Shabbat Shalom, everyone. We are going to turn in our Bibles this meeting today to the prophet Zechariah or Zechariah. We are going to continue in our study. We are today in the 10th chapter of the prophet Zechariah and we are going to see what the Lord has before us. Let me first of all read the chapter. We begin with verse one. Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain. So the Lord shall make bright clouds and give them showers of rain to everyone grass in the field. For the idols have spoken vanity and the diviners have spoken. And the diviners have seen a lie and have told false dreams.

They comfort in vain. They were troubled because there were troubled because there was no shepherd. No shepherd. Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds and I punished the goats. For the Lord of hosts have visited his flock, the house of Judah, and has made them as his goodly horse in the battle. Out of them. Out of him came the corner. Out of him came the corner. Out of him the nail. Out of him the battle bow. Out of him every oppressor together. And they shall be as mighty men which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle. And they shall fight because the Lord is with them.

And the riders on horses shall be confounded. And I will strengthen the house of Judah. And I will save the house of Joseph. And I will bring them again to place them. For I have mercy upon them. And they shall be as though I had not cast them off. For I am the Lord their God. And I will hear them. And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man. And their hearts shall rejoice as through wine. Yea, their children shall see it. And be glad. Their hearts shall rejoice in the Lord. I will hiss for them. And gather them. For I have redeemed them.

And they shall increase as they have increased. And I will sow them among the people. And they shall remember me in far countries. And they shall live with their children. And turn again. And I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt. And gather them out of Assyria. And I will bring them into the land of Gilad and Lebanon. And place shall not be found for them. And he shall pass through the sea with affliction. And shall smite the waves in the sea. And all the dips of the river shall dry up. And the pride of Assyria shall be brought down. And the scepter of Egypt shall depart away.

And I will strengthen them in the Lord. And they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the Lord. Again, as I mentioned before, beloved brothers and sisters, Zechariah prophesied to a remnant who came back from Babylon. And had been 70 years in Babylon. Returned back to the land of Israel. Rebuild now the temple in the city of Jerusalem. And Zechariah was raised together with Haggai. Those two prophets to encourage the Jewish remnant in the land of Israel. If you remember, God gave eight visions to Zechariah in the first sixth chapter. Then he gave them instruction concerning fasting and feasting in chapter seven and eight.

In chapter nine, where we began in our previous meeting together. He gave Zechariah the first burden that God had on behalf of the nation of Israel and the surrounding nations. We said that chapter nine, 10 and 11 give us the first burden of Jehovah. In connection with the first coming of the Messiah. And that's why we read in Zechariah nine, verse nine. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion. Shout, daughter of Jerusalem. Behold, thy king cometh unto thee. He is just and having salvation lowly and riding upon an ass and upon a cold to the fall of an ass. He was primarily giving the burden of Jehovah concerning the nation of Israel and the surrounding nations in relationship to the first coming of the Messiah.

This verse in connection with Matthew chapter 21. This one that is riding upon a donkey is none else but the king of Israel, the Lord Yeshua, Jesus, the Messiah. He came in his first coming. He was rejected by the nation of Israel and was ultimately placed on a Roman cross. And he actually bore the sin of this world. We read it in John one. Behold the lamb of God who taketh away the sin of this world. But chapter nine, 10 and 11 deal also with the consequences or the results of the first coming of the Messiah. How much blessings will come to the nation of Israel. In chapter 12, 13 and 14, which we're going to get to it later on.

There the burden of the Lord is in connection with the second coming of the Messiah. And how he will ultimately rule and reign over the nation of Israel and the nations of this world. Again, in chapter 9 and verse 10 of Zechariah, it says, I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem and the battle boar shall be cut off. And he shall speak shalom unto the heathen and his dominion shall be from sea to sea and from river to the end of the earth. When the Messiah will come in his second coming, he will rule and reign over the nations of the world.

So that same Yeshua who was rejected in his first coming, he's going to come in his second coming. And he's going to be acknowledged and accepted by Israel. And he will rule and reign from shore to shore, from sea to sea as the promised king of Israel. And so if you remember, we stopped in verse 17 of chapter 9 where we read, For how great is his goodness and how great is his beauty. And we talked about the goodness of God and the beauty that is found in him. This is really encouraging to our hearts. We look around and we try to find goodness in men and we find that men fail God.

We fail each other. There is no good in men, humanly speaking, because of our sin nature, but the goodness of God. Lead us to repentance. Paul said it in the book of Romans. God is so good. God is so gracious. But not only that the Messiah, Yeshua, is good and gracious, but there is a beauty that is found in him. The thing that attracted me to Yeshua as a Jewish man was the beauty that is found in the person of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. There is none as morally beautiful as our Lord Jesus the Messiah. The prophet Isaiah in chapter 53 said there is no beauty that we will find in him.

In other words, in his first coming they didn't find beauty in him and therefore Israel did not acknowledge him. But in the second coming of the Messiah they will recognize the beauty of the Lord. And you and I can today appreciate the beauty of our Lord Jesus the Messiah. So, if we begin in chapter 10, immediately there is a connection between chapter 9 and chapter 10. The people who divided the chapters, you could see that sometimes they missed. Because the first verse of Zechariah 10 verse 1 is really connected with Zechariah chapter 9. And specifically with verses 16 and 17. So, notice in chapter 10, in the first four verses we have Israel will ultimately be healed on the basis of the first coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah who died for us on the cross.

And so, look what he is saying now in verse 1 of chapter 10. "Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain. So the Lord shall make bright clouds and give them showers of rain to everyone grass in the field." Now, if you know Hebrew and the history and the way in which God dealt with our people Israel. Israel is a nation that depends upon the rain. If there is no rain in the land of Israel, it is a sign of God's judgment upon the nation of Israel. In fact, in the Bible, in biblical history, God had promised our people Israel the early rain, which we call it in Hebrew the Yoreh, and the latter rain, which we call it in Hebrew the Malkosh.

