Proper 9: Old Testament, Zechariah 9:9–12

Have you ever been identified by your association with someone else? In school being so-and-so’s little brother or sister can mean you have a reputation far different than the one you could earn yourself. To be sure, this reputation could be a good thing or not such a good thing. Sometimes you know which the speaker intends when they say it, and sometimes you hold your breath waiting to find out. God’s people are identified by their association to Him in Zechariah and it not only changes their reputation, but also the expectations on them.

In Zechariah 9:9 God’s people are called “daughter of Zion” and “daughter of Jerusalem” meaning the Israelites and each of us are members of God’s family. We are on a plane we didn’t earn. Then it goes onto calling the Israelites then and us now—to “rejoice greatly” and “shout aloud” because the King is coming to us and we are to give Him a regal welcome.

Zechariah’s name means “YHWH remembers” already showing us God’s grace, Zechariah is prophesying to the Jews who have been restored from Babylonian captivity another sign of God’s grace, but further, God’s people need the hope of the coming Messiah, their King, to see the fullness of God’s grace. When Christ arrived, God’s grace was fully realized by the Israelites prompting hearty rejoicing and shouting to welcome the King, “Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

So, what of it for us? We too, see God’s grace—through reading and hearing His Word, we taste God’s grace in the Sacrament, but we also need the hope of the coming Messiah, our King to see the fullness of God’s grace. The prophecy of Zechariah to the Israelites, the daughter of Zion, was pointing to the Messiah’s coming to walk among us and die and rise again for us. The prophecy of Zechariah to us, the daughter of Zion, is pointing us to the promise that Christ will come again to take us to be with God for eternity. When He arrives and we fully realize God’s grace may it prompt hearty rejoicing and shouting to welcome our King, Jesus!