John Calvin Commentary Zechariah 12:4

"In that day, saith Jehovah, I will smite every horse with terror, and his rider with madness; and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the peoples with blindness." — Zechariah 12:4 (ASV)

He pursues here the same subject, but in other words—that multiplicity of means is in God’s hand, by which He can drive away and break down the fury of enemies. By the words horse and its rider, the Prophet, stating a part for the whole, means whatever is strong, and intimates that it can be easily overcome by divine power.

He says first, I will smite every horse with stupor. Military strength, we know, is in horses and horsemen; but he says that the horses would be stunned, and the horsemen seized, as it were, with madness, so that they would destroy themselves and could do no harm to the Church.

He then confirms what he said before—that though the whole world conspired against the Church, there would yet be sufficient power in God to repel and check all their assaults. He mentions stupor, madness, and blindness, so that the faithful might know that God can by hidden means either destroy or put to flight all their enemies.

Although God does not fight with drawn swords or use the common mode of warfare, the Prophet says that He is prepared with other means to lay prostrate their enemies. Even the most powerful in the world cannot go so far as to confound their enemies by blindness and madness. But the Prophet here shows that, though no way appears to us by which God may deliver us, we are still to maintain firm hope. For He can by His breath destroy all enemies, as He can render them blind and take from them understanding, wisdom, and strength.

Then he adds, I will open mine eyes on the house of Judah. A reason is here given why all enemies would be smitten with stupor and madness: because the Lord would have regard for His Church. For ‘to open the eyes’ means the same as to care for something. It had seemed good to God to neglect His people for a time, and this neglect was, as it were, an oblivion. Hence the saints often complain, How long will You sleep! How long will You close Your eyes! Look down, O Lord, and see. So in this passage, Zechariah means that God would still care for His people, so as to subdue their enemies.

From this we may learn a useful doctrine—that, in the first place, there is nothing better for us than to be gathered under the shadow of God’s protection, however destitute of any fortress the Church may be; indeed, even if she had innumerable enemies hostile to her and were without any strength to resist them.

Therefore, even though the Church may be severely tried, be in the midst of many dangers, and be exposed even to death, let us learn from this passage that those who through fear or cowardice separate themselves from her are truly miserable. Let us also learn that those who call on God and cast on Him the care of their safety will be blessed, even if the whole world were mad against them, even if the weapons of all nations were prepared for their ruin, and horses and horsemen were assembled to overwhelm them. For the defense of God is a sufficient protection for His Church.

This is one thing.

Then let us learn to exercise our faith when God seems to cast us, as it were, between the teeth of wolves. For though He may not afford any visible aid, yet He knows how to deliver us and possesses hidden means of help, which we may not perceive, because His purpose is to try our faith and our patience.

And lastly, let us learn that when God connives at our miseries, as though He had forgotten us, yet our hope, founded on Him, can never be disappointed. For if we abide among His flock, He will at length open His eyes upon us; He will really show that He cares for our safety.