Zechariah 9:11,12
"As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee:"
In these verses, Zechariah proclaims a message of hope and restoration for the people of God. When he uttered these words from the LORD, he foretold the future fulfillment of God's covenant promise, which the LORD Jesus would bring to pass through His shed blood unto death—the blood of the covenant.
These two verses may seem simple at first glance, but they are full of profound truth about God's sovereign grace in bringing about the redemption and justification of sinners whom God the Father has ordained to salvation. Some interpret these verses solely in light of national Israel's deliverance, but God's history of redemption is not Israel-centric, but Christ-centric. The covenant promises made to Israel were temporary, promising the preservation of a seed through Judah, until the LORD Jesus came and permanently sealed the covenant for God's true Israel—the elect of God from every tribe, nation, and tongue (Revelation 5:9). "Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed" (Romans 9:7-8).
Verse 11: “By the blood of thy covenant…”
The first phrase in Zechariah 9:11 points to a key aspect of the sovereignty of God's grace: the blood of the covenant. This refers to the blood that seals a covenant between God and His people, typified by the sacrifices in the Old Testament. Yet, in the ultimate sense, it directs us to the blood of the New Covenant—the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross for the forgiveness of the sins of God's covenant people, according to His election of grace.
God declares that it is by the blood of His covenant that He has set free their prisoners out of the pit, wherein is no water. This refers to a state of captivity and hopelessness, a dry and desolate condition. Historically, it speaks to the return of a remnant of national Israel from Babylonian captivity. Spiritually, it symbolizes prisoners bound by sin, despair, and separation from God, whom He has purposed to deliver through the blood of the New Covenant—the shed blood unto death of the LORD Jesus (Matthew 26:28).
This is a vivid picture of how Christ’s sacrificial death sets free all of God’s elect from every tribe, nation, and tongue, from the pit of sin, death, and condemnation. Before Christ came and paid their sin debt, they were prisoners to the law and justice of God because of their sin, living without hope in a dry and barren place, unable to save themselves. But God, in His sovereign grace, sent forth His Son in the fullness of the time (Galatians 4:4) to rescue them through the blood of the New Covenant. In Christ, we who are His elect children have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7).
Verse 12a: “Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope…”
Here, Zechariah calls the "prisoners of hope" to turn to the stronghold. The imagery is that of a fortified city or strong tower, a place of safety and refuge. Notice that God refers to these prisoners not merely as "prisoners," but as "prisoners of hope." Though in captivity, they are not without hope. This speaks of the gracious hope rooted in God’s promise of salvation through the LORD Jesus—a hope unshakable, for it is founded on the covenant God has made with His Son, for the people He chose before time and gave to His Son to save (John 17:2).
The "strong hold" refers to the LORD Jesus Christ Himself, and specifically to salvation being found in Him. He is the Strong Tower into which sinners made alive by His Spirit flee for refuge (Proverbs 18:10). In Christ, we who are God’s elect are called to turn to Him, trusting in His wisdom, strength, and power to save and keep those who come to God by Him, drawn by the sovereign work of the Spirit (Hebrews 7:25). We are called to look to Him as the Place of Refuge, knowing that in Him, we find not just freedom from sin and condemnation, but everlasting Hope—Hope that can never be taken away, hope certain because it is founded on the promise of God's covenant in His Son (Hebrews 6:18).
Left to ourselves, we can only turn to false refuges, seeking peace and rest for our souls. But the LORD Jesus is the only Stronghold of God, where there is eternal rest and salvation for the soul (Matthew 11:28). As "prisoners of hope," set free by the righteous life and shed blood unto death of the LORD Jesus, we rest in His promise and have a good Hope of Eternal Salvation in Him, knowing that God is faithful to His word.
Verse 12b: “Even today do I declare that I will render double unto thee.”
This declaration, “I will render double unto thee,” is a promise of blessing and restoration from sin and captivity. In the original context, it reassured Israel that God would restore them to a place of abundance and joy back in their land, and He did after their 70 years of captivity. What was lost would be fully recovered and more. This is the case for the true people of God in Christ. This is a beautiful reminder of God’s sovereign grace in saving sinners. Even when we experience hardship or feel the weight of our sin, God’s grace is sufficient to give us salvation in Him.
In Christ, we receive this "double" portion of grace. We are not only forgiven but also declared righteous and justified before God, resulting in us being adopted as sons and daughters, co-heirs with Christ, and recipients of eternal blessings. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:17, “If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” We are promised that God will not only restore what was lost but will lavish upon us His grace, more than we could ever ask or think (Ephesians 1:3-14).
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