Book: The Way of the Word: Study Guide: Chapter 38: Zechariah: The King is Coming
- Dr. Layne McDonald
- 22 hours ago
- 10 min read
The Book of Zechariah is one of the most intellectually stunning and emotionally resonant books in the Minor Prophets. While often eclipsed by the sheer volume of Isaiah or the narrative familiarity of Daniel, Zechariah provides the blueprint for the final acts of God’s redemptive drama. It is a book that bridges the gap between the return of the exiles from Babylon and the ultimate return of the King of Kings.
In this study guide, we are diving deep into Chapter 38 of our series, focusing on the core promise of this prophetic work: The King is coming. We see Him in Zechariah not just as a distant sovereign, but as a humble servant, a pierced shepherd, and eventually, the ruling Lord over all the earth.
The Prophet and His Times: A Context of Reconstruction
To understand Zechariah, we must understand the atmosphere of 520 BC. The Jewish people had returned from Babylonian exile, but the honeymoon phase was long over. They had been home for nearly twenty years, yet the temple, the heart of their identity and the dwelling place of God’s presence, lay in ruins. Discouragement was the atmospheric pressure of the day. The people were focused on their own paneled houses, their own security, and their own survival.
Into this spiritual lethargy, God sends two prophets: Haggai and Zechariah. While Haggai was the practical "kick-starter" who challenged the people to get back to work on the physical stones of the temple, Zechariah was the visionary. He was there to remind them why the temple mattered. He looked past the physical stones to the spiritual reality of the Kingdom that was to come.
Zechariah’s name means "Yahweh remembers." This is the foundational truth of the entire book. Even when the people feel forgotten, even when the walls are broken and the glory seems distant, God remembers His covenant. He remembers His people. And most importantly, He remembers His promise to send a King.
The Multi-Faceted Vision: From Night Visions to Messianic Glory
The book of Zechariah is famously divided into two sections. The first eight chapters are filled with eight surreal night visions, measuring lines, flying scrolls, and golden lampstands. These visions were designed to encourage the leadership (Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the High Priest) that God’s Spirit was the primary mover of history. "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the Lord (Zechariah 4:6).
However, as we move into the later chapters (9-14), the prophetic lens shifts from the immediate rebuilding of the temple to the distant horizon of the Messiah. It is here that we find some of the most specific, breathtaking prophecies regarding Jesus Christ in the entire Old Testament.
The Key Theme: The King is Coming in Humility and Glory
The overarching theme of Zechariah is the dual nature of the Messiah’s appearance. We see a tension that the New Testament eventually resolves: the Messiah comes first as a humble servant to suffer, and later as a glorious King to reign.
In Zechariah, we find:
The Branch: The organic growth of David’s line (Zech 3:8, 6:12).
The Cornerstone: The foundation of the new spiritual house (Zech 10:4).
The Humble King: Entering on a donkey (Zech 9:9).
The Betrayed Shepherd: Valued at thirty pieces of silver (Zech 11:12-13).
The Pierced One: The source of mourning and grace (Zech 12:10).
The Cleansing Fountain: The solution for sin and impurity (Zech 13:1).
The Coming Lord: Standing on the Mount of Olives (Zech 14:4).
This study guide focuses on the two pivotal verses that anchor this hope: Zechariah 9:9 and Zechariah 12:10.
Deep Dive: The King on a Donkey (Zechariah 9:9)
Key Verse:"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
The Anatomy of the Prophecy
When we read Zechariah 9:9, we are looking at one of the most famous "Palm Sunday" texts. But to the original audience, this was a radical subversion of what a "king" was supposed to look like.
In the ancient Near East, a king returning from war or entering a city to conquer would ride a stallion, a warhorse. It was a sign of military might, domination, and the threat of judgment. To ride a donkey was a sign of a king coming in peace. A donkey was a beast of burden, a commoner’s animal.
By prophesying that the King would come "humble and mounted on a donkey," Zechariah was telling Israel that their ultimate deliverance would not come through a military coup or a violent uprising. It would come through a King who identified with the lowly, who bore the burdens of His people, and who brought peace (shalom) rather than just a different kind of worldly sword.
"Righteous and Having Salvation"
The Hebrew word for "having salvation" is nosh’a. It is a passive participle, which can be translated as "having been saved" or "victorious." This suggests that the King’s victory is not something He achieves through worldly effort, but something that is intrinsic to His relationship with God the Father. He is the righteous one, and because of His righteousness, He is the source of deliverance for everyone else.
The First Advent Fulfillment
Matthew 21 and John 12 tell us exactly how this played out. As Jesus approached Jerusalem for the final time, He didn't look for a chariot. He sent His disciples to find a donkey and a colt. When He rode into the city, He was making a visual, prophetic claim: "I am the King Zechariah told you about. I am the one coming in humility. I am the one bringing the blood of the covenant to set the prisoners free."
For us today, this reminds us that God’s power is often made perfect in weakness. Our King did not come to be served, but to serve. If our King was humble, we as His followers must also embrace humility as the primary posture of our lives.
Deep Dive: The Pierced One (Zechariah 12:10)
Key Verse:"And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn."
The Divine Mystery
This is one of the most profound verses in the entire Bible because of its shifting pronouns. Look closely: God (Yahweh) is speaking. He says, "they will look on Me..." then He immediately says, "...on him whom they have pierced."
In this single verse, we see the mystery of the Incarnation and the Trinity. God identifies so closely with the one being pierced that to pierce the Messiah is to pierce God Himself. This was fulfilled when a Roman spear entered the side of Jesus on the cross (John 19:37). The "Pierced One" is both the Son of Man and the Son of God.
The Spirit of Grace and Supplication
Zechariah 12:10 promises a future outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This is not just any movement of the Spirit; it is a "spirit of grace and supplication" (or pleas for mercy).
