“They will be as MIGHTY MEN, treading down the enemy in the mire of the streets in battle; and they will fight, for the LORD will be with them; and the riders on horses will be put to shame. I will STRENGTHEN the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them back, because I have had compassion on them; and they will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them. Ephraim will be like a MIGHTY MAN, and their heart will be glad as if from wine; indeed, their children will see it and be glad, their heart will rejoice in the LORD…. And I will STRENGTHEN them in the LORD, and in His name they will walk, declares the LORD” (Zech 10:5–7, 12).
In this brief chapter, which looks ahead to the future establishment of the Messianic kingdom, we find an essential lesson on leadership. Good leaders strengthen God’s people to live lives empowered by God rather than by human ability alone. The Hebrew root gavar appears four times in this chapter, twice as an adjective (“mighty men,” vv. 5, 7) and twice as a verb (“to make strong,” vv. 6, 12).
The reason wandering sheep become mighty warriors is simple: the LORD Himself will be with them on the day of battle.
Under bad leadership, Israel fell prey to false teaching (Zech 10:1–2) and, as a result, was scattered and oppressed (Zech 10:2). God responds by removing these corrupt shepherds and by strengthening His people, transforming helpless sheep fleeing in fear into majestic horses charging into battle (Zech 10:3). The reason wandering sheep become mighty warriors is simple: the LORD Himself will be with them on the day of battle (vv. 5–7).
If you will permit me, let us now shift the metaphor from shepherds to sermons. Bad sermons leave listeners defeated and discouraged because they appeal to human strength: “Try harder. Do better.” Good sermons, by contrast, leave God’s people strengthened and encouraged, not by offering false hope, but by reminding them that they “can do all things through Him who strengthens” them through the power of the new covenant and the indwelling Spirit (Phil 4:13).
