The Fountain Opened

THE Fountain Opened, &c.

*ZECH. 13:1.* In that day there shall be a Fountain Opened to the House of David, and to the Inhabitants of Jerusalem, for Sin, and for Uncleanness.

Zechariah was one of those extraordinary prophets whom God raised up and sent to the Jews, after their return from Babylon. He was contemporary with Haggai, and began his ministry about two months later, in the reign of that Darius who encouraged and set forward the building of the Temple; to the pursuit of which affair, these two prophets did jointly stir up and animate the people of God. Who this Zechariah was, and to what tribe and family he belonged, we are at a loss, his genealogy being only reckoned up to his grandfather, of whose stock there is no mention made elsewhere in the Old Testament: only this I suppose is beyond just dispute, that he is the same whom these Jews did barbarously murder, for his faithful reproofs given them, and denouncing of God's righteous threatenings against them for their sins; which added to their guilt, and is articled against their posterity by Christ himself, in (Matthew 23:35). This book is partly doctrinal, partly visional. In the visional part of it he gives an account of all the changes or revolutions which were to pass over the Jewish nation, till, for their sins, and more particularly, for their despising of Christ, and the salvation by him offered to them, they should be laid desolate; and so abide, till such time as God should again graciously call them: and there are interwoven the predictions of the judgments of God on other nations, so far as they concerned his dealings with this people. Divers of these visions are exceeding mysterious, and the harder to be understood by us, not only because of the depth of the allegories used, and the intermixing of things fore signified by way of anticipation; but also because they are not as yet accomplished. And here we are more especially to observe those prophesies which point to the calling of the Jews to Christ, and the spiritual glory of that time, which is more than once hinted at in this book: as also the calling of the Gentiles, and the wonderful enlarging of the grace of God to other nations. To make the way clear to the words of our text, let us observe, that at the beginning of Chapter 12, our prophet predicts a happy and glorious estate which God will in due time restore Jerusalem to, and he indicates a special appointed season in which this should eminently be accomplished: and therefore it is once and again called, That Day, as it were with an asterism set upon it. To what day, or article of time this prophesy particularly points, is matter of debate, as also whether the Jewish nation, and literal Jerusalem be at all aimed at in it. That Gospel times are pointed to, is very evident by several passages which might be observed in the context: or the time after which Christ had been put to death by this people: and that some notable gracious dispensation towards God's ancient people is aimed at nextly therein, is, I am persuaded, without doubt; though others also may be comprised in it. Some expositors, not only refer, but restrain it to those notable conversions of the Jews on the preaching of the Apostles, which are recorded in (Acts 2 & 4). But though there may be accounted then to have been a specimen, or an earnest of it, yet the lofty expressions that are here used about it, and also the extensiveness of the work mentioned, say that there has not as yet been a full performance of it, but that it is to be waited for, when that general calling in of the Jews shall commence, of which we have a satisfying account in (Romans 11). In Chapter 12:10, God, by the prophet, tells us how he will prepare his people for such great favours, namely he will bring them to a true and cordial mourning for the affronts which they had offered to the Lord Jesus Christ, in crucifying of him; and that both universal and particular: and thereupon he proceeds to enumerate several spiritual benefits which shall ensue; the first whereof that is mentioned, is this in our text, and it is a very comprehensive one. The words then are a gracious New-Covenant promise, of a singular benefit to be bestowed on the Church of God in Gospel times, and upon every true penitent in it; and particularly on the Jews, when he shall come to call them home to himself. In them we may observe,

1. The benefit itself which is promised: A Fountain.

2. The singular mercy that should be discovered in regard of this benefit, it shall be Opened.

3. The subjects to whom this benefit should be applied; to the House of David, and to the Inhabitants of Jerusalem.

4. The design of it, or that wherein the great usefulness of it should [illegible] it is for Sin, and for Uncleanness.

5. The time when this should be, in that Day.

Give me leave to make a brief paraphrase on this sweet text, which comprehends in it the sum and substance of all Gospel grace. In that day] that is, the day which is once and again mentioned in the foregoing chapter. The day wherein God will return to Zion, and have mercy upon her, and build up her waste places. It is true, this benefit has belonged to the true Church of God, ever since the promise of the seed of the woman was made; but there are special times wherein there are more eminent manifestations of divine favours to the people of God, which God would have remarked by them: and so this has a respect to that happy time which is expected by the Church of God when all Israel shall be saved. But that which I would more peculiarly observe, for our own improvement is, it is the day wherein the Spirit of mourning and supplication shall be poured upon them; when God shall bring them to true sorrow for sin, and penitent addresses to him for peace and pardon: and so it shows the order and way of God's communicating of this great favor to them. There shall be a Fountain] The word, fountain cometh of a root that signifies, to dig for a spring of water; and in one conjugation, to flow over abundantly: and doubtless, Christ himself, in respect of his blood, or obedience and merit, is intended by it; as will afterwards be observed. Opened] A thing is said to be opened, that was before shut or covered; the word is also used for the making of a thing manifest, which was before hidden, or not known, we therefore read of the opening of waters, the opening of treasures, or the unlocking of them, the opening of doors; and a noun from this root, signifies, a door. In sum, a thing is then opened, when it is exposed, and laid before persons, and they have the free liberty given them to come and make use of it. We are not here told who will open it, but it must needs intend a work of the Spirit of God, who is the revealer and applier of Christ and his benefits to men. To the House of David, and to the Inhabitants of Jerusalem] By these we may understand those that are the people of God, the seed of Christ, for he is the true David, and the members of the mystical body of Christ, for these are the inhabitants of Jerusalem. It may also intend all ranks of men: the House of David, may have respect to the rulers and nobles, and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem, to the meaner sort. For Sin, and for Uncleanness] The word, Sin, signifies any error, or turning out of the right way: The word Uncleanness, properly signifies something that is removed, and is used in the Levitical Law, for such things as were separated, by reason of ceremonial pollution, and might not be touched. When he says this fountain is for sin, and for uncleanness, he intends that it is designed for the taking of them away, and this is done both in justification and in sanctification, as will afterward be observed. And under these two words are comprehended all sorts and degrees of sin: the least error stands in need of it; and the greatest pollution may be cleansed by it.

There are several precious truths contained in this portion of Scripture, which I shall make some remarks upon.

FINIS.