May please the Lord to bless
us together this evening. I will speak to you from the
prophecy of Zechariah chapter 9 and we'll read verse 12. Zechariah chapter 9 and reading
verse 12. Turn you to the stronghold ye
prisoners of hope even today do I declare that I will render
double unto thee." As we mentioned this morning,
Haggai and Zechariah prophesied at the same time. And it was
a very important period in the history of Israel. and as we read this morning most
of Haggai and we saw how Haggai the prophet was raised up to
point out the errors of the people, how they were walking contrary
to God and not doing that which they should have been doing and
yet how encouraging the Lord was to them. Zachariah was at
the same time, but he wrote a very different prophecy. And we might
think, and I think it's true, that Zachariah has possibly the
most obvious prophecies with regards to the Lord Jesus Christ. And as you turn over chapter
by chapter, you can come to something that relates to the coming and
the situation which existed of the Lord Jesus Christ. And if
we ponder that, to think that of course they returned back
to Jerusalem, Israel, but they weren't going to find the blessings
the same as they had been. Because we don't have any evidence
of the Ark of the Covenant ever returning to the temple in that
place of worship. So it was, in effect, a very
different situation. There must have been a great
deal of hidden sadness in one way. And yet, we have this prophecy
of Zachariah. And we know that there weren't
very many prophecies after this. Then there was that long period
of relative darkness, when there was no vision, no open vision,
until the time that the Lord Jesus came. So we can envisage,
I'm sure, that people would have been much taken up with this
prophecy of Zachariah and encouraged by it as they journeyed on. It's not as easy to understand
as Haggai. Indeed the chapter we read together
here this evening was not an easy chapter to understand. But there are some important
points which are brought to our attention by the Prophet. And one of them is in this verse
here, the twelfth verse, where the Prophet says, turn you to
the stronghold ye prisoners of hope. Even today Do I declare
that I will render double unto thee? Who is the stronghold? Well there may have been some
reference to Jerusalem being a stronghold, but in essence
it was not because we know that it had been overrun when the
Chaldeans came and captured the people. So it wasn't any really
particular stronghold. But there is a stronghold. And
that stronghold for us today, as it was for the people then,
was none less than the Lord God Himself. And here is this word,
turn you to the stronghold, the prisoners of hope. It's a description
of who the Prophet is addressing and what they are to do. What
they are to do is to turn to the stronghold And who are they? They are the prisoners of hope. Now, they were of course prisoners
of hope, we might say in a natural way, because they'd returned
to Jerusalem, effectively they were still prisoners, and yet
they had this hope that the temple would be rebuilt and the walls
of Jerusalem and they would be once again able to return to
their normal way of worship before they were carried away captive.
And so they were, in that sense, prisoners of hope. But more particularly,
this has an application to the whole Church of God, who have
been in fact prisoners, and perhaps indeed prisoners of hope. They
are looking beyond the present situation. They are looking to
that day when they will find themselves at home with the Saviour. So turn you to the stronghold,
ye prisoners of hope. It therefore really addresses
the Church of God, the people of God, who are the prisoners
of hope. And the gracious exhortation
is this, turn you to the stronghold. We might think, well surely there
is no need for any admonition like that. Surely, naturally
we would turn to the Lord. Very often we do not turn to
the Lord. And we need to be reminded, perhaps
we need to be corrected and instructed that we should turn to the stronghold,
the Lord Jesus Christ. I wonder whether a word like
that to you and me means anything tonight. Whether it is a word
that is attractive to us, to be reminded to turn to the Lord
who is a stronghold. Our God is a safe place to come
to. And therefore, if we've been
walking contrary to the Lord, perhaps away from the Lord, exactly
as Israel had, no surprise that they needed a gracious admonition
like this to turn to the stronghold. What a blessing then, if our
minds are encouraged to do just that, to turn to the Lord Jesus
Christ. There's no better place to go
to. There's no more need for one
to go to than the Lord Jesus Christ. So may we be found turning
to him. The tendency is to turn to man,
to turn this way and that way, but not to turn to the Lord.
