Zechariah 9:10: “I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.”

If you know a little about Israel’s history, you may remember that during the reign of King David’s grandson Rehoboam, the nation split in two. The northern kingdom took the name Israel, but it was also sometimes called “Ephraim” because Ephraim was the dominant tribe. The southern kingdom was called Judah and was ruled from Jerusalem. At times the two kingdoms coexisted peacefully, but there was never much love lost between them, and they were often at war.

The prophet Zechariah points to Jesus as the King who will bring an end to the conflict among God’s people. The weapons of war will be removed from Ephraim in the north and from Jerusalem in the south. Under his reign, they will once again live and act as one people.

Historically, the northern kingdom had largely vanished about 200 years before Zechariah. A remnant of its people remained, but it no longer existed as a separate nation. So the prophet is painting a bigger picture here: the divisions that exist among God’s people and the promise that Jesus will bring those divisions to an end.

Outwardly, Christianity may still appear deeply divided, with more varieties than Baskin-Robbins. But spiritually, though invisibly, we confess one holy Christian and apostolic church. Faith in Jesus unites all who trust in him. We may not yet see that unity clearly, because faith is hidden in the heart. Christians are forgiven, yet we still struggle with sin, stubbornness and false beliefs that stand in the way of unity. 

Even so, our King has given us his powerful Word, which is already at work against those divisions, and the day is coming when “the battle bow will be broken.” Then all his true people will be gathered as one around his throne.

The blessings of life under this King are not limited to one nation or one race. Part of the good news is that his reign is universal.

Some people criticize Christians for sharing their faith with those who already follow another religion. But that criticism often comes from not understanding what our King brings. If Christians were bringing clean drinking water or a cure for malaria to another part of the world, few would call it disrespectful to other cultures or beliefs.

Jesus offers something even greater and far more lasting, and he alone can give it. No one else and no other belief system can offer free forgiveness of sins, peace with God and everlasting life. That is why this King extends his kingdom “from sea to sea” and “to the ends of the earth.” Wherever the gospel is preached and people come to faith, men and women of every race and nation receive the same King and the same blessings he brings.

There is no greater peace people can share. There is no greater unity we can know. 

Nourish your faith between Sundays by reading more of John’s writings at BitsOfBread.org.  

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