Summary of Zechariah 12:10-13:9
God will pour out a spirit of grace and supplication on His people. They will mourn when they realize they pierced Jesus and grieve. But, the people will be cleansed on that day. Idols will be banished and not remembered. The sheep will scatter when the shepherd is struck. Some of the people. will be struck down, but there will be a remnant who will be God’s people.
BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 22, Day 3: Zechariah 12:10-13:9
7a) A spirit of grace and supplication and a fountain that will cleanse the people from their sins and impurity.
b) One has to have a truly repentant heart in order to receive the grace and blood of Jesus and be cleansed of one’s sins. Sorrow over sins is just part of forgiveness and then a renewed desire to do better.
c) Jesus had to die to save all of us because all of us sin.
8 ) Both predict the future national salvation of Israel. Romans promises that “all Israel will be saved” after the Gentile fullness. Zechariah describes the event that fulfills this: God pouring out a spirit of grace, causing the nation to recognize their Messiah (the “pierced one”), mourn in repentance, and receive cleansing. No.
9a) It was in God’s will for Jesus to sacrifice himself for all of humanity. This passage reveals the crucifixion as God’s sovereign plan, not a tragedy. God commands the sword against His “Associate” (Jesus) to strike Him, intentionally scattering the flock to refine a faithful remnant. This mirrors Isaiah 53:10, confirming it “pleased the Lord to crush Him” to secure salvation for His people.
b) God has forgiven all of my sins, each and every day. He has mercifully blessed me and given me a desire to do His will. I have passed this on to my kids so that they, too, can work for God’s kingdom.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 22, Day 3: Zechariah 12:10-13:9
Great passage of God’s grace through His son, Jesus Christ.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 22, Day 3: Zechariah 12:10-13:9
God’s grace will allow His people to turn to Jesus.
This is good news, as we learn that all of God’s people will turn to Christ Romans 11:26.
The mourning at Hadad Rimmon refers to the people’s mourning when King Josiah died (2 Kings 23:29 and 2 Chronicles 35:20-25).
Because God’s people will turn to Him through Jesus, they will be cleansed and forgiven of their sins.
The analogy of God as a fountain for His people is common in the Bible.
God will also cleanse His people of idolatry and false prophets, 2 common ways Israel sinned against God and were led astray.
False prophets would be ashamed, and even their family would condemn them.
The Shepherd in verse 7 is Jesus, and God is the one who commands the Shepherd to be struck.
Jesus’ sacrifice was God’s plan, and they worked together to do so.
The sheep will be scattered refers to the disciples. Jesus quoted this phrase from Zechariah 13:7 in Matthew 26:31.
This seems to say that only 1/3 of the Jewish people will survive the Tribulation. Interestingly, this group includes the 144,000 of Revelation 7 and Revelation 14 as Jesus establishes his millennial rule on earth.
END NOTES SUMMARIZED
The Spiritual Awakening (12:10)
Following the physical victory, God pours out a “spirit of grace and supplication” upon Jerusalem. This triggers a profound revelation: they will “look on me, the one they have pierced,” recognizing their historical rejection of the Messiah (God Himself).
The National Repentance (12:11–14)
This realization leads to deep, bitter mourning, comparable to the grief over an only child. It is a solemn, segregated sorrow where families mourn privately and separately (men and women apart), indicating that this is a genuine, individual conviction of heart, not just a public ceremony.
The Cleansing from Sin (13:1–6)
In response to this repentance, a “fountain” is opened to cleanse the people from sin and impurity. God ruthlessly purges idolatry and false prophecy from the land. The rejection of deception becomes so intense that false prophets are ashamed of their visions, and even parents would condemn a son who speaks lies in God’s name.
The Shepherd Struck and the Remnant Refined (13:7–9)
God commands the sword to strike “My Shepherd” (the Man who is My Associate), causing the sheep to scatter. This initiates a severe refining process: two-thirds of the land is cut off, while the remaining third is brought through the fire. This refined remnant calls on the Lord, finally restoring the covenant bond: God says, “They are my people,” and they respond, “The Lord is our God.”
Conclusion
While the previous section dealt with physical deliverance, this section details Israel’s spiritual restoration. It demonstrates that true salvation requires recognizing the wounded Messiah, deep repentance, and a painful refining process that ultimately restores the intimate, reciprocal relationship between God and His people.
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