There is, because of our sin, because of our evil propensities,
because of the power of Satan, there is that tendency not to
turn to the Lord Jesus. Yet here is a very pertinent
word, turn you. It has a specific reference for
each one of us. It's not speaking about somebody
else. It's not speaking about the person next door to us. It's
speaking to you. It's speaking to me. Turn you. It's a personal word to the stronghold,
ye prisoners of hope. We shan't want to turn to the
stronghold unless we recognise our need of a stronghold. And
a stronghold is a place that we can resort to, it's a refuge
really. A place where we can rely upon
as being somewhere where we can hide. A stronghold, a fortified
place, turn you to the stronghold? Well, no one is stronger than
the Lord Jesus Christ. He is a stronghold in the day
of trouble. We pass through times in our
lives, we pass into times of trouble and we need to find then
this stronghold. Turn you to the stronghold. Do we then find this attractive
as the name of the Lord Jesus comes before us? That hymn is
very descriptive, how sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer's
ear. It soothes his sorrows, calms
his mind and drives away his fear. is Jesus then, the name of Jesus,
an attractive name to us tonight, to turn to, turn to him in our
time of need, to come to him and hear those words, come unto
me. It really means turning unto
the Lord, doesn't it? Come unto me. and be ye saved all the ends
of the earth, for I am God and there is none else." There is
no other place which is a stronghold like our Lord Jesus Christ. Turn you to this stronghold. If we turn to the Lord Jesus
Christ, what do we see there? What do we see in Him? We see salvation. We see Jesus. Yes, and a blessing it is to
be found looking to Him. That we might look unto the Lord
Jesus Christ in our time of need. It is a continual need that we
have, do we not? But how a blessing it is to come
and turn to this stronghold and then to view the Lord Jesus Christ,
and to view Him in His glorious situation. I'm not saying in
His risen glorious position in His Father's right hand, that
is a wonderfully glorious place, but to view Him on the cross,
turning to Him, We might see him there in his weakness. But nonetheless, he was and is
still a stronghold even in that position. Because there is the
hope of the Church of God. Tonight is the Lord Jesus Christ,
your hope. Ye prisoners of hope, Is the
Lord Jesus Christ your hope tonight? Are you dependent upon Him? Do you realise, do you know,
without Him, you, we can do nothing. We are dependent upon what the
Lord Jesus Christ has done and does for us. to turn to Him, turn to the cross
of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's a good place. It's a place
of blessing. It puts everything else in its
right place. It gives us the right perspective
of things. We can very easily get things
out of perspective. We find minor issues causing
things to be out of perspective. I would be found looking to this
stronghold, the Lord Jesus Christ, upon Calvary's cross. If we have a need, our need is
of the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, and our need is to know
that He has died for us. Oh, there's no greater need than
that. To know that the Lord Jesus Christ has chosen us, perhaps
in the furnace of affliction, perhaps when we've been, as it
appears to us, far off. The Lord's known where we are.
He knows where we've got to. And even in that far off place,
a prisoner of hope, And here is that word then, turn you to
the stronghold. Because we have a saviour who
was not only so willing to give his life for us, but also is
full of love, full of grace, full of compassion, There's no
one like this stronghold. There's no one like the Lord
Jesus. What a blessing it is for you
and I to be made willing in the day of His power to turn unto
Him. You see, by nature, we don't
do this. We don't turn to this stronghold.
Perhaps we've never turned to this stronghold. We need to be honest, don't we?
We don't need to think that we've been turning to this stronghold,
because we won't turn to this stronghold unless we have a need
to turn to him, and unless we are indeed a prisoner of hope. Turn you to the stronghold, you
prisoners of hope. Well, again is it an attractive
sight? the Lord Jesus Christ. An attractive
sight to see the Lord, by faith, enduring the punishment due to
us. A punishment which we deserved
because of our sins. The guilt which was so great. The mountain of our sin which
grows day by day. and to know that this stronghold
that Lord Jesus Christ took all of our sin upon himself, he bore
the punishment instead. It's a blessing if the Spirit
of God comes to us and softens our heart, as we see the suffering
Saviour bearing the punishment instead. We deserve to suffer. We deserve to bleed and die for
our sins. My friends, that would never
have satisfied the holy demands of a righteous God. If we gave
our life it would be totally inadequate. How necessary it was that Jesus
should come and die for us in our place, turn you to the stronghold. Now, if we know something of
the terribleness of our sin, then Jesus will be attractive. and we shall see by faith a little
of the agony that he went through to deliver our souls from the
wrath to come. I saw one hanging on the tree
in agonies and blood. The sight of a suffering saviour
will break hard hearts. By nature our hearts are very
hard, rebellious, but to think that we have such
a Saviour who was so willing to die that death, to pass through
Gethsemane. Oh, what an agony there was there,
was there not? We often fail to realise the
wonderful blessing of the Lord in enduring that in Gethsemane,
and we read in that 802nd hymn, full of love to man's lost race. On his conflict, much he thought. This he knew, the destined place,
and he loved, the sacred spot. Therefore, it was he liked to
be often in Gethsemane. It's hard for us to appreciate
the great love of the Saviour in often resorting to Gethsemane. And yet, there it was that he
was to endure that great conflict when he knew that that before
him was the day of his death. And yet the Lord so willingly,
so willingly came to that place. Here the Lord thou didst resort,
oft times with thy little train, here wouldst keep thy private
court, O confer that grace again. Lord, resort with worthless me,
oftentimes to Gethsemane. Again, Gethsemane is a place
of blessing. It is a place of favour. And
what it brings us to is this, to recognise our condition, spelled
out in this 20th verse, sins against a holy God, sins against
His righteous laws, sins against His love, His blood, sins against His name and cause,
sins immense as is the sea, hide me, O Gethsemane. If we are then to come and to
turn to this stronghold, it will be to view the Saviour at and
in Gethsemane, because as we view him there, enduring that
situation where he prayed to his father, if it be possible,
let this cut pass from me because of our sin. Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done."
