Homilist Zechariah 9:9-10 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, your King comes to you: he is just… I. Here is a monarch, the ADVENT OF WHOM IS A MATTER FOR RAPTUROUS JOY. "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem." Christ's advent to the world was announced by the gladsome music of angelic choirs. "Glory to God in the highest," etc. Why rejoice at His advent? Because He will — 1. Promote all the rights of mankind. 2. Remove all the calamities of mankind. II. Here is a monarch the DIGNITY OF WHOM IS UNAPPROACHED. "Thy King cometh unto thee." "Thy King." Thou hast never yet had a true king, and there is no other true king for thee: this is "thy" King. 1. The King who alone has the absolute right to rule thee. Thou art His, His property. All thy force, vitality, faculty, belong to Him. 2. The King who alone can remove thy evils and promote thy rights. III. Here is a monarch the CHARACTER OF WHOM IS UNEXCEPTIONABLY GOOD. 1. He is righteous. "He is just." The little word "just" comprehends all virtues. He who is just to himself, just to his Maker, just to the universe, is the perfection of excellence, is all that Heaven requires. 2. He is humble. "Lowly, and riding upon an ass." Where there is not genuine humility there is no true greatness; it is essential to true majesty. Pride is the offspring of littleness, it is the contemptible production of a contemptible mind. IV. Here is a monarch the MISSION OF WHOM IS TRANSCENDENTLY BENEFICENT. 1. It is remedial. "Having salvation." Salvation! What a comprehensive word, deliverance from all evil, restoration to all good. Any one can destroy; God alone can restore. 2. It is specific. "And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim," etc. He will put an end to the "chariot," the "horse," the "battle bow," of war, and "speak peace" to the nations. Peace! This is what the nations have always wanted. War has been and still is the great curse of the nations. V. Here is a monarch THE REIGN OF WHOM IS TO BE UNIVERSAL. The language here employed was universally understood by the Jews as embracing the whole world. He claims universal dominion, He deserves it, and will one day have it. Learn — 1. The infinite goodness of God in offering the world such a King. 2. The amazing folly and wickedness of man in not accepting this Divine offer. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. |
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