Zechariah

Zechariah 14: King over all the earth

Begin in prayer

Before we read of the day when the LORD is King over all the earth, please come to Him in prayer. Ask Him to teach us to bow to the King, and to read this chapter carefully.

Yahweh is King forever and ever! The nations will perish out of his land.

Psalm 10:16

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You will be King over all the earth, and help us to see Jesus. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

A day of the LORD comes, when the LORD will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be taken. Then the LORD will go out and fight, and His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which will split in two. His people will flee through the valley, and the LORD will come with all the holy ones. It will be a unique day, with light at evening time, and living waters will flow out from Jerusalem. The LORD will be King over all the earth, and He will be one, and His name one. He will strike the peoples who fought against Jerusalem, and those left will worship the King each year at the feast of tents. Then the horses’ bells and every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD of Armies.

As you read Zechariah 14, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD will be King over all the earth, and the whole city will be holy to Him.

This last chapter is hard to read, so we stay close to what the text says and keep to its main point. A day of the LORD comes, and the LORD Himself gathers the nations against Jerusalem (verses 1 and 2). Then the LORD goes out and fights, and His feet stand on the Mount of Olives (verses 3 and 4). The chapter gives no dates and no timetable, so we do not add one. Its center is verse 9, where the LORD is King over all the earth, one LORD with one name. Every good thing in the chapter follows from this. Living waters flow out from Jerusalem, and there is no more curse (verses 8 and 11). The nations that are left go up each year to worship the King, and the others have no rain (verses 16 and 17). Even the bells of the horses and the pots in the LORD’s house will be holy to Him (verses 20 and 21).

How does Zechariah 14 show us that the LORD will be King over all the earth, and that the whole city will be holy to Him?

The LORD fights for His people and comes to Jerusalem.

The LORD says He will gather all nations against Jerusalem, and the city will be taken (verses 1 and 2). Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations (verse 3). His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which will split in two (verse 4). The chapter says this is a day known to the LORD, and it gives no date (verse 7).

The LORD will be King over all the earth.

Living waters will go out from Jerusalem, in summer and in winter (verse 8). The LORD will be King over all the earth, and He will be one, and His name one (verse 9). Jerusalem will dwell safely, and there will be no more curse (verse 11). Paul says Christ must reign until all His enemies are under His feet (1 Corinthians 15 verse 25).

Those left from the nations worship the King, and all is holy.

The LORD will strike those who fought against Jerusalem with a plague (verse 12). Everyone left from those nations goes up each year to worship the King and keep the feast of tents (verse 16). The feast of tents remembered how the LORD cared for Israel in the wilderness (Leviticus 23 verses 42 and 43). Families that do not go up will have no rain (verse 17). The horses’ bells and every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD (verses 20 and 21).

Memorise

Yahweh will be King over all the earth. In that day Yahweh will be one, and his name one.

Zechariah 14:9

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, why must I bow to Jesus, the King over all the earth?

The LORD will be King over all the earth. Paul says that Jesus must reign until all His enemies are put under His feet (1 Corinthians 15 verse 25).

The King came first as a Savior. On the cross He bore the sin of His people, and He gave His life for them. His one sacrifice cannot be undone. He rose alive, and He will return as King.

Today is the time to bow to Him. Turn from your sin and trust Jesus, and the King will forgive you and make you holy.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD will be King over all the earth, and that Jesus calls sinners to bow to Him. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. Parents, please explain verses 2 and 12 in your own words.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He will be King over all the earth, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

For to us a child is born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Lord God, thank You that You will be King over all the earth. Thank You for Jesus, who came as a Savior and will return as King. Please lead each one of us to turn from sin and trust Him, and help us to bow to Him this week. Amen.