Zechariah 10:2

For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd. FOR THE IDOLS HAVE SPOKEN VANITY - literally, 'the teraphim,' the household gods, consulted in divination (note, Hosea 3:4). Derived by Gesenius from an Arabic root, 'comfort,' indicating them as the givers of comfort. Or an Ethiopian root, 'relics.' They seem to have been of human form, and were consulted for oracular responses. They were a corruption of the pure worship of Yahweh, framed originally by those who, not finding satisfaction in worshipping the unseen God alone, adopted visible symbols and images of Him, which they privately venerated, as the Penates and Lares, or household gods of Rome. Thus, Laban, who worshipped Yahweh, als...

Here the Prophet, as I have said, confirms the truth, that the blame justly belonged to the Jews that God did not deal more liberally with them; for he shows that they had fallen into superstitions, and had thus turned away the favor of God, which was already certain and nigh to them. Zechariah does not here condemn foreign nations given to superstitions; but, on the contrary, he reproves the Jews themselves for leaving the true God, and for retaking themselves to idols, to soothsayers, and diviners, and for having thus preferred to feed on their own delusions, rather than to open the door to the favor of God, who had freely promised that he would suffer them to want nothing. As then God had kindly invited the Jews to himself, as he had showed himself ready to do them good, was it not the basest ingratitude in them to turn away to idols and to attend to magical delusions? for they might...

1-5 Spiritual blessings had been promised under figurative allusions to earthly plenty. Seasonable rain is a great mercy, which we may ask of God when there is most need of it, and we may look for it to come. We must in our prayers ask for mercies in their proper time. The Lord would make bright clouds, and give showers of rain. This may be an exhortation to seek the influences of the Holy Spirit, in faith and by prayer, through which the blessings held forth in the promises are obtained and enjoyed. The prophet shows the folly of making addresses to idols, as their fathers had done. The Lord visited the remnant of his flock in mercy, and was about to renew their courage and strength for conflict and victory. Every creature is to us what God makes it to be. Every one raised to support the nation, as a corner-stone does the building, or to unite those that differ, as nails join the diffe...

Verse Zechariah 10:2. _THE IDOLS HAVE SPOKEN VANITY_] This is spoken of the _Jews_, and must refer to their idolatry practised before the captivity, for there were no _idols after_. _THEREFORE THEY WENT THEIR WAY_] They were like a _flock_ that had no _shepherd_, shifting from place to place, and wandering about in the wilderness, seeking for pasture, wherever they might find it. Some think that the _idols_ and _diviners_ were those of the _Seleucidae Greeks_, who excited their masters with promises of success against the Maccabees. Others think that the Babylonish captivity is foretold; for a _determined future_ event is frequently spoken of by the prophets as _past_....

FOR THE TERAPHIM HAVE SPOKEN VANITY - Rather, “spake vanity.” He appeals to their former experience. Their father had sought of idols, not of God; therefore they went into captivity. The “teraphim” were used as instruments of divination. They are united with the “ephod,” as forbidden, over against the allowed, means of enquiry as to the future, in Hosea, “without an ephod and without teraphim” Hosea 3:4; they were united in the mingled worship of Micah Judges 17:5; Judges 18:14, Judges 18:17, Judges 18:20; Josiah “put” them “away” toget

EXPOSITION ZECHARIAH 10:1, ZECHARIAH 10:2 § 4. A connecting link between the last section and the next. _The condition for obtaining the promised blessings is that they are to be sought from the Lord, not from idols._ ZECHARIAH 10:1 ASK YE OF THE LORD RAIN. The promise of abundance at the end of the last chapter suggests to the prophet to make a special application to the practice of his countrymen. They must put their trust in God alone for the supply of temporal as well as spiritual bounties. THE LATTER RAIN was due at the time of the vernal equinox, and was necessary in

FOR THE IDOLS HAVE SPOKEN VANITY,.... The vanities of the Gentiles cannot give rain; if they promise it, they speak vain things; God only can give it, and therefore it must, be asked of him, Jeremiah 14:22. The word for idols is "teraphim", the same as in Genesis 31:19 and here signifies worshippers of idols, as the Targum interprets it; and may be understood of the idolatrous Papists who worship idols of gold, silver, brass, and wood, Revelation 9:20 and who speak lies in hypocrisy, great swelling words of vanity, and even blasphemy against God, his name, his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven, 1 Ti

Zechariah 10:1. _Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field._ The atheistic philosopher of the present day laughs at such a verse as this, and sneeringly asks, « What possible connection can there be between men and women praying to God and the showers of rain which fall upon the earth?» «Why!» saith he, «according to the laws of nature, showers fall at such-and-such seasons; and if the atmosphere should not happen to be in such-and-such a state, all the praying in the world cannot produce a single drop of rain.» But faith can clearly see where reason is blind; and the prayer of faith moves the arm of God, and the arm of God controls what the philosopher calls the laws of nature, and so the rain descends. Let us learn, from this precept and promise, the power of bel

CHAPTER 10:1-12 _ 1. The apostasy of Israel in the last days (Zechariah 10:2) _ 2. The victory over the enemies (Zechariah 10:5) 3. Deliverance and restoration (Zechariah 10:8) Zechariah 10:1. Idolatry was the great sin of both Judah and Israel. They practiced the occult things of heathendom and worshipped their false gods; they had teraphim used for divination. On account of this the wrath fell upon the former generations, and the Lord's anger was kindled against their leaders, the shepherds, and they were dispersed. We have called attention before to...

IDOLS. Hebrew. _teraphim,_ or household gods. These cannot give rain (Jeremiah 14:22). vanity trash. A FLOCK. he-goats: i.e. bell-wethers. Compare Isaiah 14:9; Jeremiah 51:40....