The early rain comes around September, October, where the rain is to prepare the people of Israel for the fall crop that will come in the fall. But then we have the latter rain, which is just in the earlier March and April, which prepare the ground for the harvest that will come in the spring season in May, June, July, and so on. So Israel as a nation depend totally upon the rain. Now, it is interesting that in the last years, Israel did not have a lot of rain. Actually, just this year they had much rain and I think less winter. But before the last couple of years, Israel didn't have much rain.

And the Kinneret, this is the Sea of Galilee, began to diminish by a few meters. And the Sea of Galilee is the main source of water for the Israelis in the land today. And the reason that the Sea of Galilee was emptied, if you will, is because there was no rain to replenish the Sea of Galilee. And not only there, elsewhere in the whole land of Israel, there was a lot of need for rain. And so now in chapter 10 and verse 1, God is speaking to the remnant of Israel. And ultimately, he takes us to the millennial age. He says, listen, the Lord says, ask of Jehovah for rain in the time of the latter rain.

The word for rain in Hebrew is called Matar or Geshem. Here he tells Israel, you know, you pray and you ask from Jehovah for Matar, for a strong rain that will come in the season of the latter rain. In the March or April season. Why? Because God promised that there will be showers of blessings for the people of Israel in the future day. Notice it says, the Lord shall make a bright cloud. Notice verse 1b. And he will give them showers of rain to every one grass in the field. In other words, the giving, the provision of the rain is a proof that God is satisfied with his people Israel and that he's blessing them with showers of rain.

This is an important thing to understand in connection with our people Israel and the promised land. I want to mention a verse or two in Deuteronomy chapter 11 and verse 10. We read these words. Verse 11. Verse 11. Verse 11. The land where whither thou goest in to possess it is not as the land of Egypt for whence ye came out where you sowed the seed and watered it with thy foot as the garden of herbs. But the land, verse 11. Verse 11. Verse 11. Wither ye goest to possess is a land of hills and of valley, and the land that drinketh water of the rain of heaven, a land which the Lord thy God cared for.

Therefore, the eyes of the Lord thy God is always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandment, which I commended you this day, to love the Lord thy God and to serve him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. Listen to this verse 14 of Deuteronomy 11. That I will give you the rain of your land in his due seasons. The first rain, this is the yoreh, and the latter rain, this is the malkosh, that thou mayest gather in thy corn and thy wine and thine oil.

And I will send grass in thy field for thy cattle, and thou mayest eat and be full. But now listen, brothers and sisters, what he says. If Israel will not obey the word of the Lord, it says in verse 16. Take heed to yourself. That your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside and serve other gods and worship them. And then the Lord's wrath be kindled against you. And he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit. And lest ye perish quickly from all the good land, which the Lord giveth unto you. You notice, brothers and sisters, God is able to shut up the windows of heaven.

That the rain will not come down. And if there is no rain, there is no crop. If there is no rain, there is no bread. If there is no rain, there is no food. Now we have to realize that even for us today, in the present day, today, can you imagine, if we are not going to have rain, imagine how the farmers will work the ground. Where will we enjoy and have plenty of food as much as we have today? So when there is no rain in the land of Israel, symbolically it speaks to us of the judgment of God upon his people. But when there is plenty of rain, it speaks of the blessings of God upon the nation of Israel.

It was even King Shlomo HaMelech, King Solomon, when he dedicated the temple in Jerusalem in 1 Kings 8. He prayed and he says to God, if we disobeyed and you shut the heaven, and if we confess and we pray to thee, open the windows of heaven and pour upon the nation the promised rain for the nation of Israel. And so it is so important to understand here, that verse 1 of chapter 10 takes us to a future day, when God says to Israel, you know what, I intend to pour upon you showers of blessings. I want to minister to you, I want to bless you. You ask for Matar, for rain, and you will see what I will give.

Showers of rain to everyone that grass will be in the field. Remember, beloved brothers and sisters, that the Jewish people, many years ago, they were not lawyers and doctors and all what the Jewish community is today. In the diaspora, years ago, the Jewish people have been farmers, working the ground, working the land. They were shepherds and farmers. They were serving God in the land of Canaan, in the land of Israel. And therefore, God promised them a blessing that will come if they will only obey him. Let me make one more comment here. Do you remember Elijah in 1st King chapter 17 and in 1st King chapter 18?

In 1st King chapter 17, because of Israel's sin and disobedience, Elijah prayed. And for three and a half years, there was no rain in the land. And there was famine in the land of Israel. After that, God said to Elijah, Elijah chapter 18, verse 1, you go and you pray, I'm going to send the rain. And sure enough, after three and a half years, Elijah prayed. And God gave our people of Israel plenty of rain that the famine will no longer be in existence. James said in chapter 5, Elijah was a man subject like passion as we are. And he prayed earnestly that it might not rain. And it rained not upon the earth by the space of three years and six months.

And he prayed again. And the heaven gave rain. And the earth brought forth her fruit. So the rain, beloved brothers and sisters, speaks to us of the showers of God blessing upon the nation of Israel. And here he asked Israel, the remnant, ask for rain. And he will provide for you. He will give them showers of rain to every one grass in the field. And now he's moving on. Verse 2, Jehovah is pointing out to all their idols and the gods that Israel used to follow when they were in a bad spiritual state. And he's saying to them, look, he says, the idols, verse 2, have spoken vanity.

