A wonderful sentence.
"Awake, O sword, against my Shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow," etc. The prophet here seems again to "hark back," as at the openings of Zechariah 9:1-17. and 11. (where see remarks and references), from the "glory" that was to "follow" to the "sufferings" that were to precede. At any rate, we have the highest authority (Matthew 26:31, Matthew 26:56) for understanding this passage of the "sufferings" and death of our Lord himself. This being so, how does its language present that great "Passion" to us? As something surpassingly wonderful
I. WONDERFUL IN ITSELF. Here is a man spoken of—here is a command given respecting him—by the Lord of hosts.
1. How wonderful the man spoken of!
2. How wonderful the command, things being thus!
II. WONDERFUL IN ITS RESULTS. For these, as described to us here, are:
1. Most unexpected. The immediate result, indeed, that of scattering the sheep, is not at all unexpected. What more likely, what more certain to follow, humanly speaking, from smiting the Shepherd? But the ultimate result, that of saving these "little ones" (so many understand end of Isaiah 53:7), that of preserving the sheep by thus slaying their Preserver (comp. John 18:8, John 18:9; Matthew 27:42, beginning; Galatians 3:13; Isaiah 53:5, end), is unexpected indeed. Has not the very idea, indeed, seemed the height of "foolishness" to many (1 Corinthians 1:23) who thought themselves "wise"?
2. Most widely diverse. This extraordinary method of preserving the flock was not expected to preserve all within reach of its influence. On the contrary, far too many amongst them—something like two to one of them, in fact, all taken together ("in all the land")—would decline to avail themselves of it.
Three brief thoughts to conclude.
1. How lofty the superstructure of the gospel salvation! Salvation itself, understood rigorously (as we have noted), is only not being lost. Actually, as here described to us, it is all that heart can desire—the heirship of all things through Christ (Romans 8:17; Galatians 4:7; 1 Corinthians 3:22, 1 Corinthians 3:23).
2. How deep its foundations! Penetrating to the very greatest depths, as it were, of the Divine nature and plans (Revelation 13:8).
3. How certain its truth! Like that house which the Saviour himself describes (Matthew 7:24; Matthew 25:1-46) as being founded on a rock—founded, in fact, on that "Rock of Ages," which not all the "ages" can shake (comp. Hebrews 12:27, Hebrews 12:28).
HOMILIES BY W. FORSYTH