Christ: Hope in a Hopeless World

By the time the prophet Zechariah was preaching the nation of Israel was derelict, brought to nothing by their sins at the hands of the surrounding nations. The decree had been given by Cyrus that Israel could return to the homeland.

The prophecy of Zechariah 9:9-12 is a message of blessing and hope in the coming of the King of the Jews. This king is not what Israel might expect to see – He will be afflicted, lowly, etc. His Kingdom also, is not going to be established by warfare and weapons, but will be a kingdom of peace (Vs. 10 cf. Colossians 1:20).

But it is the hope of this kingdom that is interesting in this context. We have to understand the historical context; not all Israelites returned to the land after the captivity. Some had become comfortable in their adopted land and they decided to stay – they were, in effect, still prisoners. But the way to liberty had been open and the refused to go out. They were “prisoners with hope.” Here is the gospel; these Israelites have freedom freely given with the promise of an inheritance, the way was opened, but they refused. They are prisoners for whom hope is available, yet they refuse to accept it.