Jeffrey C. Long

Turn back now to the fortress, you who lie captured in hope.

(Zechariah 9:12)

This pronouncement of the prophet is somewhat obscure. It seems to be addressed to all the members of the people who lived outside Jerusalem, the city of redemption where the Lord revealed himself and offered refuge; mostly these people were still in Babylon, since not by any means had everyone returned from there. I say this because Zechariah, like Haggai and Malachi, writes after the return of the Jews. They are now invited to the fortress, meaning invited to return under God’s gracious protection to Jerusalem. They should do this as prisoners of hope, as the original text has it, as those who in the course of time hope and look forward to full liberty, however they seem to be bound and sealed in on all sides.

This certainly looks forward to the Messianic times. Still, we can see

ourselves also as prisoners of hope, as those who are captives in hope. Even those who have already turned to the fortress, the redemptive benefits of the New Covenant, can have the feeling that they are captured and bound. This captivity and bondage spring from the fact that they are not yet entirely set at liberty, but are still in constant fear from the onslaughts of the Enemy. For us to turn to the fortress means nothing else than to lay hold on Christ, the Crucified One; to offer him heart and sense, to be forgiven and loved; to serve him from now on with our innermost heart!

Johann Christoph Blumhardt

Translated by Monty Ledford

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