GOD’S PROMISE FOR ISRAEL’S FUTURE
While it can be argued from the Tenach that we, the Jewish people have suffered much at the hands of many people groups throughout our history, it can equally be argued that God will never forsake Israel and our people (Jeremiah 35:35-37).
One of the most beautiful event in God’s program for mankind is the restoration of Israel in the last days. Many prophets speak powerfully of the day when Israel will be restored to the Land and know God personally (Zechariah 12-14, Ezekiel 36-37, Jeremiah 16).
But this day is contingent upon a reconciliation that has yet to take place between the Jewish people and the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This recognition of the one “whom they have pierced” found in Zechariah 12:10 is the sine qua non for the Messiah of Israel to come and establish the Kingdom of God.
All of Zechariah chapter 12 speaks of the L-rd delivering Israel. The first deliverance will be from her physical enemies (Zechariah 12:1-9) and the second one will be a spiritual deliverance from the bondage of sin (Zech 12:10-13:9)
Looking closely at Zechariah 12:10, we see how God will deal with His chosen people, the ones that Zechariah called earlier “The Apple of God’s Eye” (Zech 2:8)
God Pours out His Spirit on the Jewish People
God has been speaking in Zechariah 12:1-9, so it is contextually relevant to see him as the narrator for the rest of the chapter. It is God who will pour out His Spirit, the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem. God promises to pour out on the Jewish people, the Spirit of grace and of supplication. The same Spirit of God who imparted wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge and fear of the L-rd in Isaiah 11:2 or Joel 2:28-29, will impart His grace upon Israel in Zechariah 12:10
Israel Calls on the Pierced One
As a direct result of God pouring out His Spirit of grace and supplication on Israel, they –the Jewish people– will look on Me whom they have pierced. Amongst a few of our sages, Rashi (1040-1105) in his commentary of this passage of the Bible sees Jewish people mourning because the Gentile nations pierced and killed some of them. This appears to be quite a grammatical stretch, especially in light of many Rabbis pre and post Rashi, such as Rabbi Abraham ben Ezra (1088-1176), Rabbi Dan Isaac Ben Yehuda (1437-1508), who saw the pierced one as King Messiah, the son of Joseph. Even the Talmud in tractate sukkah 52a, sees the pieced one as the Messiah.
The picture seems to come more and more into focus as we see God pouring his Spirit on Israel to call upon the One whom they have pieced. As we have already seen, the pierced one is the same as the narrator, that is God Himself. Was Messiah supposed to be God but yet a man? Much of the Bible seems to indicate that Messiah would be God in the flesh (Isaiah 7:14I, 9:6-7, Micah 5:2, Jeremiah 23:5-6). To be sure, we must clarify that God lowered himself to become a man and die for the sins of the world. Man never did and never will become God.
The word Hebrew word dakaru translated pierced means “pierced to death” or “to thrust through”. Lest we would be accused of being equivocal, the meaning is quite clear and is also within the context of other prophetic passages such as Psalm 22 and Isaiah 52:13-53:12. The Messiah would be pierced or crucified.
So When Will God Restore Israel?
The next question that one might pose is: “When will this restoration take place?”
If indeed the pierced one is Yeshua of Nazareth, the Jewish Messiah who gave His life for Jews and Gentiles alike over 2000 years ago, then the promise from the God of Israel still stands and will be fulfilled at the Second Coming of Yeshua. Zechariah 12 speaks of the end times before Messiah comes back to establish the Kingdom of God.
Yeshua Himself said to Israel in Matthew 23:37-39:
37 “ O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.
38 “Behold, your house is being left to you desolate!
39 “For I say to you, from now on you shall not see Me until you say, ‘ BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!’”
What a glorious day it will be when all Israel will look to Him and say Baruch Haba Bashem Adonai “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the L-rd”.
Then All Israel will be reunited with her God through Yeshua the Messiah who died, rose again, for the sins of the world and who is coming back soon.