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"Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness"

Text: Zechariah 12:2

JERUSALEM

The city of Jerusalem had many aspects of significance. It was the capital of Israel in the reign of David. It was also the place where the Temple of Solomon was built. It would be one of the themes of prophetic messages (Cf. Isaiah 2).

“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples,
when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem.
And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples;
all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces,
though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.”
Zechariah 12:2-3

1. Recalling the past

a) The Babylonians laid waste to Jerusalem in 586 BC.

b) They first laid siege to the city.

2. Reference to the future

a) The future is sometimes reflected in the past.

b) This was a message that would affect the future of Jerusalem.

c) The context of Zechariah 11 must be borne in mind.

3. A very solemn description

a) Jerusalem would become a “cup of drunkenness”.

b) Siege would be laid against Jerusalem and Judah.

c) The context of Zechariah 11 also described the rejection of the Messiah.

Jerusalem was razed to the ground in 70 AD by Rome.

4. Would there be another war against Jerusalem?

a) This is within the pale of Biblical prophecy.

b) There are many nations who are against Jerusalem.

They might well wage war against the city and against Israel.

c) But they would find that Jerusalem would be a stone that would destroy them.