Zechariah 12:4 Commentary and Bible Study

‘In that day’ – the day when this prophecy is fulfilled: not necessarily a single day, but just as well, a period in the future – ‘saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness.’ This is about those who are attacking the church. Zion, the true church, will need no earthly weapons, but God will preserve his people. The opponents of the gospel come at the church with carnal weapons, but they are met with weapons which are mighty and spiritual – God himself will smite the horse with astonishment and its rider with madness. Those who attack church cannot prosper. It doesn’t matter if the whole world is against us, the more vigorously they attack, the stronger their delusion. God will frustrate all the advances of enemies and those hostile towards the church, at least for a time. The language is couched in Old Testament city terms. Only God’s true people will see and understand and they shall be protected.In verse 5 we have insights into special characteristics of the gospel age. ‘The governors’ – are the leaders of churches. In olden times the rulers or kings had to keep up the morale of a city under siege, but the new Jerusalem will be different. All people will have a full heart to serve the Lord; the whole unit has a concern to advance the gospel; the whole family is significant. Paul says to the Thessalonians, ‘Brethren, pray for us.’ Even leaders will depend on the prayers and spirituality of ordinary church members. In Zechariah’s time there was an oppressed society led from above, but in the days he is speaking of, leaders will say the people are our strength. There will be no superiority of leaders over people. Leaders depend on prayers of people. This was only fulfilled in the church: the leaders of the church will be trusting in the Lord.