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"That I might break the covenant"

Text: Zechariah 11:10

THE BREAKING OF A COVENANT

The Covenants God had given to Israel were meant to be permanent. But much depended on whether the people would keep God’s covenants. If there is a constant breaking of the Covenants, it would be His prerogative to end them.

“And I took my staff, Beauty, and cut it in two,
that I might break the covenant which I had made
with all the peoples.”
Zechariah 11:10

1. “And I took my staff, Beauty, and cut it in two”

a) The staff “Beauty” held symbolic significance.

i) It had a functional significance.

ii) It was meant to defend the flock.

iii) It stood for protection.

iv) It also represented the authority of the Shepherd over His flock.

b) The cutting of the staff into two.

i) It symbolized the end of that relationship.

ii) The Shepherd-Sheep relationship was at an end.

iii) The flock would no longer enjoy the Shepherd’s protection.

iv) Once broken, it cannot be joined together again.

2. “That I might break the covenant which I had made with all the peoples”

a) This was a reference to the Covenant God made with Israel (Exodus 24).

i) The word “peoples” would indicate that this was not the covenant God gave to Abraham.

ii) The peoples would include Moses, Aaron, the seventy elders of Israel.

iii) This Covenant would be replaced with “A new covenant” (Jeremiah 31).

iv) Jesus would seal this New Covenant with His blood (Matthew 26:28).

b) This was not a reference to the Covenant God gave to Abraham.

i) This was a Covenant God gave to Abraham (Genesis 15, 17, 22).

ii) It was confirmed with Isaac (Genesis 26:23-26).

iii) It was further confirmed with Jacob (Genesis 28).