4 In that day,” says the Lord, “I will strike every horse with confusion, and its rider with madness; I will open My eyes on the house of Judah, and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. 5 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in the Lord of hosts, their God.’
Zechariah 12:4-9 depicts Judah’s deliverance by Jehovah.
12:4
In that day,” says the Lord,
There is an emphasis here on a future prophetic day of God’s judgment on the nations. Zechariah uses the phrases “in that day” and “at that day” 16 times in the remaining chapters. This is a future day when God will do something special for the nation Israel. The Bible refers to it as “the Day of the LORD,” a day when God will deal with all the countries of the world.
“I will strike every horse with confusion,
Jehovah will defeat a cavalry force against Israel by supernatural confusion. The cavalry was the strongest of military troops in Zechariah’s day.
and its rider with madness;
There will be such confusion that those conducting the military campaign against Israel will experience mental illness.
I will open My eyes on the house of Judah, and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.
God’s “eyes” here are His providential care of Judah. However, in contrast to His care for Israel, He will strike blind the military power of those attacking Israel.
12:5
And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in the Lord of hosts, their God.’
The leaders of Judah will recognize God’s hand with them during this time of ultimate duress upon the nation. This trust in God will give them momentum to lean upon Him further in battle. The governors of Judah will recognize that the citizens of the city of Jerusalem trust in their God.
PRINCIPLE:
The Antichrist’s army of the future will be defeated by Israel’s God.
APPLICATION:
God will deal summarily with any enemy of Israel that seeks to oppose His purpose for the nation. God will show His hand against the defenseless first (the tents) to demonstrate that it is His work and not that of Israel. Jehovah Himself will be Israel’s true defense.