And the diviners have seen a lie and have told false dreams. They comfort in vain. Therefore, they went their way as a flock. And they were troubled because there was no shepherd. You know, God always presents before Israel. And he will do it for you and I. He will always show to us the difference between what we have been brought in because of what the Lord is. And how, when we were not right with the Lord, how we used to be away from him. And we have been following that which was wrong. And so he's telling them here, you see the difference between me, Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

And the idols that man makes for himself. Look at the difference. You ask for me for showers and I will bless you. Just trust me and go with me and I am going to bless you. But look, in contrast, those idols that you used to have and you used to follow after the nations, the Gentile world. He says, look, they have spoken emptiness. And then he says that the diviners have seen a lie and they have told false dreams. He says, look at the comparison. The true and living God ministered to the need of the people of God. The false idols and diviners, all what they do, they speak vanity, really empty.

And they see a lie and they have told false dreams. And he's reminding the people of Israel when they deviated from him. What they end up doing? They end up following after the idols of the Gentile world. And the word for idol is the Hebrew word teraphim. It's a small little household idols that they would bring them in a home. And they will make a little sanctuary in a certain room. And they will end up bowing themselves and praying to these little household teraphim idols. You remember Jacob, Jacob, took his two wives, Rachel and Leah, and fled from the house of Laban. And you know what Rachel did?

Rachel took the little idols, the little teraphim, and she ran with it. And they went together and they fled from Laban. Laban was so angry. Laban, his Hebrew name. He was pursuing after Jacob. And when he finally got there, Jacob didn't know that his wife had stolen these little idols. And Laban said, "You have stolen that which belonged to me." So Jacob said, "Look around. Check to see. If you find anything, that person will die." So Laban began to search. Rachel took those little idols and she sat upon them. Can you imagine you sit on your God? And when Laban was looking and searching in her tent, she said, "Forgive me for not standing because I'm the men after the women." In other words, I'm in a time that I cannot stand.

And so she remained sitting on this teraphim. And Laban did not find those gods of his. That's why God is saying here to Israel, you know, Israel, those teraphim, those idols, they spoke in vanity. They cannot help us. They cannot help you, Israel. And those diviners, whatever they claim to see, they see a lie. It's from the enemy. It's from the devil. It's not real. And then they told false dreams. That word for diviners is the Hebrew word for kosmim. It's the word like magicians. And you know, apparently Israel have been influenced by those who claim that they can tell them and lead them in the ways of the Lord.

And God's saying, look at the difference. Those idols, those teraphim, those diviners, those kosmim, they cannot help. When you have followed them, look at the result that they brought for you in your life. They only led them astray. They didn't minister to the heart of the people of Israel. And I want to make an application here for us today. You know, we as believers in Yeshua the Messiah have to realize that we are not exempt. We are always in danger in adapting to things that are not Bible, that are not found in the written word of God. And that's why John oftentimes is in his epistle warning the believers to be careful.

Not to follow after everyone that claimed that he or she or they are ones that have something from God. But to search the scripture, to make sure that we follow that which is given to us indeed in the scripture. We read in 1st John chapter 5, the last verse. John said, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." We as followers of Yeshua the Messiah are just as much in danger as the people of Israel have been previously in Israel history. The idols, they have spoken vanity. The diviners, they have seen a lie and they have given us false dreams," he is saying to Israel. And then notice what he says now in verse 2b, because he is telling them now the results of following those idols.

Look what he says to them in verse 2. "They comfort in vain, therefore they went their way as a flock, and they were troubled because there was no shepherd." It comforts you in vain. You are trying to find comfort and peace in your heart. And you can't find it because these ones are comforting us in vain. In other words, it is only temporarily. It didn't satisfy the heart of Israel. It is so sad because God's people, whether it is Israel or whether it is the church, we are like sheep, like flock. And we are able, if we are not careful, to follow after all sorts of things and even after men who teach false teaching like a flock.

The Bible tells us in Isaiah 53:6, "All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned every man to his own way." We are like sheep that are following after someone. Look what happened to Israel before they have turned to the Lord, when they have been away from him. They went their way as a flock. You know, like going to the slaughter, just carrying on, going straight, following that which someone have said. In this case, it is the idols, the diviners. And then look what it says at the end of verse 2. They were troubled. You know, a sheep can never drink water from a stream that runs.

You can never satisfy yourself, quench your thirst when the water is moving. That's why David said, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He leadeth me by still water." Why? Because when you have a place to feed, to drink from the water, the waters that are moving, we are unable to drink. He leadeth me by still water. Psalm 23. And so precious. And they could not be satisfied. They were troubled. And here, beloved brothers and sisters, a challenge to us. I hope, and I trust, as we begin this new year, that we will find satisfaction in the person of Yeshua. Don't go to and fro.

Try to find the satisfaction from this teacher, and this leader, and this great man, and this great news. You will see that you will never be satisfied. The one who can give satisfaction to the soul is the person of our Lord Yeshua, the Messiah. He is the one that gives joy to the heart. And he is the one that is the Jehovah of Israel. Ask for the rain, and I will give you showers of rain. Not only physical rain, but spiritual blessing upon the people of God. So they were troubled. And then it says in verse 2, because they had no shepherd. When Israel were going astray, following after those teraphim, idols.

Following after those diviners, the kosmim. They were not satisfied, because they didn't have a shepherd. And the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, said in John chapter 10, verse 11, 11, I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd whose own sheep are not, sees the wolf coming, and he leaves the sheep, and he flees, and the wolf catches them and scatters the sheep. The hireling flees because he is a hireling, and he cares not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, Yeshua said. And I know my sheep. And I am known of mine.

Notice what he says, verse 15. As the Father knoweth me, even so I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of default. Them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. And look what he said at the end in verse 17. Therefore does my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. That I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.

This commandment have I received of my Father. Here is the true shepherd of Israel. Here is our shepherd who gave his life for us. Who was willing to lay down his life on the cross to deal with the question of sin. To deliver us from the judgment that we deserve to receive because of sin. And ultimately to give us hope. And to lead us on. And you see, Israel did not have a shepherd. And Israel, when they did not have a shepherd, they were troubled. Because they turned away from Jehovah, Jesus, the Messiah, who was the true shepherd of Israel. Again, they did not understand church truth.

