God
"pours out ... a spirit of supplication" upon His people. As a result
of this, they look on Him, "the One they have pierced." In doing so,
they come to "a fountain ... to cleanse them from sin and impurity"
(Zechariah 12:10; Zechariah 13:1). Mourning for the One they pierced and
receiving cleansing from sin, we enter into a new relationship in which
God says, "They are My people" and we say, "The Lord is our God"
(Zechariah 13:9). This new life is to be characterized by "worship."
"Holy to the Lord" is to be the central feature of our new life
(Zechariah 14:16,20). This is "the new name" (Revelation 2:17) of God's
people - "Holy to the Lord." It is inscribed upon us, written over our
lives. It is "known only to him who receives it" (Revelation 2:17). Only
those who are beginning to experience what it means to be "holy to the
Lord" will understand its meaning. Experience and understanding belong
together. They are united in the act of receiving. Faith is the tie
which binds together experience and understanding. By faith, we hold out
our empty hands that they might be filled with God's gift of grace.
There is no way to "a man's understanding", no way to "wisdom", no way
to "knowledge of the Holy One", no way which begins with "I". Concerning
ourselves, we must make this confession: "I am the most ignorant of
men" (Proverbs 30:2-3). The question is asked: "Who has gone up to
heaven and come down? ... What is his name ...? Tell me if you know!"
(Proverbs 30:4). There is no answer to this question. The Gospel does
not begin with man, reaching up to heaven. It begins with God, reaching
down to earth - "Who came down from heaven to earth? Jesus Christ our
Saviour". It is God who pours out His grace. This is the foundation on
which our life of faith is based.
What God did for His people, Israel, was very great. There is a striking contrast between their slavery in Egypt and their abundance in the promised land. God had multiplied His blessing upon them, just as Jesus did when He turned water into wine (John 2:1-11). If the blessing is to be maintained and increased, we must honour the Lord. We must cry to Him for blessing: "Hear my prayer, O God, listen to the words of my mouth." We must call upon Him with faith: "Surely God is my help; the Lord is the One who sustains me" (Psalm 54:2,4).
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