John Calvin Commentary Zechariah 10:5

"And they shall be as mighty men, treading down [their enemies] in the mire of the streets in the battle; and they shall fight, because Jehovah is with them; and the riders on horses shall be confounded." — Zechariah 10:5 (ASV)

He confirms what I have already said — that the Jews would be victorious over all nations. Though the Church is fighting under the cross, she yet triumphs over all the wicked, partly by hope and partly by present success. For God wonderfully sustains her and enables the faithful to possess their souls in patience; and he also protects them by his own power and renders them safe amidst all the roarings and insatiable rage of their enemies. Since God thus strengthens the minds of his people, cherishes in them the hope of salvation, and also defends them against raging assaults, it is no wonder that the Prophet testifies that the Church would be victorious, treading down her enemies in the mire like a giant or a strong man.

He gives the reason: For Jehovah will be with them. He said this so that they might know that in this situation, nothing would be of their own doing, but that they might, on the contrary, learn to depend on God’s aid alone. And he explains this still more clearly at the end of the verse by saying: Ashamed shall be the riders on horses. That is, their strength and valor, their use of arms, and their skill in handling them will be of no avail to them. For the Lord will lay prostrate — notwithstanding their arrogance and pride — all those wicked men who in their cruelty devour the faithful and think that they have strength more than enough to destroy the Church; indeed, the Lord will cause all these things to pass away like mist.

Prayer:

Grant, Almighty God, that since constant struggles await us here, and our infirmities are so great that without Your power supporting us we cannot help but fall every moment — O grant, that we may learn to rely on that help which You have promised, which You have also offered to us, and which You daily offer through the Gospel in Your only-begotten Son; and may we distrust our own strength; indeed, may we be overwhelmed with despair concerning ourselves — not that we should lose hope, but rather that we should look upward and seek the aid of Your Spirit — so that we may not doubt that we shall be a match for our enemies and even be victorious over them, until, having at length finished our warfare, we shall reach that blessed rest which has been obtained for us by the blood of Your only Son. Amen.