Because it was not all. It was hidden God. So their only thinking was, the Messiah is going to come in the coming days. He is going to restore our people Israel. He is going to establish the Messianic kingdom. And God said, on the basis of the coming of the Messiah, I am going to pour upon you the rain of blessing in the coming day. And look at the contrast. Just look back and see what those idols have done to you. I want you to follow after me because I have a blessing that intended for you in the coming days. And so in verse 3, Jehovah's anger against the false shepherd.

It says here in verse 3, "Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds." These are the false shepherds who led the nation astray. And I punish the goats. For the Lord of hosts has visited his flock, the house of Judah, and as he made them as his goodly horse in the battle. We have to realize that even though we see today, just the same like in Israel's history, a lot of false teachings that are going on. This old sort of religious system that was introduced by man is actually an influence of Satan. And people are following after those kind of things. God is going to deal with the false shepherds.

It says here in verse 3, My anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punish the goats. Now, it's interesting to take a note. Why does he use the word "the goats" here? Now, goats are to be distinguished from sheep. You remember in Matthew chapter 25, Yeshua was speaking about the judgment of the nations in the future day. And he will separate between the sheep and the goats. The goats always speaks of those that are not real. Those that are not genuine. Those that claim that they belong to God, but really they are not. And the Lord will have to deal with the goats. In the context here, those goats really speaks to us of the false shepherds that led Israel astray.

And we read here, God says in verse 3, I will punish those goats. And even today, those who lead church saints astray and away from the truth of the word of God, God will end up to deal with them in the coming days, in his time. And then it says here in verse 3b that he will visit his flock to the house of Judah. Those Jewish remnant and the whole tribe of Judah, He made them as his goodly horse in a battle. In other words, he will strengthen the house of Judah. So Judah will be able to go to a battle against the enemies of Israel, the enemies of Jehovah.

I'm going to read a verse in Ezekiel chapter 34 in connection with the false shepherds of Israel when they led Israel astray. Listen to Ezekiel 34 verse 1. And the word of the Lord came unto me saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say unto them, Thus says the Lord God unto the shepherds. Woe to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves. Should not the shepherds feed the flock? Ye eat the fat. Ye close you with the wool. Ye kill them that are fed. But ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened. Neither have ye healed that which was sick.

Neither have ye bound up that which was broken. Neither have ye brought again that which was driven away. Neither have ye sought that which was lost. But with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. You know, the shepherds' responsibility is to heal the diseased. Is to minister to the sick. Is to bound up those that are broken. And to bring back those that have been driven away. And those that are lost to seek them. You know, this is an amazing responsibility that God placed upon the shepherds. Old Testament time in history of Israel. As well in New Testament. Present day dispensation. We, those that have the responsibility in leading and teaching and so on.

Have to have the desire to minister to the flock. To God's sheep. To minister to them. And we know it's not an easy job to take. It's a great responsibility. But nevertheless, God seeks to see the desire in the shepherds' heart. To minister to the people of God. And so he will deal with the shepherds. And he will ultimately punish those that are the leaders. That have led the people of Israel astray. I'm challenging you today as well. That if the Lord lay in your heart to serve him. Realize that the people of God need encouragement. The people of God do not need to be forced.

But they need to be drawn. To be ministered to. The people of God are not easy. The people of God are sinners that are saved. And there is a sin nature. But we are responsible to minister to each other. And to be encouragers rather than discouragers. That's the responsibility that we have. And so in the next verse. All these healings that are going to come in a future day. Is always on the basis of the coming of Yeshua. Of Jesus the Messiah. Who died on the cross. And so he says in verse 4. Israel will be cured through the person of the Messiah. Who will come from their perspective.

Notice interesting verse is verse 4. Out of him came the corner. Out of him the nail. Out of him the battle bow. Out of him every oppressor together. Together. Very interesting verse. This is a messianic verse really. That speaks about the Messiah. In Hebrew. Mimenu pina. Mimenu yated. Mimenu keshet milchama. Mimenu yetze kol nogesh yachdav. If there will be a blessing. To Israel. In the future day. It must be comes out of God. Out of the coming Messiah. That we read about him. In chapter 9. In verse 9. O daughter of Zion. The daughter of Jerusalem. Behold. Your king cometh. Unto thee. He is just. And having salvation.

Yeshua. Lowly. And riding upon an ass. And upon a cold. The fall. Of an ass. When the Messiah came. He is the one that gave his life. He came in lowliness. In meekness. And he is the one. That is called here. Those three things. He is called a corner. He is called a nail. And he is called a battle bow. The word for corner. The word for corner. In Hebrew. In Hebrew. He is called a corner stone. You know. When the temple was built. They needed to bring the corner stone. In order to put together. The whole temple. The corner stone was an important stone.

And it speaks to us. About the Messiah. Who would come to be the corner stone. In Isaiah. We read in chapter 28. In verse 16. Therefore thus says the Lord God. Behold. I lay in Zion. For a foundation. A stone. A tried stone. A precious corner stone. A sure foundation. He that believeth on him. Shall not. Make. Haste. They speak about the Messiah. He is the one. Who came. To this world. To become. That corner stone. The pinah. The heaven. Pinah. He is the one. That was promised. By God. To come. To be the one. That will establish. Salvation. He is the corner stone. I am going to read.

A verse. In 1st Peter. Chapter 2. Verses 6. 7. And 8. Peter spoke about it. Much. When he was speaking. To his Hebrew brethren. When he was preaching. The message. He says. In 1st Peter. Chapter 2. Wherefore. Also it is contained. In the scripture. Behold. I lay in Zion. The chief corner stone. Elect. Precious. And he that believeth on him. Shall not be confounded. Unto you. Therefore. Which believe. He is precious. But unto them. Which are disobedient. The stone. Which the builders. Disallowed. The same. Is made. The head. Of the corner. And as a stone. Of stumbling. And a rock. Of offense. Even unto them. Which stumble. At the word.

