Four Titles of the Messiah part 3

Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle. Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together. Zechariah 10:3-4

"The second title of the Messiah here is strange: "the Tent Peg." Now, if you look for the word "tent peg" in the NIV Bible, you will only find it here and in the book of Judges. There, we read the gross story of Yael using a hammer to drive a tent peg through the temple of Sisera as he slept. But if you look a bit deeper, you find that the Hebrew word "yathed" is translated as more than just "tent peg." It has also been rendered, "stake, peg, pin, and nail." Thus, as we look for the Hebrew word "yathed" in the Old Testament, we find that there are several Messianic references using this word.

One of the most fascinating ones does not at first appear to be Messianic at all. Turn with me to Isaiah 22. There was once a steward named "Shebna" who was in charge of King Hezekiah's household. He was the manager – the only one that could allow admittance in to see the king.

But his authority had corrupted him, making him proud and arrogant. He had a majestic tomb carved out for himself on a high hill, wore expensive clothing, and traveled in fancily-ornamented chariots. His pride prompted the Lord to bring the following prophecy through Isaiah to Shebna:
Then it will come about in that day, that I will summon My servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah and I will clothe him with your tunic, and tie your sash securely about him, I will entrust him with your authority, and he will become a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Then I will set the key of the house of David on his shoulder, when he opens no one will shut, when he shuts no one will open. Isa. 22:20-22

While the prophecy seems to be fulfilled in the man Eliakim, there is a deeper mystery, a prophetic tie-in to the ministry of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. In Revelation, Jesus is called, "...He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens..." Rev. 3:7

I believe the true fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy is in Christ. This is especially intriguing when we discover that "Eliakim ben Hilkiah" literally means "God raises His Son as Yahweh's share."

With that knowledge, it is even more fascinating to read the rest of God's statement through Isaiah: “And I will drive him like a peg in a firm place, and He will become a throne of glory to His Father’s house. So they will hang on Him all the glory of His Father’s house, offspring and issue, all the least of vessels, from bowls to all the jars. In that day,” (Isa. 22:23-25) declares the LORD of hosts, “the peg driven in a firm place will give way; it will even break off and fall, and the load hanging on it will be cut off, for the LORD has spoken.”

What a strange picture to paint! This Man would be a peg, driven firmly in place, and on Him would be placed everything – things both glorious and commonplace, both honorable and dishonorable. On the same day that happened, the peg would give way, and the load hanging on it would be cut off.

What an amazing picture of Jesus on the cross! As Jesus was pinned, nailed, pegged to the tree, everything was put on Him. Not only the glory of His Father's house, but also the most despicable and dishonorable things. The Bible says that God... ...made Him who knew no sin {to be} sin on our behalf... 2Cor. 5:21 Christ's very body became sin judged for us! On Him was put everything: and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross... 1Pet. 2:24 ...the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. Isa. 53:6

Ultimately, the peg, the nail, the tent stake gave way and the load was cut off entirely. Jesus' body died, and our sin disappeared! Many of us have wall hangings which say, "It was not the nails that held Jesus to the cross, but His love for you and I." I believe it is much more Biblical to say that, spiritually-speaking, Jesus WAS the nails which held sin to the cross to be judged – all because of His love for you and I. This view helps us even to interpret the picture given to us in Judges chapter four. With the hammer of God's Word (Jer. 23:29) and our Messiah the Tent Peg, we can pierce the mind of our sinful man, putting him to death, and incapacitating him!"

continued....