How willing was Jesus to die that we fellow sinners might
live. Turn you to the stronghold. Oh, it's a place of wonderful
favour to be able to, by faith, view the Saviour in that place,
He went there and he prayed to his father and we see what agony
he was in because the word of God tells us, he sweat as it
were, great drops of blood falling to the ground. Beyond our comprehension
isn't it? To think of the agony that the
Saviour passed through. Now, if we have been like Israel
of old, away disobedient. When men hear this gracious exhortation,
turn you to a stronghold, to the Lord Jesus Christ. He never
failed, did he? No, he never failed. It was an
enormous situation that he was in. He endured all incarnate
God could bear. with strength enough and none
to spare. That was the situation the Saviour
was caused to endure so that you and I, by His grace and glorious
grace, might be found at last with this Saviour, praising Him
forever and ever. Turn you to the stronghold ye
prisoners of hope. He goes on to say, even today
do I declare that I will render double unto thee. The Lord gives us far more than
we deserve. Far more. He says here, I will
render double unto thee. A double blessing. What do we
have to offer? What do we have to bring? All
we have really is our sins. And here we see the great love
of the Saviour, bringing such a word to us. Those words in
the 40th chapter of Isaiah are very precious. Comfort ye my
people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem,
and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity
is pardoned. for she hath received of the
Lord's hand double for all her sins." How gracious, how kind
of our God to make such a glorious statement and to fulfil it in
the lives of his people to receive, as it were, a double blessing. To know that The Lord Jesus at
stronghold has bore the curse for us. He bore the curse instead. That 61st chapter that we read
together in this same prophecy speaks to us again of the wonderful
favour and mercy of God. He says to appoint unto them that mourn
in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for
mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness,
that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting
of the Lord, that he might be glorified. this stronghold, you see. He
appoints this for those that mourn, and Israel were a mourning
people at this time. The Church of God are found to
be a mourning people, and yet the Lord says, to proclaim the
acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our
God, to comfort all that mourn. The Lord has comforted us. Those
who mourn after him. And so there is this
appointing unto them that mourn in Zion, to give them, what in
exchange, beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the
garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might
be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, turn
you to the stronghold. And as we may, turn to the strongholders,
the prisoners of hope, to receive this double blessing, as it were,
this outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The seventh verse of this chapter
was the reason we really read it. For your shame ye shall have
double, and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion.
Therefore in their land they shall possess the double. everlasting
joy shall be unto them." If we possess these gifts and these
blessings, it is what directs us to this everlasting joy. And there is then this appointing.
God appoints it. Turn you to stronghold, ye prisoners
of hope, even today. Do I declare that I will render
double unto you? And there is this appointing
for them that mourn, to give them beauty for ashes, and the
oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the
spirit of heaviness. What an exchange, isn't it? What
a time of blessing, what a time of favour. Yes, rather than the
spirit of heaviness, the garment of praise. to our God, and we
have cause to praise the Lord. As we are blessed with this turning,
turn you to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope. All my friends,
to be found then hearing the gracious exhortation from the
Lord. It is a gracious exhortation. And Isaiah is such a comforting
book in many aspects. It speaks such great and glorious
truth. and may we bless God for it. He speaks about the darkness.
In the 49th chapter we read, Thus saith the Lord, in an acceptable
time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped
thee. And I will preserve thee and
give thee for a covenant of the people to establish the earth
and to cause to inherit the desolate heritages, that thou may say
to the prisoners, go forth to them that are in darkness, show
yourselves, they shall feed in the ways, and their pastures
shall be in all high places. They shall not hunger nor thirst,
neither shall the heat nor sun smite them, for He that hath
mercy on them shall lead them even by the springs of water
shall he guide them." Well, we could go on. Of course, we could
read the whole book of Isaiah and be encouraged by it. Turn
you again to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope. I just
want to refer to that That little verse in the book of Nahum, it's
a very short book, but it's a very precious book and a very wonderful
book really. And in the seventh verse of that
little book we read this, that trust in Him. Those that
turn to the stronghold. They turn to the stronghold because
they have that hope. Because they are a prisoner of
hope, they are turning to Him. And here we have this encouragement.