Being disobedient. Where unto. Also they. Appointed. Themselves. He is speaking. About the corner. Stone. Beloved. Brothers. And sisters. And Yeshua. The Messiah. He is. That. Corner. Stone. That everything. Is being built. Upon the person. And the work. Of Yeshua. The Messiah. Now I want us. To see this. Also in relation. To the church. Jesus. The Messiah. Is the stone. That was laid. In Zion. In Zion. He is the one. That one day. Everything. Will be hinged. Around him. Everything. Is going to be. Connected. With him. Paul. When he spoke. About the church. He also. Made sure. To help us. To understand. That the Lord Jesus.

Is that. Corner. Stone. And I just. Going to read. Just a couple of verses. In Ephesians. Chapter 2. 20. He says. Ye. Are built. Upon the foundation. Of the apostles. And the prophets. Yeshua. The Messiah. Himself. Being the chief. Corner. Stone. In whom. All the building. Fitly. Framed together. Growing up. Into a holy. Temple. In the Lord. This is Ephesians 2. Verse 20. And 21. So. You and I. Actually. Brothers and sisters. We are part of the body. Of Messiah. We are built. Upon. The chief. Cornerstone. And the whole. Assembly. The whole church. Is built. Upon. The person. And the work. Of our Lord. Yeshua. The Messiah. He is the one.

That Zechariah. Is pointing out. Here. In verse 4. Of Zechariah. Chapter 10. But not only. That he is the chief. Cornerstone. He is also. It says here. Of him. He said. And out of him. The nail. This nail here. In Hebrew. It's Yated. It's actually. Nail. Really. The Yated. It is really. A tent peg. When you build a tent. You have to have those pegs. That hold. The whole tent. Together. And really. It speaks about. The Messiah himself. Who is the tent peg. The Yated. The Yated. And upon this peg. You would. Hang things. And you would. Hold the whole tent. Together. He is the one. That gives support.

He is the one. That gives us. Encouragement. And support. You see. Where can we get support. Where can Israel. Get support. Assurance. A cornerstone. But also. A Yated. A peg. That is true. Deep. Deep. Into the ground. Well. That's the Messiah. He is the one. That whole. Thing. Together. He is the Yated. He is. The nail. That is. The one. That we. Are standing. Upon. This is very precious. To understand. But also. It says here. In verse 4. That he is the battle bow. Out of him. The battle bow. The battle bow. The bow. The Hebrew is Keshet. And a battle. The Hebrew word is. Milchama.

He is Keshet. It is a bow. That you shoot an arrow. In order to go out. To fight. Against the enemies. And you know. We cannot find. A spiritual war. On our own. He is the battle bow. On behalf. Of Israel. The nation. On behalf. Of the believers. He is the battle. Bow. He is the one. That goes. Before us. To lead. His people. Into victory. Out of him. The battle bow. Out of him. The ability. To win. Victory. Against. The enemies. Of God's. People. And so. In verse 4. He is pointing out. Or the person. Of the Messiah. Who is. The cornerstone. The peg. The nail.

And he is the battle bow. And notice. Finally. And really. It is a summary. In verse 4. Out of him. Every. Oppressor. Together. What does that mean? Every oppressor. Will depart. When. They. Will face. The nation. Of Israel. When we seek. To destroy Israel. He is the one. That will. Disperse. Those. Who will come. Against. His own. People. Out of him. Every. Oppressor. Together. Will depart. And will not. Be able. To defeat. God's. People. That was. He is saying. Now. To the remnant. Of Judah. So. These verses. Seems to be. Kind of difficult. To know. How to fit them. Here. In Israel's. History. But definitely. You can see.

That it speaks. About. Future. Day. When. Israel. Will enjoy. Blessing. But all. Is. Depended. Upon. The finish work. Of the Messiah. The king. That was. Rejected. And so. Verses. One to four. Israel. Will be healed. On the basis. Of the finish work. Of the Messiah. And now. Verses. Five to seven. Here's another thing. That God. Had promised. To have. Victory. Is. And so. He began. With verse five. And he promised. To his people. That in the future day. In the time. Of the tribulation. Israel. Ultimately. Will be victorious. Over their enemies. Verse five. Says that. They. Shall be. As a mighty man. Which tread. Down.

Their enemies. In the mire. Of the streets. In the battle. And they shall fight. Because. The Lord. Was with them. And the riders. Of the horse. Shall be. Confounded. In other words. Israel. I can assure you. In the coming day. That you. Going to be. As a mighty man. Who will. Tread. Down. Your enemies. In the mire. Of the streets. But how. You will be able. To do so. Because Jehovah. Was. With them. Every time. When there is. Victory. For God's people. Is because. The Lord. Was with us. For us too. Brothers and sisters. Be strong. In the Lord. Paul said. In Ephesians 6. And in the power.

Of his might. Not in your own power. Not in our own power. But it is in the power. Of the Lord. We cannot defeat. Spiritually speaking. Today. Today. We cannot live. A victorious. Christian life. Unless. The Lord. Is the one. That is with us. If you remember. We just prayed. The request was. For somebody. To live. A victorious life. As a believer. Well. How do we live. A victorious life. We cannot do it. On our own. Even though. We are saved. And forgiven. We cannot do it. On our own. Because we still. Have the old nature. Which inclined. To constantly. Go. Have its own way.

