ESOCS Devotional 24 March 2024 -Strong Hold For Prisoners of Hope
MEMORY VERSE: “Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even today do I declare that I will render double unto thee.” Zechariah 9:12
TEXT: ZECHARIAH 9:9-12
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10 I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
and the warhorses from Jerusalem,
and the battle bow will be broken.
He will proclaim peace to the nations.
His rule will extend from sea to sea
and from the River[a] to the ends of the earth.
11 As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you,
I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.
12 Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope;
even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.
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Israel in captivity were as prisoners in a pit, cut off from their brethren back home, cut off from temple songs, prayers and privileges with which they had attachment. However, in the midst of their captivity and whatever afflictions they faced, the prophets kept them reminded of the coming of the Messiah, whose advent would free them from captivity; not only Babylonian captivity but spiritual captivity as well. As for the many which had returned from captivity, they were exhorted to see their deliverance as being made possible by the blood of the covenant (v 11) and the promised Messiah.
In the task of struggling to settle down after almost seventy years away from their native land, they were directed to look unto the Messiah and be saved (Isa. 45:22). The promise of the Messiah had always been the hope and consolation of Israel in all their afflictions (Lk. 2:25-28). This hope made great difference in the way they went through and came off their captivity, came out of the pit wherein was no water and that is what hope does. Hope makes alive.
The gospel invitation beckons on all men afflicted by sin and Satan to look unto that blessed hope, Jesus Christ. The invitation is to turn unto Him. He is the strong hold where thieves and robbers cannot enter to spoil, steal or destroy. As it is written, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” (Prov. 18:10). For “God hath highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every other name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow” (Phil. 2:9-10).
The invitation for all prisoners of hope is to turn away from other gods, turn away from sin, turn away from all works of darkness, and turn unto the Lord for He will abundantly pardon and secure you. He is the anchor that never fails. He promises to reward you double for all your afflictions. He promises to restore unto you all the years that the palmer worm, the canker worm and the caterpillar had eaten. Uncommon increase, double blessings are the promises of God to all who turn unto Christ. In His hands, we are safe and secure till He comes to take us to our blessed inheritance in heaven.
- What afflictions are you facing now as though in captivity? Turn unto Christ and stay your hope on Him.
- Gracious Father, I place all my hope for deliverance and restoration in you. Be thou my strong hold at all times, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Further Reading: Isaiah 49:9; 61:7
ESOCS Devotional 24 March 2024
