His Arrow Will Flash Like Lightning

Zechariah 9-10; Psalm 145; Proverbs 30:32

Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!
Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and having salvation,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
and the war-horses from Jerusalem,
and the battle bow will be broken.
He will proclaim peace to the nations.
His rule will extend from sea to sea
and from the River to the ends of the earth. – Zechariah 9:9-10

What a picture of peace! That’s what we’re looking for, you know? A righteous, saving, peaceful king whose rule extends everywhere. We know that king to be Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ (Matt. 21:1-11).

But Jesus Himself didn’t always seem to be so peaceful, even immediately after fulfilling the words of Zechariah’s prophecy (Matt. 21:12-13). Why not? Because Jesus’ peace is only for His people, to His kingdom. Yes, anyone may become a part of His kingdom and find peace with Jesus, so in that sense His peace is for everyone. But there are those who reject the Christ’s offer of peace, instead preparing for battle. The problem’s simple: you can’t defeat Jesus, no matter who you are.

I will bend Judah as I bend my bow
and fill it with Ephraim.
I will rouse your sons, O Zion,
against your sons, O Greece,
and make you like a warrior's sword.
Then the LORD will appear over them;
his arrow will flash like lightning.
The Sovereign LORD will sound the trumpet;
he will march in the storms of the south,
and the LORD Almighty will shield them.
They will destroy
and overcome with slingstones.
They will drink and roar as with wine;
they will be full like a bowl
used for sprinkling the corners of the altar. – Zechariah 9:13-15

This same Christ who brings peace to His people is the LORD who sounds the trumpet and marches into battle against those who reject His offer of peace. No picture of Jesus is complete that denies that He is the LORD whose “arrow will flash like lightning.”

Have you accepted His offer of peace?