But you remember. What Paul said. Walk. In the spirit. And you shall not. Fulfill. The lust. Of the flesh. Galatians. Tells us. That. We cannot do it. On our own. Israel. In a future day. Will be able. As mighty men. To tread down. Their enemies. Why? Because Jehovah. Was with them. And he led them. To victory. He led them. To be able. To live. Ultimately. At the end. Of the tribulation. To live. A life. That is for him. And to be a restored nation. Also. For this remnant. He gives them. A promise. When the Lord. Is with you. And you have enemies. Around you. Who seek to destroy you.

When the Lord. Is with you. You are going to be able. To defeat. As mighty men. To defeat. Those enemies. In verse 6 and 7. In verse 6 and 7. He promised. To strengthen. Both Judah. And Joseph. And Ephraim. And here. It is interesting. Because as I mentioned before. There are many. Those who don't believe. That Israel. Will be reunited. And they don't believe. That the so-called. Ten lost tribes. Are actually not lost. Because Israel. Ultimately. Is going to be restored. All the 12 tribes. Of the people of Israel. So here. In verses 6 and 7. He pointing up. To Joseph. And Ephraim. In additional. To Judah. So he says. In verse 6 and 7.

I will strengthen. The house of Judah. I will save. The house of Joseph. And I will bring them again. To place them. For I have mercy. Upon them. And they shall be. As though. I had not. Cast them off. For I am. Jehovah. Their God. And I will hear them. Verse 7. And they of Ephraim. Shall be like. A mighty man. And their heart. Shall rejoice. As through wine. Yea. Their children. Shall see it. And be glad. Their heart. Shall rejoice. In the Lord. You notice. Brothers and sisters. That he mentioned. Judah. The tribe of Judah. Yehuda. Judah. And Yosef. Joseph. In Hebrew. It's Yosef. Whose.

He had two sons. Ephraim. And Menashe. And he mentioned. Ephraim. In verse 7. Ephraim. Ephraim. They of Ephraim. Shall be like. A mighty man. Now. Ephraim. Was the leader. Of the northern tribes. Of Israel. Judah. Was the leader. Of the southern tribes. Of Israel. And when Israel. As a nation. Were divided. In the time. Of the kings. When Rechovam. The son. Of Solomon. Shlomo. Did not listen. Did not listen. To his elders. And because. Of his pride. He lost. The ten tribes. In other words. There was a division. Between those two kingdoms. Now. We see here. That the Lord promised. To restore. All. Ephraim. Which is.

Representing Israel. And Judah. To himself. And together. To unite them. As a nation. And so. He says. Those four things. In verse. Six. I will strengthen. The house. Of Judah. Again. I will save. The house. Of Yosef. Thirdly. I will bring them again. To place them. Back in the land. And fourthly. I have mercy. Upon them. God. Will show. Mercy. To his own. Nation. In a future day. And will bring them. And restore them. Back to their promise. Land. And so. He says here. At the end. Of verse six. And they shall be. As though. I love that word. They shall be. As though. I had not.

Cast them off. For I am the Lord. Their God. And I will hear them. Notice his expression. They shall be. As though. I had not. Cast them out. Or cast them off. In other words. When God. Has chastened. Our own nation. Israel. In the dispersion. In the diaspora. He cast them away. In judgment. And he disciplined. Our nation. Israel. Because Israel. Violated his word. And if you remember. In 70 AD. The Romans. Came. And destroyed. The temple. In Jerusalem. Shalein. And killed. And killed. Over one million. Jewish people. One million. One hundred thousand. Jewish people. Took slaves. Some of them. Took some of the. Articles. From the temple.

And brought it. To Rome. The Jewish people. Were scattered. And dispersed. First. And that was. A judgment. Of God. And so. God. Now. Is saying. Of course. It is much. Much. Earlier. Than 70 AD. We are talking. About now. 500 years. About 500 years. Before. What happened. In 70 AD. This temple. That was built. He is saying. To them. Listen. Brothers and sisters. Listen. Men of Judah. Men of Joseph. Men of Ephraim. I am going. To restore you. I am going. To strengthen you. I am going. To save you. I am going. To bring you. And all. What have happened. Over the generation. That I had. To scatter you.

Will be. As though. I had not. Cast you. At all. Away. Now. I am. I am going. To emphasize. Something here. Since I became. A believer. I heard. That in the professing. Church. There are those. Who believe. That God. Had finished. With the Jewish people. With the people. Of Israel. And that Israel. Because they disobeyed. God. That God. Has scattered them. And God. Has no more future. For Israel. As a nation. Well. They need. To read. This chapter. They need. To read. Zechariah. Chapter 10. And verse 6. And 7. But also. Listen. Paul. Was so burdened. With. With this truth. Concerning. The restoration. Of Israel. That in the book.

Of Romans. Paul. Shaul. Gave. Three chapters. To the. Believers. Upon their hearts. That God's. Sovereign choice. Of the nation. Of Israel. Is his own. Sovereign choice. And he have. Elected this nation. And he has. A purpose. For them. Even though. They are. In a period of time. That they are scattered. Among the nations. Of the world. And as the same. It used the word here. And. They shall be. As though. Cast. Them off. Paul said. In Romans. Chapter 11. Verse 1. And notice. How he said it. Has God. Cast. Away. His people. He said. He asked the question. Did God. Really. Cast. Them away. And the answer.

He gave. Right away. Says. God forbid. For I am also. An Israeli. Of the seed. Of Abraham. Of the tribe. Of Benjamin. God. Hath. Not. Cast. His people. Which he. How new. He didn't. Cast. Them away. He may have. Cast. Them. In judgment. But he's intend. To restore. The nation. Of Israel. Back. To himself. He says. In Romans. 11. Verse 13. He says this. For I speak unto you. Gentiles. Inasmuch. That I am an apostle. Of the Gentiles. I magnify. My office. If by any means. I may provoke. To emulation. Them which are. My flesh. That I might. Save. Some of them. And if the casting. Away.

