Zechariah 9:12 KJV
Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;
The phrase is a poignant one to be sure. JFB says this is written many years after the previous chapter and accounts for the shift in circumstances. Alexander the Great is the dominant personality, followed by the division of his leadership and the resulting oppression of Israel by the Grecian rule. Israel is once again enslaved, though in their own land.
And in this position of affliction God offers a promise to the Jews;
• A promise of peace and greatness
• A promise of a kingdom
It's been a promise they have heard before. It's a promise they have heard over hundreds of years of suffering. Each new circumstance, it seemed, brought with it, not a kingdom, not even relief, but a renewed promise: someday they would have a kingdom.
They were in fact prisoners of that hope. It kept them going despite all else. Regardless of the severity of their trials, through years and years of varying afflictions they could not let go of it. It is the inspiration of such portrayals of the Jews as the father in Fiddler on the Roof. He could not let go of, he was prisoner of his hope.
And so should be the Christian our life is to be lived in hope. Regardless of the tragedies of circumstance, we are bound by our hope to look up and keep on in the name of Christ. As the redeemed of the Lord we are prisoners of hope.
Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;
The phrase is a poignant one to be sure. JFB says this is written many years after the previous chapter and accounts for the shift in circumstances. Alexander the Great is the dominant personality, followed by the division of his leadership and the resulting oppression of Israel by the Grecian rule. Israel is once again enslaved, though in their own land.
And in this position of affliction God offers a promise to the Jews;
• A promise of peace and greatness
• A promise of a kingdom
It's been a promise they have heard before. It's a promise they have heard over hundreds of years of suffering. Each new circumstance, it seemed, brought with it, not a kingdom, not even relief, but a renewed promise: someday they would have a kingdom.
They were in fact prisoners of that hope. It kept them going despite all else. Regardless of the severity of their trials, through years and years of varying afflictions they could not let go of it. It is the inspiration of such portrayals of the Jews as the father in Fiddler on the Roof. He could not let go of, he was prisoner of his hope.
And so should be the Christian our life is to be lived in hope. Regardless of the tragedies of circumstance, we are bound by our hope to look up and keep on in the name of Christ. As the redeemed of the Lord we are prisoners of hope.
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