In Assemblies of God theology, we understand that the Holy Spirit is the one who convicts of sin and leads to repentance. Zechariah is describing a moment of corporate repentance. The inhabitants of Jerusalem, and by extension, all who realize their sin "pierced" the Savior, are moved to a deep, agonizing sorrow.
This mourning is compared to the loss of an only child or a firstborn. It is a sorrow that transcends ritual; it is a gut-wrenching realization that the one we rejected was the very one who came to save us.
The Second Advent and the Final Turn
While this began at the Cross and continued at Pentecost, many scholars, and our Pentecostal heritage, see a final, climactic fulfillment of this verse at the Second Coming. Revelation 1:7 says, "Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him..."
There is a day coming when the "veil" will be lifted entirely. For the Jewish people and for the nations, there will be a moment of sudden, supernatural recognition. They will see Jesus for who He is. For those who turn in faith, this "pierced" King becomes the "fountain opened... to cleanse them from sin and impurity" (Zechariah 13:1).
Understanding the "Fountain of Grace"
Following the mourning of Chapter 12, Chapter 13 begins with a beautiful promise: "On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness."
In the biblical world, where water was scarce and ritual purity was paramount, a "fountain" was a symbol of life-giving, continuous renewal. Unlike a cistern that holds stagnant water, a fountain flows. This is the Gospel! The mourning over the Pierced One leads directly to the fountain of the Pierced One.
The blood that was shed becomes the water that cleanses. This is why we sing, "There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel's veins." Zechariah shows us the logical flow of the Spirit:
Conviction: Looking at the Pierced One.
Repentance: Mourning for the rejection of Christ.
Cleansing: Stepping into the fountain opened by His sacrifice.
Practical Application: Living as Prisoners of Hope
In Zechariah 9:12, the prophet gives the people a new title: "Prisoners of hope."
What does it mean to be a prisoner of hope? Usually, being a prisoner implies being bound by something negative: chains, walls, or debt. But Zechariah suggests that the believer is so "captured" by the promise of God’s coming Kingdom that they cannot escape their optimism. Even in the ruins of a half-built temple, even in the face of cultural opposition, even in the midst of personal grief, we are "bound" to the hope that the King is coming.
How do we live this out?
Rebuild with Perspective: Like the post-exilic Jews, we are called to "build" the Kingdom here and now (in our families, churches, and workplaces). We do this knowing that our labor is not in vain because the King will eventually complete what we have started.
Embrace the Humility of Christ: If our King rode a donkey, we should not be obsessed with horses. We should look for ways to serve the "least of these" and bring the peace of Christ into chaotic environments.
Keep a "Spirit of Supplication": We must never lose our ability to be moved by the Cross. When we become callous to the "piercing" of Jesus, we lose the "spirit of grace." Stay tenderhearted toward the sacrifice of Christ.
Watch the Horizon: We live in the "already but not yet." The King has come (the donkey), but the King is coming (the clouds). Our lives should reflect an expectancy of His return.
The Final Vision: Zechariah 14 and the Millennial Reign
The book of Zechariah ends with an epic, cosmic vision of the Lord’s return. He stands on the Mount of Olives, the mountain splits, and living waters flow out from Jerusalem. This is the foundation of our premillennial hope.
We believe that Jesus Christ will literally return to this earth. He will set up a Kingdom of perfect justice and peace. Every "pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holy to the Lord" (Zechariah 14:21). This means the divide between the "sacred" and the "secular" will finally vanish. Everything: from the kitchen utensils to the bells on the horses: will be consecrated to God.
Until that day, we work. We wait. We pray. And we remember that Yahweh remembers.
Reflection Questions
The Donkey vs. The Horse: In what areas of your life are you trying to achieve "victory" through worldly might or "horses" (power, status, aggression) rather than through the "donkey" (the humility and peace of Christ)?
The Spirit of Grace: When was the last time you felt a deep, "mourning" sense of repentance for how your actions affect your relationship with God? How does that sorrow lead you to the "fountain" of grace?
Prisoners of Hope: How would your daily stress levels change if you truly viewed yourself as a "prisoner of hope": someone who is literally incapable of giving up because of God’s promises?
The Pierced One: Zechariah 12:10 says "they will look on me." Take a moment to "look" at Jesus. What specific attributes of His character are most comforting to you in your current season of life?
The Universal King: Zechariah 14 describes a day when "the Lord will be king over all the earth." How can you practice "consecrating" the common things in your life (your work, your meals, your conversations) to Him today?
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You that You are a God who remembers. You remembered Your people in the ruins of Jerusalem, and You remember us today in the midst of our own struggles. We thank You for the King who came in humility, riding on a donkey, to bring us peace through the blood of the covenant. We thank You for the Pierced One, Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice opened a fountain of cleansing for our sins.
Holy Spirit, pour out upon us a spirit of grace and supplication. Keep our hearts tender. Help us to mourn for our sins but rejoice in Your mercy. Make us "prisoners of hope," bound to the certainty of Your return. As we wait for the day when Your feet stand on the Mount of Olives and Your Kingdom is fully realized, give us the strength to live as citizens of that Kingdom today. In the name of the Coming King, Jesus Christ, Amen.
About the Author: Layne McDonald, Ph.D.
Layne McDonald, Ph.D., is an author, teacher, and leader dedicated to helping people understand the deep truths of Scripture and apply them to modern life. With a heart for the Church and a commitment to biblical scholarship, Dr. McDonald creates resources that bridge the gap between ancient text and contemporary discipleship. His work is rooted in the belief that the Word of God is the ultimate guide for navigating culture, healing the heart, and leading with integrity. Through his books, Bible studies, and teaching, he seeks to equip believers to live with eternal purpose and a "Miracle Mindset."
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