BIG IDEA:
THE COMPASSIONATE GOD WILL ULTIMATELY STRENGTHEN HIS REGATHERED REMNANT LED BY THE MESSIAH TO TREAD DOWN THEIR ENEMIES AND BE FIRMLY ESTABLISHED IN THE PROMISED LAND
INTRODUCTION:
Often people look for blessing and strength in all of the wrong places. False prophets come along and make all types of seductive promises of health and prosperity. The wicked seem to prosper and go unpunished despite their rebellion. But the end is fast approaching when God will wrap up His kingdom program for this earth, defeat all enemies and establish His remnant in His promised land. The Messiah will ride forth in majesty on His war horse and lead His people to ultimate victory. In a spiritual sense, we need to be strengthened in the Lord right now to fight the battles against our enemies and enjoy the blessing and fruitfulness that God wants for us.
I. (:1-2) BLESSING AND FRUITFULNESS CAN ONLY COME FROM GOD –
CONTRAST BETWEEN THE FULL RAIN CLOUDS OF DIVINE BLESSING AND THE EMPTY RAIN CLOUDS OF FALSE PROPHETS
A. (:1) The Full Rain Clouds of Divine Blessing
1. Seek Genuine Blessing from God Alone at the Appropriate Time
“Ask rain from the Lord at the time of the spring rain”
It is always the appropriate time to seek blessing from God
He loves to give good gifts to His children – James 1:16-17
2. God is the Sufficient Source of All Blessing
“The Lord who makes the storm clouds”
3. God’s Gracious Blessing Brings Particular Abundant Fruitfulness to Each Individual
“And He will give them showers of rain, vegetation in the field to each man”
B. (:2) The Empty Rain Clouds of False Prophets
1. False Prophets Speak Lies that Promote Sin
a. Teraphim
“For the teraphim speak iniquity”
Tenney: They were household gods ranging from rather small (Gen 31:34, 35), to nearly life-sized (1 Sam 19:13, 16). Recent archeological discoveries at Nuzi in Iraq have illuminated the function and significance of these idols. Their possession constituted the headship of the household with all of the rights attendant thereto. . . The function of teraphim of which the prophets most disapproved was divination. As divinatory objects they often are mentioned with ephods, also used for divination.
b. Diviners
“And the diviners see lying visions and tell false dreams”
2. False Prophets Offer False Security
“They comfort in vain.”
Many passages speak of the futility of following after false prophets.
Jer. 2:13
3. The Void of Faithful Shepherding Leaves a Vulnerable, Neglected Flock
a. No Direction
“Therefore the people wander like sheep”
b. No Deliverance
“They are afflicted”
c. No Shepherding
“because there is no shepherd”
II. (:3-5) VICTORY OVER OUR ENEMIES CAN ONLY COME FROM GOD –
GOD EQUIPS HIS PEOPLE TO WAGE WAR VICTORIOUSLY – PRIMARILY THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE MESSIAH = THE TRUE SHEPHERD
A. (:3a) The Anger of God Unleashed in Judgment Against False Prophets
“My anger is kindled against the shepherds and I will punish the male goats.”
B. (:3b-5) The Equipping by God to Fight as Victorious Warriors
1. (:3b) Transforming Vulnerable Sheep Into a Majestic War Horse
“For the Lord of hosts has visited His flock, the house of Judah,
And will make them like His majestic horse in battle.”
The equipping presence of the Lord with His people is the key
Cf. Picture of Messiah returning on singular war horse
2. (:4) Transforming Them Into Weapons of Warfare Led by the Messiah
a. Cornerstone – Stability of Leadership (Mackay) (Is. 28:16)
“From them will come the cornerstone”
b. Tent Peg – Reliability of Leadership
“From them the tent peg”
c. Bow – Military Success of Leadership (Ps. 45:5)
“From them the bow of battle”
d. Summary
“From them every ruler, all of them together”
Lindsey: These terms emphasize the strong, stable, victorious, and trustworthy nature of Messiah’s rule. The Lord will not do all the fighting but will empower His people to conquer like mighty men. He presence will enable them to be victorious.
3. (:5) Transforming Them Into Victorious Warriors
a. Characterized as Mighty Men
“They will be as mighty men”
b. Relentless and Victorious in the Trenches
“Treading down the enemy in the mire of the streets in battle”
c. Energized by Divine Assistance
“And they will fight, for the Lord will be with them”
d. Overcoming Incredible Odds
“And the riders on horses will be put to shame”
You have a picture of foot soldiers defeating the cavalry
III. (:6-12) REDEMPTION, REGATHERING AND RE-ESTABLISHING CAN ONLY COME FROM GOD –
GOD STRENGTHENS HIS PEOPLE TO BE FIRMLY ESTABLISHED IN THE PROMISED LAND
Mackay: The theme of this section is indicated by the repetition of “I will strengthen them” (10:6, 12). This divine empowering is the means by which the fortunes of his people will be restored.
A. (:6) Promise of Restored Remnant
1. Reunion — Reunited as One Kingdom
a. Southern kingdom
“I will strengthen the house of Judah”
b. Northern kingdom
“And I will save the house of Joseph”
2. Restoration — Restored to the Land
“And I will bring them back”
3. Reason = Compassion
“Because I have had compassion on them”
4. Reversal of Rejection
“And they will be as though I had not rejected them.”
5. Responsiveness of Personal God
“For I am the Lord their God and I will answer them.”
B. (:7-8) Prosperity of Restored Remnant – Strength / Joy / Numbers
1. Strength
“Ephraim will be like a mighty man”
2. Joy
“And their heart will be glad as if from wine;
Indeed, their children will see it and be glad,
Their heart will rejoice in the Lord.”
3. Numbers
“I will whistle for them to gather them together,
For I have redeemed them,
And they will be as numerous as they were before.”
C. (:9-10) Providence of the Restored Remnant
1. (:9) Renewed Allegiance
“When I scatter them among the peoples,
They will remember Me in far countries,
And they with their children will live and come back.”
2. (:10) Sovereign Disposition
“I will bring them back from the land of Egypt
And gather them from Assyria;
And I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon
Until no room can be found for them.”
D. (:11) Pathway for the Restored Remnant – Defeating all Obstacles
“And they will pass through the sea of distress,
And He will strike the waves in the sea,
So that all the depths of the Nile will dry up;
And the pride of Assyria will be brought down
And the scepter of Egypt will depart.”
MacArthur: Similar to Israel crossing the Red Sea, God will remove both geographical and political obstacles to Israel’s return for the kingdom of Messiah. Assyria and Egypt, traditional enemies of Israel, symbolize any nation that would try to withstand God from fulfilling His will (cf. Is 11:11,12).
E. (:12) Plan for the Restored Remnant – Strengthened to walk in righteousness
“’And I will strengthen them in the Lord;
And in His name they will walk,’ declares the Lord.”
Feinberg: Their entire life and conduct will be controlled by the desire to honor the Lord. Such is the goal of prophecy for the nation Israel.