Of them. Be a reconciling. Of the world. What shall be. The receiving. Of them. Israel. But life. From the dead. And if the first. Root. Be holy. And so on. Also. The lamp. Is holy. If the root. Is holy. Also. The branches. Are holy. He continued. In verse 25. Of Romans. 11. For I would not. Brethren. That you should. Be ignorant. Of this mystery. Lest. You should be wise. In your own. Conceit. That blindness. In part. Happened. To Israel. Until the fullness. Of the Gentiles. Become in. And he closed. In verse 26. And so. All Israel. Shall be. Saved. As it is written. There shall come out. Of Zion.

The deliverer. Speaking about. The Messiah. Yeshua. And shall turn. Away. Ungodliness. From Jacob. Beloved brothers. And sisters. What Paul. Wrote about. He must have read. Zechariah. Chapter 10. And he says. They will be. As though. God. Had not. Cast them off. You see. The apostle Paul. Did not have. Any new testament. To read. Because he was. Writing it. He only had. The Hebrew. To read. And he was. Reading. All the prophets. Of Israel. And all the promises. That God. Had given. To our nation. Israel. That he will. Deal with them. In the future. As though. They were not. Cast away. At all. All. Because he is.

Intending. To restore them. Back. To himself. And now. He is. Talking about. Ephraim. In verse 7. And he said. The day of Ephraim. Shall be like a mighty man. And the heart. Shall rejoice. Here is Israel. In a future day. Rejoicing. As though. Through wine. You know. When somebody is. Drinking wine. He is. He is kind of. Happy. Israel. Rejoicing. In a future day. It will appear. To be. As if they were. Drinking wine. They were not. Drinking wine. They were drinking. Into the power. Of the spirit. Of God. That was. Placed. Upon them. It says. And their children. Shall see it. And they will be glad.

Their heart. Shall rejoice. In the Lord. Notice. How many times. The word. Rejoice. Future day. Israel. Will be. Restored. On the basis. Of the finished work. Of the Lord. Yeshua. The Messiah. And so. Israel. Will be. Victorious. Over their enemies. On the basis. Of the coming. Of the Messiah. Their king. And finally. In verses 8. To 12. Israel. Will be. Fully. Restored. To the. In a full sense. That they can now. Minister. Of this world. And listen. To these brothers. And sisters. It says. In verse 8. That Jehovah. As a shepherd. Will hiss. For them. And gather them. For I have redeemed them. And they shall increase. As they have increased.

Now. What's the word. For hiss. The Hebrew word. For hiss. Is. Eshreka. It's like. To whistle. If you ever. Have an opportunity. To see. Shepherds. In the field. When the shepherd. Decides. To move ahead. And to. Go to another location. He will hiss. The Hebrew word. He will whistle. To them. And they will listen. To him. And they will be gathered. They will follow. After him. And God. Here. Is giving us. A representation. Of the true. Shepherd of Israel. Who will hiss. He will whistle. He will. Eshreka. Eshrok. He will whistle. For his. Nation. And he will gather them. He says. Why? Because I have redeemed them.

And they shall increase. Even as they have. Increased. Now. You remember. What Yeshua said. In. John. 10. Said. My sheep. Hear my voice. And I know them. And I'll give unto them. Eternal life. And they shall never perish. But he uses expression. My sheep. Hear my voice. You know. Israel. Will finally know. The voice. Of the shepherd. Because God will. Hiss. For them. And then he will. Gather them together. He says. Because I have redeemed them. I saved them. And how did he save them. On a basis. Of the death. Burial. And resurrection. Of Yeshua. The Messiah. And they shall increase. Today. In the world. In which we live in.

There is about. 15 million. Of our own Jewish people. We are about 15 million. Jewish people. In the world. And why? Because already. Six million. Just died. 60. 70 years ago. In the Holocaust. And other millions. Of Jewish people. Have been killed. Over the generation. By Israel's enemies. Yes. But apparently. In the messianic age. Towards the messianic age. Israel. They shall increase. As they are increased. There will be. Population growth. Among the Jewish community. Among the people of Israel. So God will whistle. He will gather. Because he redeemed them. And he will cause them. To grow. To multiply. As a population. And then notice. It says. In verse 9. I will sow them.

Among the people. And they shall remember me. In far countries. And they shall live. With their children. And they will turn again. Now. This verse is also. Very interesting verse. Because here. He doesn't say. I will scatter them. But the opposite. He says. I will sow them. The Hebrew word. Ezra'em. Ezra'em. It comes from the word. To sow a seed. Now. What is God going to do. In a kingdom age. In the messianic age. He will sow. The Jewish people. The people of Israel. Among the peoples. Of the universe. It's not now. The scattering. In judgment. But it is. Sowing them. To be among the nations.

Of the world. For the purpose. Of ministering. To the nations. Of the world. Do you remember. After all. Israel. Is called. To be a priestly nation. Israel. Is called. To serve. The nations. Of the world. Israel. Is not called. To serve. Themselves. They are to call. To serve. Jehovah. The God of Israel. But to minister. Among the nations. Of the world. In the. Messianic age. In the kingdom age. Which we call. The millennium. Thousand years reign. Of the Messiah. God will sow. The Jewish people. Among the people. Of the nations. Of the world. Why? So Israel. Will minister. To the nations. Of the world. And will cause.

The nations. Of the world. To be occupied. With the. Jehovah. The God of Abraham. Isaac. And Jacob. Now. Others. Take this verse. And that. Speaking about. Again. Another scattering. Of God. Which will happen. By the way. During the tribulation. Other will be scattered. Again. Many of them. Will die. Because of the antichrist. And the remnant. Of Israel. Will flee. Into Petra. And again. They will be scattered. Again. But also. At the end. Will be gathered. So. I will. And. I will. To. To suggest. To us. But they will. Serve. As ministers. Among. The nations. Of the world. And God. Will place. Them. And position. Them.

