Zechariah 9:12 Turn you to the strong hold, you prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double to you; The text primarily alludes to the Jews in captivity. I. THE PRISONERS OF HOPE. We have in our country at the least three kinds of prisoners. 1. Those upon whom sentence is passed, and they are therefore consigned to further imprisonment, punishment, banishment, or death. 2. Those who are guilty of felony or misdemeanour, but who have not yet appeared before the judge to have their trial; and — 3. Debtors who, in consequence of adversity or prodigality, have been brought into distress and prison.There are also three kinds of prisoners in a moral or spiritual sense. 1. Those who have died impenitent, and have received sentence of eternal death. These are not prisoners of hope, their state is eternally fixed. They must be banished forever from God. Thanks be to God! this is not our state. 2. All who are living in sin are prisoners. Compare a man shut up in prison until the assizes when he must appear before the judge, and a sinner shut up in the prison of sin until death introduces him into the presence of the Judge of all the earth. The sinner is the bond slave of Satan. A prisoner is liable at any moment to be brought to justice; and so is a wicked man. He is yet a prisoner of hope. 3. There are debtors who often, in consequence of carelessness or prodigality, have brought themselves into sorrow and confinement. This is the case with backsliders. Their case is pitiable, but not desperate. They are prisoners of hope. II. THE STRONGHOLD TO WHICH THESE PRISONERS ARE EXHORTED TO TURN. 1. A stronghold signifies literally a place of safety or defence; figuratively, it is put for the Church of God, and sometimes for the Lord Himself. 2. He is a place of safety and defence to His people. They are shielded from the curse attached to a breach of the holy and righteous law of God. 3. This stronghold is accessible by all kinds of sinners. As soon as ever they come to themselves, and are sensible of their situation, they may find shelter in the love of the Saviour. III. ENFORCE THE EXHORTATION. "Turn you to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope." 1. Confess and forsake all your sins. 2. It is the will of God that you should thus turn from prison to liberty, from sin to holiness. 3. To return from your prison will be your highest interest, both in this world and in that which is to come. 4. If you refuse to turn to the strong hold you will be destroyed, and that without remedy. 5. Turn now! Delays are dangerous! (B. Bailey.) Parallel Verses KJV: Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee; |
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