Zechariah 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried… What a vivid representation this passage affords of the personality of God! Here He appears as One who thinks, observes, feels, and purposes; a far higher and juster view of the Eternal Power than that which sees only abstract law behind and above Nature. And how striking is the intercommunion here pictured between the Creator and His creatures! Owing to man having been made in the Divine image, he is capable of spiritual intercourse with his Maker. And what a delightful intimacy distinguishes this communion! I. THE VOICE OF GOD — "It is My people." 1. My rightful people. The Lord of all asserts His authority, puts forward His claim. This is a view of religion often overlooked. We are God's by right. 2. My loved people. We hear in this utterance the tone of affection. There is a touching tenderness in the possessive "my," in such expressions as "my friend," "my father," "my son," "my husband," "my wife." So here, when the Lord says, "My people." 3. My redeemed people. 4. My sealed people. It is usual to mark property with the owner's name. It is by the renewed character and the obedient life that the Lord's property in His own people is most surely attested. "The Lord knoweth them that are His," and, "Let everyone that nameth the name of the Lord depart from iniquity." Religion may be regarded as consisting of man's acknowledgment of God's revelation; an acknowledgment which is first of the heart — when it is faith; next of the language — when it is confession; and further, of the life — when it is obedience. II. THE VOICE OF MAN. "The Lord is my God." 1. This cry is a response to the Divine assurance. It is the faithful echo to the heavenly voice. 2. The Lord alone is our God, whom we honour supremely. None other divides our heart with Him. 3. The Lord is our God to trust. The greatest and most pressing need of man in this life is One upon whom his weakness and helplessness can absolutely rely. 4. The Lord is our God, to appropriate and enjoy. What gladness fills the soul when a long hoped for discovery has been made, a long sought treasure found, a long lost friend recovered! 5. The Lord is our God, to serve and glorify. 6. The Lord is our God forever. Our God is the eternal God. (J. R. Thomson, M. A.). Parallel Verses KJV: And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God. |
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