I’ve decided to step out of the New Testament routine this morning and put forth a composition from my pass through the Old Testament in 2013. It really is amazing to consider how ancient these writings are while, at the same time, being so relevant to the present
Quite honestly, this kind of Scripture is not my favorite. Having said that, I do not wish to promote a notion that we have the right to pick and choose Bible passages so as to apply a faulty personal standard of judgment that classifies them as, “I like this one,” or, “I don’t like that one.” If I had been asked, I would have voted for Scripture being more straight-forward, less cryptic, less open to conjecture or individual interpretation, and less requiring research in regards to language and culture. Oh well—that’s me. You should be glad I didn’t write the Bible.
The best way to approach this section of chapter 11 verses 4 through 17 is to assume that Zechariah is inspired to represent expressions as coming from the Shepherd of Israel, the promised Messiah. If Zechariah is speaking on behalf of the Christ, maybe I will attempt to do so too—in the form of my own expanded paraphrase. I just won’t claim any divine inspiration. “I am the Good Shepherd Who lays down His Life for His sheep—knowing there is no other solution for the sin sickness of the sheep. I have all the answers and solutions you will ever need for healing, guidance, fulfillment, and protection, both now and forevermore. But you have been given the freedom to choose. In order to gain these benefits and blessings, you must choose Me and remain faithful to My Authority. If you choose to reject Me and what I offer, you are entirely on your own and become the prey of the thief shepherd who comes only to steal, kill, and destroy—and you will be subjected to the dog-eat-dog lifestyle of those who reject me, and who spend their lives and resources on biting and devouring one another. That option promises a terrible outcome—but it’s the only option left if mine is rejected.”
The secret code language of this prophecy was clearly obscure to all of Jesus’ contemporaries—even to His own disciples. No one seemed to recognize that the words of Zechariah in verses 12 and 13 were in reference to Jesus’ betrayer, Judas, who sold Jesus to His enemies for “thirty pieces of silver”—later used by those enemies to buy the “potter’s field” (Matthew 27:7, 10). While the narrative is cloaked in blurry language, the details hardly seem coincidental. As I read this passage, I can kind of hear the eerie background music of “The Twilight Zone.” But it does help to support my view that the best way to understand cryptic Bible prophecy is via the rear-view mirror—or after its fulfillment.
Suffice it to say that what the Bible clearly says suffices.