Joy, Happiness: Is there a Difference? - Zechariah 9 - 14:21

Crude oil is the source of gasoline; in the same manner, joy is the source of happiness. Joy comes in the morning as a result of deep abiding faith in the heart and soul following a night of rest and restoration. Happiness crops up all through the day as you view your new great grand son for the first time; [*p-4]as you observe your children’s new parental expressions; as you realize how fortunate you are to be an American citizen and a chosen and redeemed child of God. Deep and abiding Joy issues from the unmerited grace of Jesus Christ that lifts you to the mountain top and keeps you there. Joy abides in the heart and soul and is unwavering. Happiness is the expression of human feelings when times are good; and when things are going well. However, it is not unwavering and can vary all the way from laughter to sorrow as the circumstances change in every day life.

The first eight chapters in Zechariah have presented a people that are generally happy. They are no longer in captivity. They have been able to return to their old home land. They have shared a part in the rebuilding of the city and the temple. Even though they have become discouraged at times and have met with resistance from their enemies they have still accepted the criticism from God through his prophets and found the faith and courage to proceed with their rebuilding projects. Our lesson today is found in the last six chapters of this book that are very different from the first eight that we just studied. These are the prophetic chapters that sound much like the book of Daniel or Revelation. Zechariah made these prophecies to assure his people that regardless of the problems they had they could be sure of ultimate victory and he announced the coming of the Messiah that they were longing to see become King of Kings. What he is ultimately saying to them is: now you will be able to see your new found happiness turned into ultimate JOY.
The first eight verses of chapter nine introduces an oracle that refers to a burden that will come on God’s people because of their sins but more important it starts assuring the people that judgment will come to the enemies of God’s people. Three of Israel’s worst enemies were promised rapid failure as God’s people rejoiced to know that the Philistines, Syria, and Phoenicia would fall. Now read the verse [9:9] that brought absolute JOY to the people of Jerusalem. “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout in triumph, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your King is coming to you; He is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, or colt, the goal of a donkey.”

Well, the day came when Christ arrived riding that donkey right into the city just as the prophet predicted he would. There is no doubt that JOY arrived that day; and those of us who have accepted him as our Savior can live each day with the assurance of life everlasting with him. Our happiness may vary each day because of our immediate circumstances but our JOY is anchored to, on, and in the solid Rock. It is said that Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself founded empires… Jesus Christ alone founded His Empire upon love: and at this hour, millions of men would die for Him.” You may ask, “How strong must my commitment be?” and the answer lies in the statement made by this French Dictator. You and I must be so committed that we are willing to die for Him if we ever find ourselves in that critical position.

Chapters nine and ten are somewhat difficult for me to fully understand because they are describing the coming of two kings. The first one is Alexander the Great who had conquered the Persian Empire and was ruling in the time of the prophet Zechariah. There is an explanation of how he will overpower Syria, Phoenicia, and Philistine. Our lesson is on JOY, and since God promised to protect the Jewish people during this war this promise of protection is the source of their JOY. One would think that this would be enough to satisfy the people…and it probably would have, but they had a second promise made by the prophet. Zechariah assures the people that some day a greater king is coming—the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, who was the Messiah that they had been promised and that they had been waiting for.

This book becomes more confusing to me as the last part of chapter nine seems to describe the deliverance of God’s people from the rule of the Greeks. There is no doubt in my mind that the King that will ride in on the donkey is the prediction of our Lord as he came humbly before his people at the temple riding a donkey as he did instead of the great White Horse that would have set him apart as the new king. The blessings of the new Messiah’s Kingly reign are explained in chapter ten.
I am referring to a book on the Minor Prophets by Feinberg. He says that “Chapters 1 to 8 of Zechariah refers mainly to the time of his own life. The goal in view was encouragement for the rebuilding of the Temple. Chapters 9 to 14, which form the second part of the book, deal chiefly with the future and were probably written by Zechariah a long time after the first eight chapters. Chapters 1-8 deal with Israel when she was under Medo-Persian rule; Chapters 9 and 10 when she was governed by Greece; Chapter 11 when she was under Roman domination; and chapters 12 to 14 when she will be in the last days of her national history [Minor Prophets by Feinberg, page 314]. My comment is this; the fact that Judah was occupied by so many different powers in so few years makes it difficult for me to understand just who is involved in the coming and going of the ruling kings.

