Rejoice Greatly, O daughter of Zion
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King is coming to you;
He is just and having salvation,
Lowly and riding on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.
10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
And the horse from Jerusalem;
The battle bow shall be cut off.
He shall speak peace to the nations;
His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea,
And from the River to the ends of the earth.’
11 “As for you also,
Because of the blood of your covenant,
I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.
12 Return to the stronghold,
You prisoners of hope.
Even today I declare
That I will restore double to you.
13 For I have bent Judah, My bow,
Fitted the bow with Ephraim,
And raised up your sons, O Zion,
Against your sons, O Greece,
And made you like the sword of a mighty man.”
14 Then the Lord will be seen over them,
And His arrow will go forth like lightning.
The Lord God will blow the trumpet,
And go with whirlwinds from the south.
15 The Lord of hosts will defend them;
They shall devour and subdue with slingstones.
They shall drink and roar as if with wine;
They shall be filled with blood like [c]basins,
Like the corners of the altar.
16 The Lord their God will save them in that day,
As the flock of His people.
For they shall be like the jewels of a crown,
Lifted like a banner over His land—
17 For how great is its goodness
And how great its beauty!
Grain shall make the young men thrive,
And new wine the young women.”
~ Zechariah 9: 9-17
Friends, I am sitting here with this for the rest of January. My Word of the Year last year was Joy — Last year was a year of revelation about it. This year I am to write about it–as I wrap up the Elijah’s Mantle series, the journey to finding of God’s joy, the coming alive of it. Right now, I need to spend January rejoicing. I could find lots of reasons why to take a break–but when I do, it feels like God is saying, “I am calling you to my stronghold–do you need a reason? I’ve called. Just come.” So that is what I am doing — and I am excited–Zechariah is filled with the invitation of it– the call to come, lost things doubly restored, saving you and me–and the lost lambs we love because we are like the jewels of a crown, and under His banner we are called to thrive. 2026 is a year of rejoicing, my friends! I will see you the first of February!
Thank you for this encouragement, Maryleigh! I’m going to read the book of Zachariah. It’s been awhile.
Thank you for stopping by Rebecca! I’m reading the Old Testament this year from the last book to the first. The result so far is that the end of the O.T. has a much fresher look – like the beginning of a race, instead of being so close to the end and not being as attentive. Happy New Year, my friend!
I was in Ps. 112 and Is. 40 this morning. These scriptures that bring our focus on God and His goodness revive our souls. Thanks for bringing my attention to one I haven’t read in a while!
“That I will restore double to you.” Oh, that resonated with me! I’m counting on it!