The Shepherd Smitten

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The Messiah then, as the Shepherd of Israel, and as the One who is described as the fellow of Jehovah, is seen in Zechariah 13:77Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. (Zechariah 13:7) as smitten — smitten by the sword of judgment because, as the Good Shepherd, He laid down His life for the sheep, thus intercepting the stroke that was their due, that He might, on their behalf, meet all God ‘s holy claims, and glorify Him concerning their sins.
A twofold immediate effect here follows. First, the sheep are scattered. This was fulfilled literally on the night of His arrest, when all His disciples — those who had acknowledged Him as the Shepherd of Israel, forsook Him and fled. In another way it has been accomplished in the scattering of the Jews over the face of the whole earth, for it is written, “He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock” (Jer. 31:1010Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. (Jeremiah 31:10)). He came to gather His sheep, but when they as a people refused to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd, and He was smitten, God in His government, and judicially, “scattered” the flock. It is also added, “And I will turn Mine hand upon the little ones.” Thus while judgment should descend upon the sheep who did not know the voice of their Shepherd, and who, instead of following Him, demanded His crucifixion, God would cover with His hand the “little ones” who had recognized their Messiah. These are the remnant who had attached themselves to Him during His earthly ministry, in that day of evil and trouble.
Edward Dennett