KJV Zechariah 10:4: “Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.”
NASB Zechariah 10:4: “From them will come the Cornerstone, From them the tent peg, From them the bow of battle, From them every ruler, all of them together.
Israel’s shepherd kings had failed. But now we are looking at a future day. God will visit His flock and provide a Shepherd Who will strengthen and enable them so that a small and feeble remnant will become like a “goodly horse in battle.” This Deliverer is known by four titles in the verse before us. The glories, honours, and attributes of the coming Shepherd-Messiah are all encapsulated in these titles. What a day that will be for the nation; what a day for humanity and the world. And do not forget, we will be linked with Him in His glory.
The Corner – The Basis or Foundation of all.
He is the Cornerstone: chief, elect, precious, sure, tried. All divine purpose rests on Him and what He has accomplished. The Father put all into His hands (John 13:3), the only capable hands in the universe. He accomplished all and finished the great work at Calvary. Here, it is the future blessing of the nation. No longer dependent on its failed shepherds. God will give them the perfect Shepherd to care for the nation in the future. His work on the cross has assured the future of Israel as well as our future.
The Nail – The Bearer of Glory and Focus of all.
This is not the tent peg that kept the tent in place. This is the strong peg inside the tent on which they hung all that was of value. It may also picture Him as the Burden Bearer (Isa 22:23). He alone is able to bear the glory without any thought of failure, pride, or weakness.
The Battle Bow – The Bondage Breaker or Fighter
He will send forth His arrows with unerring accuracy against the enemy and bring victory to His people. (See also Ps 45:1).
The Ruler – The Blessor or Fountainhead:
He is the “Noges,” or gatherer of all rule and authority; He is worthy of all the tribute from all the nations. This word can also be interpreted as “Exacter” (Isa 60:17). His worth will be the theme not only in heavenly courts but also among the redeemed of Israel on earth. “Daily shall He be praised.”
Consequence of His Coming:
- They will be infused with strength – mighty men … they shall fight …
- They will be assured of victory: their foes confounded, and victory is theirs.
- Judah strengthened, and Joseph saved;
- The basis of this – mercy
- Reuniting of the Nation – “as though I had not cast them off.”
- The assurance of this – “I will hear.” This section begins with a call to prayer and ends with the assurance that God hears and answers.
The Lord Jesus is the Good Shepherd Who gave His life for us. He will also be the Shepherd-Messiah Who will restore the nation. He will be the Shepherd-King Who will rule the nations with a rod of iron.
Consider:
Zechariah is replete with prophecies concerning Christ. It is among the most often cited Old Testament prophecies. Read the book and note all the references to our Lord Jesus.