Zechariah

Zechariah 9: Your King comes on a donkey

Begin in prayer

Before we read of the King who comes to Zion on a donkey, please pray together. Ask the LORD to show us the King He sends, and what He brings.

Behold, Yahweh has proclaimed to the end of the earth, “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your salvation comes. Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.’”

Isaiah 62:11

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us the righteous and lowly King You send to bring salvation, 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 word from the LORD is against Damascus, Tyre and Sidon, and against the Philistine cities of Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron and Ashdod. The Lord will strike Tyre’s power, and the LORD will encamp around His house so that no oppressor passes through it any more. Then comes the call, “Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion!” because her King comes, righteous, having salvation, lowly, and riding on a donkey. He will cut off the chariot, the horse and the battle bow, and He will speak peace to the nations. Because of the blood of the covenant, the LORD sets prisoners free from a pit with no water, and calls them prisoners of hope. He will defend His people and save them as the flock of His people, like jewels in a crown.

As you read Zechariah 9, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD promises Zion a righteous King, who comes lowly, riding on a donkey, to bring salvation.

Chapter 9 begins a new message, and it starts with the cities that stood around Israel (verses 1 to 8). Tyre was proud of her silver and gold, yet the LORD says He will strike her power in the sea (verses 3 and 4). Philistine pride will be cut off, and the LORD will camp around His house (verses 6 and 8). Then the message turns to Zion with the call, “Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion” (verse 9). Her King is righteous and has salvation, and He comes lowly, riding on a donkey, the foal of a donkey (verse 9). Kings in war rode horses, yet this King rides a donkey and cuts off the chariot, the horse and the bow (verse 10). He will speak peace to the nations, and His rule will reach from sea to sea (verse 10). Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, and Matthew says this was what the prophet had spoken (Matthew 21 verses 4 and 5). John says the disciples understood this only after Jesus was glorified (John 12 verse 16).

How does Zechariah 9 show us that the LORD promises Zion a righteous King, who comes lowly, riding on a donkey, to bring salvation?

The LORD judges proud cities and guards His house.

The message begins against Hadrach, Damascus, Hamath, Tyre and Sidon (verses 1 and 2). Tyre heaped up silver like dust, but the Lord will strike her power in the sea (verses 3 and 4). The Philistine cities will see it and fear, and the LORD will cut off their pride (verses 5 and 6). He says He will encamp around His house, so that no oppressor passes through it again (verse 8).

Zion’s King comes righteous, lowly and with salvation.

The LORD says, “Behold, your King comes to you” (verse 9). He is righteous and has salvation, and He is lowly, riding on a donkey. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, as Matthew and John tell us (Matthew 21 verse 5, John 12 verse 15). He will speak peace to the nations, and His rule will reach from sea to sea (verse 10).

The LORD frees His prisoners of hope and saves His people.

Because of the blood of the covenant, the LORD sets prisoners free from a pit with no water (verse 11). He calls them prisoners of hope, and says He will restore double to them (verse 12). He will defend His people, and save them in that day as the flock of His people (verses 15 and 16). They are like the jewels of a crown, lifted high over His land (verse 16).

Memorise

Behold, your King comes to you! He is righteous, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Zechariah 9:9

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what pride keeps me from bowing to Jesus, my lowly King?

The LORD said, “Behold, your King comes to you.” Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, and the crowds praised Him as He came (Matthew 21 verses 5 and 9). He is the King who is righteous and brings salvation.

He came lowly because He came to save, and the road ahead of Him led to a cross. There the righteous King took the place of sinners and died for His people. He paid for their sin, and nothing is left to pay. He rose from the grave, and His rule now reaches from sea to sea.

Bow to your King today. Turn from your sin and trust Him. Forgiveness and peace are given to everyone who comes to Him.

Parent's note

Tell your children that Jesus is the lowly King who came to save His people from their sins. 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.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for sending a righteous and lowly King, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so invite each one to speak to Him.

saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!”

Luke 19:38

Lord God, thank You for sending Jesus, the righteous King who came lowly to save. Please show each one of us our pride, and lead us to turn from sin and trust Him. Help us to bow to Him as King this week. Amen.