Reading
Zechariah 9:9-13

9Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion!

Shout, daughter of Jerusalem!

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.

10I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim

and the horse from Jerusalem.

The battle bow will be cut off;

and he will speak peace to the nations.

His dominion will be from sea to sea,

and from the River to the ends of the earth.

11As for you also,

because of the blood of your covenant,

I have set free your prisoners from the pit in which is no water.

12Turn to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope!

Even today I declare that I will restore double to you.

13For indeed I bend Judah as a bow for me.

I have loaded the bow with Ephraim.

I will stir up your sons, Zion,

against your sons, Greece,

and will make you like the sword of a mighty man.


Devotional

We have seen our fair share of political campaigns locally and nationally over the past few years and often they can seem unending. Would-be candidates tour their areas, appear on live TV debates and make their opinions known. We hear of promises to fix the economy, education, the NHS and of course Brexit! During a time of economic trouble or global conflict, these promises can inspire hope.

 

The people of Judah were living in a time of uncertainty and fear. Their enemies were a terrifying threat. The economy was in shambles. Worst of all, Judah had fallen away from God; they were in spiritual decay. The future looked bleak.

But suddenly the prophet Zechariah proclaimed good news. God would send a king to rule his people, to restore their land, and to destroy their enemies. Peace and prosperity would return!

 

Hundreds of years later, that King made his royal entrance into Jerusalem. He did not ride in a chariot or on a warhorse, as one might expect. He rode a donkey.

Jesus entered this world as a king, but he did not rule by making political treaties or by military conquest. Jesus came to bring us peace by destroying Satan’s kingdom and releasing us from the grip of sin.

 

Jesus has come to rule our lives as our eternal King! Are you submitting your life to his reign?