And saw them. Among. The nations. So. Israel. Will truly. Be. A priestly. Nation. Who minister. Among. The nations. Of the world. They shall remember me. In far countries. And they shall live. With their children. Will ultimately. Turn again. There will be. A constant. Communication. Between. Coming back. To the land. And ministering. Among. The nations. Of the world. When we're. Going to get. To the end. Of the book. Of Zechariah. We're going to talk. About this again. As the nations. Of the world. Will come. To Israel. To worship Jehovah. But they're going to be led. And be used. As servants. In the future day. And then finally.

Brothers and sisters. Listen. Verse 10. 11. And 12. In verse 10. Jehovah. Will gather Israel. To the land. And you notice. That Egypt. And Assyria. Are mentioned here. It says. In verse 10. I will bring them again. Also. Out of the land of Egypt. And I will gather them. Out of Assyria. And I will bring them. Into the land of Gilad. And Lebanon. And place. Shall not be found. For them. Now. It is interesting. Here. That God said. That he will gather them again. From Egypt. Assyria. And he will bring them. Into the land of Gilad. And the land of Lebanon. You know. Today. Lebanon. If you notice. If you read the book of Joshua.

The portion of Lebanon. Is part of the. Inheritance. That God gave. To the people of Israel. Israel. They were supposed. To take. The allotted. Portions. That God had given. To every tribe. Of course. They didn't succeed. In that. In the past. But in the future. As it says here. I will gather them. Out of Assyria. And out of Egypt. I will bring them. Into the land. Of Gilad. Gilad. Of course. Is. What we call. The West Bank. On the other side. Of the Jordan River. River. In fact. What. The problem. That existing. What belonged. To the Jewish people. What the Palestinians. Should have. Really. In light.

Of the biblical. Accounting. God. Had promised. The land. To the people. Of Israel. And he will. Also bring. Blessings. To the nations. Around. But nevertheless. The promised land. Had been given. To the people. Of Israel. In fact. I want to say. That Assyria. Egypt. Will enjoy. A beautiful. Relationship. In the coming. Days. In the millennial. Age. It says. In Isaiah. 19. Verse 23. In that day. Shall be a highway. Out of Egypt. To Assyria. An Assyrian. Shall come. Into Egypt. An Egyptian. Into Assyria. An Egyptian. Shall serve. With the Assyrian. Can you imagine. What's going to happen. In a future day. Today. It's conflict. It's conflict. Between Israel.

And Assyria. Or Syria. Israel. And Egypt. There's constant conflict. Assyria. Ashut. This is the area of Iraq. And Iran. And all this area. In the future day. They will serve. serve. It says here. Isaiah 19. 24. In that day. Israel. Shall be third. With Egypt. And with Assyria. Even a blessing. In the midst. Of the land. Whom the Lord of hosts. Shall bless. And he will say. Blessed. Be Egypt. My people. And Assyria. The work of my hand. And Israel. Mine. Inheritance. So. He's taking us. To the millennial age. The kingdom age. When on the basis. Of the finished work. Of the Messiah. Israel. Will be restored.

Back to. The land. And it says. That a place. Shall not be found for them. There will be so many. Of the Hebrews. Of the Jewish people. Of the people of Israel. In that land. That there will not be. Place for them. As it were. It was filled. With. Population. Of the nation. Of Israel. In the land. According to verse 10. In verse. 11. Jehovah. Will deal. With the Assyrian. And the Egyptian. This is before. The kingdom age. It says. And he shall pass. Through the sea. Of affliction. And shall smite. The waves. Of the sea. And all the dips. Of the river. Shall dry up. And the pride.

Of Assyria. Shall be brought. Down. And the scepter. Of Egypt. Shall depart. Away. Again. You notice. That Assyria. And Egypt. It says here. Israel. Will pass through. The sea of affliction. The sea of affliction. If you remember. When Israel. Came out of Egypt. Many many years ago. God opened. The Red Sea. Yamsuf. The Red Sea. And the children. Of Israel. Cross over. On dry ground. And once. They have gone. To the other end. God closed. The Red Sea. Upon the military. Of the Egyptians. Who. Pursue. After. Hebrews. Well. In the future day. God is going to. Deal. With the pride. Of Assyria. And. The scepter.

Of Egypt. Shall depart. Away. The scepter. Speaks. Of the kings. And in the future day. Egypt. Will no longer. Depend. Upon. Their king. Their scepter. The kings. Will depart. Away. God. Of Abraham. Isaac. And Jacob. In which. He mentioned here. In the previous. Verse. And so. In the end. Of this chapter. We're going to conclude. With verse 12. We read. That Jehovah. Will. Produce. Missionaries. From among the people. Of Israel. To serve him. Among the nations. Of the world. And we read. And I will strengthen them. In the Lord. Walk. Up. And down. In his name. Saith. The Lord. You know. This expression. They shall walk.

Up. And down. In his name. U. Bishmo. Yithalchu. Israel. Will walk. In the name. Of the Lord. And they will be. Like the servants. Among the nations. Of the world. Going to. And fro. Walking up. And down. In the name. Of our Lord. Yeshua. The Messiah. In the name. Of Jehovah. Administering. To the nations. Of the world. And sharing. With them. The blessing. That God. Intends. For them. Isaiah said. In chapter 43. In verse 21. These people. If I form. For myself. That they shall. Show forth. My praise. My glory. The people. Of Israel. Though failed. The Lord. Much. Disobeyed. Did not receive. The Messiah. In his first coming.

But God. Intend. For them. Israel. Will be fully saved. And ultimately. Will serve him. In the coming. Days. And may. This promise. Be hastened. And that Israel. Will ultimately. Become. That which God. Intend. For them. To be. To be. To be. To be.