The Spirit Of Grace & Supplication Series

ZECHARIAH 12: 10-14

THE SPIRIT OF GRACE AND SUPPLICATION

[John 19:30-34-38]

The ultimate goal of God for His people is more than just physical preservation, He is working toward their spiritual restoration. He wants to reveal Himself not only as their deliverer but as their Savior. Israel great need is to repent, to change their perception and attitude toward the Messiah, and then to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

The first nine verses of the 12th chapter describes the Lord’s deliverance of Judah and Jerusalem from the vicious attack of the sieging enemy. That victory will be greater than any other in Israel’s miraculous history: Greater than the deliverance from the land of Egypt, or at the crossing of the Red Sea, or the victory when they entered the Promise land or when the walls of Jericho fell, or when Gideon’s 300 were victorious over incredible odds, the destruction of Assyria’s army, or the conquest of the Sixty Day War or the Seven Day War. A still greater and more permanent blessing is in store for Israel "in that day" than mere outward deliverance and earthly protection; the God wrought victory over self.

The nation and its people are still not in the place of blessing because they are not placing their faith in and giving obedience to the only Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So in that day the Lord will pour out the "Spirit of Grace and Supplication" upon Jerusalem which will lead them to the crucified Messiah who they have so venomously rejected. Their guilt over having denied the Savior who has just protected, strengthened and delivered them will overwhelm them and will cause them to weep bitterly.

Israel’s lament over the Messiah who died on the cross for their sins will be a far greater victory than the one just won over the armies which will surround Jerusalem. It will be the victory of repentance, the victory over a stubborn heart, the victory over self (CIM).

I. The Spirit Poured Out, 12:10a.

II. A Vision of The Crucified One, 12:10b.

III. National and Individual Repentance, 12:11-14.

I. THE SPIRIT POURED OUT 12:10a.

Verse 10 reveals God divinely bestowing His awakening gift upon Israel in that day. "And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem..." The prophecy continues with God speaking in the first person. The word "pour out" denotes full and abundant refreshing like water poured on thirsty ground. Very obviously this is the culmination of Joel’s prophecy (2:28-32) that Peter quoted in Acts 2:16-21 when the Spirit’s out-pouring began at Pentecost. Ezekiel 39:29 and Isaiah 44:3 also prophecy of this day.

The recipients of this spiritual blessing are "the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem." The designation is for those destined to belong to the Davidic King and live in His city, Jerusalem. This event is described in Romans 11:26-27, Isaiah 27:9; 59:20f; Jer. 31:31-37.

The second thought of verse 10 reveals how the LORD will awaken His people. "I will pour out .... the Spirit of Grace and of Supplication."

This is a title for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Grace (Heb. 10:29) and Supplication (Rom. 8:26-27), because this is what He brings and causes. The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of supplication because it is He who awakens us to the desire and need to pray. He quickens the believer to pray now as He will in the day of Israel’s spiritual awakening.

He is elsewhere (Isaiah) called "The Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding" because He infuses wisdom and understanding, and the Spirit of Counsel and Might" because He imparts the ability to see what is to be done and the might to do it, and "the Spirit of Knowledge and of the fear of the Lord" because He gives intimate acquaintance with God with an awe for His infinite majesty.

The Spirit’s action within the people is twofold. "Grace" (hen from hanan) means a demonstration of favor, to show favor. The Spirit’s action is granted for the purpose of bringing into favor with God. This action produces an inner realization of their spiritual rebellion and blindness which leaves them convicted of their sin.

"Supplication," (tahanunim from hanan) which has the same root as grace and denotes pleading for favor. As the Spirit of Supplication, He works within them the additional reaction of seeking for forgiveness and mercy from the LORD to further establish their relationship with Him.

When we receive His grace, His unmerited blessing is released, empowering us to truly see and to pray. His grace will lift us, embolden us, change us into people of real prayer. It will move us to deep entreaty before God.

The Spirit of Grace is the Spirit infusing grace and drawing toward favor with God. The Spirit of Supplication is the Spirit calling out of the inmost soul the cry for yet a larger measure of the grace already given. You could also view them as cause and effect, for the grace which God sows produces the fruit of supplication.