Zechariah 9:1-9: Alexander contrasted with Messiah

By Pastor Terry L. Reese, Valley Grace Brethren Church, Armagh, PA; 
for Palm Sunday, April 5, AD 2020

Zechariah’s prophecy provides the background to our Lord’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (cf., Matt. 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-38; John 12:12-15). The details of this Prophecy from the 6^th Century BC ultimately find their fulfillment on in a variety levels within different future eras.

Zechariah 9:1-7, which documents the triumphant march of Almighty God from north-to-south, judging the nations that surround Israel, finds its essential fulfillment in the devastating conquests of Alexander the Great some two centuries after Zechariah’s prophecy. Functioning (unconsciously) as God’s appointed tool, the Grecian conqueror Alexander humbled traditional foes of the Chosen People (such as Syria, Tyre, and Philistia) by means of fire, sword, and terror.

Zech. 9:8—a transitional verse regarding Israel’s deliverance—actually bridges and compresses vast centuries of time. The first part of verse 8 (“But I will camp around My house because of an army, because of him who passes by and returns…”) foresees God’s preservation of Jerusalem from Alexander’s wrath by employing a series of astounding events that served to dispose the heart of that capricious conqueror to deal in a manner most favorable to the Jews. The last half of the verse, however (“And no oppressor will pass over them anymore, for now I have seen with My eyes.”), deals with Israel’s ultimate and lasting deliverance from international oppression by the hand of conqueror far mightier than Alexander—namely, that of Messiah the Prince. This passage, thus, awaits its fulfillment unto the dawn of the Millennial Kingdom that will be ushered in by the glorious Second Advent of our Lord.

Verse 9, by Divine Testimony (Matt. 21:4-5, John 12:14-15), was fulfilled 2,000 years ago in the first coming of the Son of God—some 500 years after the prophecy was initially revealed unto Zechariah. In another amazing example of prophetic time compression, however, verse 10—which predicts the establishment of world peace with the universal dominion of Messiah—awaits future fulfillment. In other words, the 2,000 year Church Age—a New Testament “mystery” (Eph. 3)—lies in the vast valley of distance that separates the prophetic summits of verses 9 and 10! The same phenomenon, of course, can be seen in Isa. 9:6-7.

The startling contrast that is apparent within this amazing series of verses lies in comparing the dissimilarity between the two conquerors that are employed unto the fulfillment of the Father’s eternal decrees: namely, Alexander the Great, the son of Philip II of Macedon, and Jesus Christ, the Son of David.

Unlike the brutal, prideful, capricious, dissolute and immoral Grecian, the Messiah is depicted in verse 9 as “just” (or “righteous;” Hebrew: tsaddı̂yq), “lowly” (i.e., “humble”), and comes in servile humility (Phil. 2:5-8) bearing salvation, rather than destruction (cf., Luke19:10; Matt. 20:28; John 3:17).

Such contrast is apparent in their choice of mounts. Alexander was, like Messiah, well-identified with his choice of mounts; namely, Bucephalus, the greatest warhorse of antiquity. This fierce black stallion with a white star on his forehead and a distinctive “wall” (i.e., blue) eye, was personally tamed by Alexander himself in his youth, and served him for many years amidst his bloody conquests. Messiah, however, comes to men in this Age of Grace upon a noble but humble beast: specifically, the lowly donkey—an animal associated with the message of peace.

Let us be sober, however, in the realization that the Day is coming, ultimately, when Messiah will exchange the peaceful mount of the donkey with a great warhorse of His own (Rev. 19:11), utterly devastating and shattering God’s enemies with the sharp sword that proceeds from His mouth. This Day will, of course, be in accordance with the Father’s own perfect timing. With these things in mind, brethren, let us appreciate the absolute urgency in working for the harvest of precious souls while it is yet daylight—before the awesome and undiluted Day of Wrath and Divine Vengeance appears!

Revelation 19:11: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.”