The Pulpit Commentary — Zechariah — Section 147

Vers. 2-6.-The end of error. "And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols," etc. After the end of sin, the end of that which leads to sin, viz. of error. This gift completes the previous blessings by making them lasting and ~ure (comp. Ps. lxxxv. 8). This gift also, as we find it described here, is most complete in itself. It is so, whether we consider what is told us (1) as to the future action of God, or (2) as to the action of men, in bringing error to an end. I. THE ACTION OF Goo. It is promised here that he will put an end to error : 1. By abolishing its very symbols. The "names" of idols are the symbols or words by means of which their supposed attributes or connection with different localities are set forth and commemorated; and under which also they are worshipped. Besides numerous classical examples, see in Acts xix. 34 how evidently the people of Ephesus considered it as equivalent to a declaration of their faith to repeat the mere name of Diana. What is promised here, therefore, is that it should be eventually with all  TUE noott OF ZECltAlUAtt. ten. xnr. 1-!J. ~------------------------------- systems of error as it is now with many of the singular and subtle heresies whioh vexed the primitive Church, They are so far forgotten by this time that it is .a matter of difficult 1mtiquarian research even to ascertain their true meoning. 2. By banishing it.s teachers. Not only then shall the "tares" of falsehood be "rooted up" but the "enemy" also that sowed them shall be taken away. This, moreover, sh;ll he done so completely that not only t"he false "prophet," but the "unclean spirit" also, his inspirer and confederate, shall "cease" to exist in the land (comp. 1 Sam. xx.,iii. 3 end, 9; and see Rev. xvi. 13, 14; xix. 20; xx. 1-8). Error, therefore, at that happy season, shall be twice dead, as it were; gone altogether beyond recollection; gone also beyond recovery. • II. THE ACTION OF MAN. Even should any persons qualified to act as false prophets l1e still left in existence (see a,,crain 1 Sam. xxviii. 7), there will be ,two further things effectually to pre.,ent them from making use of their gifts. There will be the extent to which, at that time, the false prophet: 1. Shall be hated by others. He wi\t be hated (1) by all others, including specially even those who, as having brought b\m into being, will naturally be the most disposed to befriend or endure him. Also (2) be will be hated by these in the bitterest manner, their mouths pronouncina a<>ainst him, and their hands inflicting on him sentence of death. And finally (8) h; ~11 be hated thus on account of his connection with error (note "for thou speakest lies," and "when be prophesieth," in ver. 8). Acting al.."O at that time in the same direction, will be the extent to which the false prophet shall be : 2. Despised by himself. For example, be will be ashamed (1) of his inward prophetical thoughts or '' v.isions," not thinking more of them as guides to truth than a sensible man does of his dreams. He will be ashametl (2) of his outward prophetical garb, being so far from wishing to have it "seen of men" (Matt. xxiii . .5) that be will never clothe himself in it. •. And, finally, (8) he will be ashamed of both these things to such an extent as to be willing rather to be regarded as a bondman, or slave (so many understand .yer. 5), and ready rather (so we may, perhaps, understand the difficult words of ver. 6) to seek shelter from the imputation of being a prophet in any subterfuge, however absurd. " Cail me anythiog but a teacher of truth. Believe what you will of me except that I prof~ss to be that!,, . . . Whatever the special application of the passage which sets before us such a complete cessation of error, there are two general principles of much importaµce which seem illustrated thereby. 1. The increasing light of the future. Compared with the past, whether Jewish or pagan, how full of light the dispensation that now is (see Matt. :xiii. 16, 17; Heb. :xi. 13; 1 Pet. i. 10, 11; Acts xvii. 8; xxvi. 18) 1 Compared with the future, how foll of darkness (1 Cor. xiii. 9-12; 1 John iii. 2; Col. i. 12; Rev. :x:xi. 23; xxii. 4, 5) ! Much, indeed, yet remains to be revealed to those described in Ps. :u:v. 14. 2. The great consequent blessedness of the future .. What a scene of dis- traction, with its "many masters" (see Revised Version, Jas. iii. 1) and discordant out-cries (Matt. xxiv. 23-26), not unlike the scene described in Dan. vii. 2, is the present! How profound the tranquillity, how swe~t the calm, caused by the cessation of all! Happy, indeed, to have the hope of travellmg at last "to where beyond these voices there is peace" I Vere. 7-9.-.A wond,erful sentenu. "Awake, 0 sword, against my Shepherd, and age.inst the man that is my fellow," etc. The prophet here seems again to " bark back," as at the openin"'s of eh. ix. and xi. (where see remarks and references), from the ., gl..>ry" that wS: to " follow" to the "sufferings" that were to precede. At any rate, we have the highest authority (Matt. xxyi. 31, 56~ ~or u?derstanding thi! passn.ge of the "sufferings" and death of our Lord himself. This berng so, how doe11 its language present that great "Passion " to us? As something surpassingly wonderful (1) in itself; and (2) in its results. I. WONDERFUL IN ITSELF. Here le a man spoken of-here is a command given respecting him-by the Lord of hosts. 1. Ho~ wonder/ul the man BP_olcen ,f I ~1) He is supreme in office. All other men are to him but as sheep, He 1s to them ID the position of a shepheril. He is also recognized and appointed as such (" my Shepherd") by God himself. Nor is there any other whatever so appointed, except by hia direction and in a subordinate place (see Iaa. xl. 11; John x. 11; Heb. xiii. 20; ], Pq_t. CH, XIII, 1--9.] THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. 151