122. Prisoners of Hope.

As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even today do I declare that I will render double unto thee. - Zechariah 9:11-12.

LET US commence our meditation with the description of our Lord which is given us in verses 9 and 10.

Here we see his kingdom, his character, his power to save, his lowliness, the weapons of his conquest: "speak peace unto the heathen''; and the ultimate extent of his dominion: "to the ends of the earth?"

Because of him, and through him, there is mercy for the oppressed and troubled ones in Zion: "as for thee also" (verse 11).

This is a wonderful text for those who are in the lowest possible state of mind. May the Lord make it a blessing to them!

Our subjects of thought shall be:

I. CONDITION OF THE SORROWING ONES. "Prisoners in the pit wherein is no water

They are described as—

1. Prisoners: bound, freedom gone, unable to do as they would, in the power of another, miserable.

2. Prisoners in a pit: escape impossible, darkness intolerable, fate unavoidable, present discomfort terrible.

3. Prisoners in a pit wherein is no water: comfortless, and likely to perish of thirst. They find no comfort in sin, nor indeed in anything else. They are, however, though less comfortable, all the less likely to be drowned when there is no water. Comfort in sin is deadly: the absence of that comfort is hopeful.

Thus are many oppressed souls helplessly in the power of despair till the Lord comes to rescue them.

II. CAUSE OF THEIR DELIVERANCE. "I have sent forth thy prisoners?"

1. The Lord Omniscient spies them out in their dungeon, and he knows whose prisoners they are.

2. He has the power and the right to set free prisoners. Who can shut up those whom he delivers?

3. He sends them forth from the pit. He grants life, light, and liberty to them. Their feet are free, and they are on free soil.

4. He sends them forth by "the blood." By the expiation made for sin before God. By the peace created in the conscience of the penitent.

5. He sends them forth by what is called "the blood of thy covenant" — the covenant made between Zion and her King.

Let a soul once know the blessedness of "the covenant;" and the sealing power of "the blood;" and it is a prisoner no longer.

III. COURSE COMMENDED TO THE DELIVERED ONES. "Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope."

They are out of the pit of despair, but not "out of the wood" of trouble: they have hope of salvation, but they need salvation itself.

It will be their wisdom—

1. To make hope their characteristic. When they feel like prisoners, let them hope, and so become "prisoners of hope."

2. To make Christ their Stronghold.

3. To turn to him every day, and all the day.

4. To turn to him specially when they feel like prisoners.

When a man is freed from death and despair, he is still to come to Jesus more and more. "To whom coming," etc. (1 Pet. 2:4).

IV. COMFORT GIVEN TO THOSE WHO TURN TO THE STRONGHOLD. "Even today do I declare that I will render double unto thee."

1. God is speedy in his comforts to those who turn to Jesus. "Even today do I declare."

2. God is abundant in his mercy: "I will render double unto thee."

· The double of your trouble (Job 13:10).

· The double of your expectation (Isa. 67:7).

· The double of your attainments: "grace for grace" (John 1:16).

· The double of your largest faith (Eph. 3:20).

3. God is consoling in his promise; for it is—

· Plain: "I declare."

· Present: "Even today do I declare."

· Positive: "I declare that I will."

· Personal: "I will render unto thee."

Let us glorify the Lord for lifting us out of the pit.

Let us glorify the Lord Jesus for being our Stronghold.

Let us glorify the Lord for that double portion which he allots us.