"The LORD of hosts will defend them"
Text: Zechariah 9:15
THE RECORD OF DIVINE HELP
The Lord’s divine help is to be deeply treasured. The instances when God intervened and granted His power were recorded in many books (Exodus, Numbers, Judges, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, and even in the prophetic books). Some of the Psalmists would write about these things and put them in poetry form (Psalms 78, 104, 106 etc).
THE PROMISE OF DIVINE HELP
The Lord would always offer His assistance to those who seek Him humbly.
“The LORD of hosts will defend them;
They shall devour and subdue with slingstones.
They shall drink and roar as if with wine;
They shall be filled with blood like basins,
Like the corners of the altar.”
Zechariah 9:15
1. “The LORD of hosts will defend them”
a) This military title was used to describe the LORD God of Israel.
b) He would indeed defend His people who call upon Him earnestly and humbly.
2. The army of Israel
a) They were not well-equipped.
b) The Maccabees led 7000 people who were guerrilla fighters against a powerful Seleucid (Syrian) force of over 60,000 troops.
c) Their weapons were so basic they were called “slingstones”.
3. Victory over their enemies
a) “They shall drink and roar as if with wine”
i) The Jewish fighter fought fiercely.
ii) They fought to be free from Hellenistic influence that sought to force them to worship idols.
b) “They shall be filled with blood like basins, like the corners of the altar”
i) The Jewish fighters fought and won.
ii) The blood of the enemies flowed as the Lord aided the Maccabees.