"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 10:4 KJV).
This verse is not nearly so famous as Isaiah 9:6, and some have even question its messianic relevance. However, I believe it does refer to Christ and thus warrants a summary statement here because it illustrates how effectively and economically special titles can communicate. The person described in Zechariah 10:4 is God's answer to the bad shepherds (rulers) who had troubled the flock of His people (Zech. 10:2-3). The Lord of hosts would visit his people and reverse their fortunes. The agent by whom the bad shepherds would be punished and the flock blessed is the corner, the nail, the battle bow, and the absolute ruler. The statement "from him" (from the Lord) precedes each of these four titles, suggesting the divine anointing and commission of the Messiah to conduct His ministry.
Corner:
That Christ is the Corner testifies to His being the sure and stable foundation. This same word occurs in Isaiah's more extensive description: "Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste" (Isaiah 28:16). Likewise, it is the word in Psalm 118:22: "The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner." The New Testament demands the Christological interpretation (see Matthew 21:42; Acts 4:11; 1 Peter 2:4-8). In contrast to the vain and worthless objects of trust mentioned in Zechariah 10:2 (idols, diviners, dreamers), from the Lord would come the Corner, the only trustworthy object of faith determines the value of the faith, and the only object of saving faith is Christ.
Nail:
That Christ is the Nail testifies to His ability to bear the load in supporting His people. This nail is a peg in the wall for the hanging of items. Unless the peg is solid, it will be useless for hanging anything. Ezekiel plays on this thought when he says that the "wood" of a vine would be a worthless pin for hanging vessels (Ezekiel 15:3). Isaiah's report of Eliakim's promotion to administer the keys to David's house illustrates this function of the nail: "And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place … and they shall hang upon him all the glory (weight) of his father's house" (Isaiah 22:23-24). Sadly, Eliakim's nail loosened and the burden hanging on it fell off (Isaiah 22:25). This failure of what seemed to be a sure support points to the fact that there is only one Nail that is strong enough and sure enough to hold any burden. That unfailing Nail is Christ. In contrast to the bad shepherds who took advantage of and increased the burden of the people, the Lord would fix an immovable Nail that would hold up under any weight and load. It is good to know that not only did Christ bear the load of our guilt and sin, but that He is ever able to bear the load of our troubles and cares. We can hang it all on Him.
Battle Bow:
That Christ is the Battle Bow testifies to His being the active champion and warrior for His people. This highlights that aspect of His mediatorial kingship in which He subdues and conquers all of His and our enemies. The Psalmist speaks of the same activity in that great royal and messianic Psalm 45: "Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee" (45:5). This kingly behavior is on the surface of the Zechariah text. It is this divinely sent Battle Bow that will execute God’s anger against the bad shepherds and punish the goats. Certainly, the final manifestation of the warrior King will come when He rides in on the that white horse with a sharp sword in His mouth to smite the nations (Revelation 19:12-15). In the meantime, Christ is able and unfailing Defender of His people.
Absolute Ruler:
That Christ is the Absolute Ruler testifies to His certain sovereignty. The translation of the last line is notoriously difficult. The word the Authorized Version translates as "oppressor" is the word I am focusing on when I say that Christ is the absolute Ruler. There is no question that the word designates a ruler, and many occurrences of the word in the Old Testament refer to hard taskmasters or slave drivers who would use whatever means they desired to force their subjects into compliance. This explains the translation "oppressor." However, I would suggest that the word itself simply defines one who has ultimate authority over another. The character of the ruler determines whether his rule is cruel and oppressive. The parallelism with the other three expressions demands that this title refer to the same person. Therefore, the Ruler with absolute authority over His subjects is Christ. His rule is not oppressive, but it is absolute nonetheless. This is a most fitting designation of Christ in the immediate context. The people knew well the oppression of the bad shepherds (rulers). What a relief it would be to know the kind despotism of the Messiah King. Submitting to the absolute authority of Christ is always a relief; moreover, it is the wise thing to do. He will rule either by grace or by the rod of iron. The advice of Psalm 2 is appropriate in view of this absolute rule of Christ. "Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are they that put their trust in him" (Psalm 2:12). If He is the Absolute Ruler, it is best to be a citizen rather than an enemy of His kingdom. That was true then; it is true now.
by Michael Barrett