The Lord is good. The Lord is good. His people
prove it. They always have done. They always
will. A stronghold on a day of trouble. There is that need to turn to
Him in this time of trouble, you see. The Lord brings those
times of trouble into our lives, those times of distress, to cause
us to turn unto Him, to turn unto Him, and then we find He
is good. The Lord doesn't turn us away.
The Lord doesn't turn us away as we come to Him. We come in
a right way, not as a proud person, not as a hard-hearted wretch,
but as a mourning sinner, broken, broken-hearted. Those are they
who find rest. Those are they who find refuge,
who find comfort, who find this blessing. They are those who
are the prisoners of hope, who are turning to the Lord, And
then to be encouraged and find, yes, the Lord is good. The Lord
is good. And the Church of God know it.
He is good. And He is a stronghold in the
time of trouble. And, what a blessing, He knows
them that trust in Him. We're found perhaps, wondering,
wondering, But our favourite is to be found trusting in the
Lord. As we turn unto Him, we turn
unto Him trusting in Him. The Psalmist David said, Hear
my cry, O God, attend unto my prayer from the end of the earth,
when I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me
to the rock, that is higher than I. Well, that's a stronghold,
isn't it? The refuge. Lead me there. Oh, to be turned and led to the
Lord. For thou hast been a shelter
for me. A strong tower from the enemy. A strong tower from the
enemy. Oh, is that place whereby we
can continually resort. I will abide in thy tabernacles
forever. I will trust in the covenant of thy wings, Selah,
for thou, O God, hast heard my vows. Thou hast given me the
heritage of those that fear thy name. Thou wilt prolong the king's
life and his years as many generations. He shall abide before God forever. I will prepare mercy and truth
which may preserve him." Well, it's a good thing for us to be
found in that situation and to be found waiting upon the Lord
as our rock and our salvation. The 62nd Psalm tells us, My soul,
wait thou only upon God. Turn to Him. Turn to Him. For my expectation is from Him. And if we are those prisoners
of hope, and if we are turned into this stronghold, there will
be an expectation. An expectation, the Lord will
hear. For my expectation is from Him. Well have we, as a prisoner of
hope, an expectation? The Lord will be gracious to
us and will look upon us and show himself to us as our all-sufficient
Saviour. And as we said, it will be when
we find ourselves viewing Him in Gethsemane and at Calvary,
which will draw us to Him. He only is my rock and my salvation. He is my defence. that strong
tower, that stronghold. He is our defence. And says David,
I shall not be moved. There was here a humble confidence
in his God. In God is my salvation and my
glory. The rock of my strength and my
refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times. Ye people, pour out your heart
before Him. God is a refuge for us. It's a lovely verse, isn't it? Trust in Him. Don't trust in
anyone else. Trust in Him. At all times, ye people, pour out your heart
before Him. God is a refuge for us, Seder. Would it be a favour for us to
be found in that position as our stronghold, turning unto
Him, the Lord Jesus Christ, and then to receive double for all
our sins. What it means, I believe, is
this. we realise how good, how kind,
how long-suffering, how compassionate the Lord is toward us. And His
mercies are so great toward us, we're broken down at the favour
and mercy of the Lord to such an unworthy sinner. We will never
appreciate the blessings of the Lord unless we are convinced
of our sin. And the greater that situation,
the more we see of our sin, the more precious, the more needful,
the more glorious, the more wonderful will be the Saviour, the Lord
Jesus Christ. The last verse in this chapter
we read together was, for how great is His goodness. and how great is his beauty. It's only as we need a saviour.
We should see a beauty in the Lord Jesus Christ. Naturally,
there's nothing, nothing in him that we should desire. The prophet Isaiah, In the 52nd chapter
he said that. He said, as many as were astonished
at him, his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form
more than the sons of men. There was nothing you see there,
in that picture, that we should desire him. In the 53rd chapter,
of course, he is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows
and acquainted with grief. He has no form nor comeliness,
and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire."
That means no beauty naturally that we should desire, but there
is a beauty to the Church of God. Yes, there is a wonderful
beauty in the Saviour as we observe what He's done in saving our
souls, We will be drawn to Him. Those words in the Song of Solomon,
the Bride of Christ explains. Draw me. We will run after Thee. Yes, there is no holding back.
The beauty of the Lord is observed. And we are drawn to the Saviour.
And we run after Him. Turn you to the stronghold, ye
prisons of hope. Even today do I declare that
I will render double unto you." It's a promise, isn't it? As
the Lord gives us that grace to turn unto Him, to receive
an exchange for our sin. It's amazing, isn't it? Our sin
imputed to the Saviour. The Saviour imputes His righteousness
to us. Surely it is receiving. double. What a blessing. Even today do
I declare that I will render double unto thee. Well may we
be able to be given that faith to stretch out our hand to receive
such a blessing and to praise and bless our God for all his
great goodness and for all his great favour and be able to truly
say how great is his goodness and how great is his beauty. Amen.