I can tell you this with absolute authority and no fear of any contradiction…and that is that Jesus Christ is our Messiah who is and always will be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and no matter how impressive any other [ruler] appears to be he pales into insignificance when compared to our King. Christ came to earth and was born of a virgin, lived as God and Man on this earth and died on the cross to provide salvation from sin for all that will believe in him. He will come again…and he will bring peace to all people of all nations and blessings for those of us who have not denied him and have sincerely tried to obey him.

There is a vast amount of materials covered in the last five chapters of this book. It seems to me that I can best help learners understand the basic principles that are laid out by simply giving an outline through a series of statements of truths found in these last chapters.
• God will stand by his people in their fight against their enemies sometimes through providential means.
• The Israelites knew that they were protected…just as we are defended from harm.
• Their new Messiah, Jesus Christ our Lord is both a conquering king and a gentle savior…often compared to the Shepard of the flock [Christians].
• We should gain our greatest Joy from the fact that He will return.
• False religions deceive and destroy; therefore accurate knowledge of the bible is of great importance.
• Leaders, teachers, ministers, will be held accountable for what they teach.
• Christ is known as the “Cornerstone of our faith.
• Israel as a nation will survive.
• Christ will delivery Israel, and all his people, from their enemies at his second coming.
• Forgiveness for sin is available to all people…Jew and Gentile…by grace, through faith in Christ and true repentance toward the Master.
• Christians should not become discouraged when suffering sometimes precedes their blessings. We should not expect favored treatment over Christ who suffered the greatest of all.
• God the Father and Jesus the Son both keep their promises…Christ will return!
• One day…the entire world will recognize and acknowledge Jesus as Lord and King…To him every knee will bow and every tongue will confess.
• The Lord is the victor…He conquered death, hell, and the grave all in one week-end.

I love prophecy—my faith feeds on it. Here are twenty-four predictions that were accurately made regarding Christ years before he was born and named Jesus.

1. He would be—and he was born of a virgin. 2. From David’s line. 3. Born in Bethlehem. 4. Was a prophet. 5. Is our Priest. 6. King of Kings. 7. Preceded by a messenger [John]. 8. Entered Jerusalem on a donkey. 9. A stumbling stone to the Jews. 10. Resurrection on third day. 11. Forsaken by his disciples. 12. Silent before accusers. 13. Wounded and bruised. 14. Struck and spit upon. 15. Mocked. 16. Hands and feet pierced. 17. Crucified with thieves. 18. Rejected by his own people. 19. Stared at or upon. 20. Clothes divided and lots cast. 21. Made a forsaken cry—My God, My God why have you forsaken me? 22. Bones not broken. 23. Side pierced. 24. Buried in a rich man’s tomb. NOTE: Several of these facts about Jesus that were still 400 plus years in the future, were made by the author that we are studying today—Zechariah.


[Nicholas Vandiver Weathers, first great grand child of Dr. and Mrs. John Vandiver was born at 7:13 or 14 PM, Tuesday, July 31, 2007; he was 21inches tall [no. not long, but tall] and weighed 7 lbs. 11oz. His parents are Dr. and Mrs. Lance Weathers, of Lexington, KY. I used this as an example of the source instant happiness—but now, after the experience, I am not sure there wasn’t a bit of pure JOY in our soul. In fact, when we take time to thank God for the miracle of birth, and learn that both mother and son are well and all possible danger has seemingly evaporated, our emotional height surpasses happiness and mounts to the panicle of glorious JOY.]