will protect his people." "The LORD God will save them on that day, because they are his people, and they will shine on his land like jewels in a crown. How lovely they will be. Young people will grow there like grain in a field or grapes in a vineyard."