prisoner of hope

“Turn you to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope:

even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee.”

(Zechariah 9:12)

We are all prisoners, or slaves, to something whether we care to admit it or not. Romans 6:18 says, “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” The Jews had a problem with this truth. They told Jesus in John 8:33, “They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” They didn’t think they had been in bondage to anyone although history gave quite another story. They had been in captivity in Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon. Jesus was referring to the much greater bondage to sin.
Zechariah told the people their sins caused them to be in a ‘waterless pit’ (v. 11). They were in a place they could not escape on their own neither survive without outside aid. But, God always gives the remedy! He exhorted them to return, or repent, to the stronghold. The stronghold is JESUS. In Him, they would find refuge from fear of the wrath of God, the curse of the law, and the assaults of spiritual enemies. In returning, God declared that he would also give them double; double comforts for their sorrow, double blessings and double honor. This is the promise to his people and the gospel message we declare to sinners: Run to the stronghold and become a prisoner of hope! Receive and accept Christ which is ‘in you, the hope of glory’ (Colossians 1:27).
For believers, we already have this hope in us – JESUS CHRIST! We have “fled to him for refuge and have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary” (Hebrews 6:18-19). We are waiting for the redemption of our bodies, long for a better place and our eternal home. We wait in anticipation and expectation of the future good God has in store for us.
Dwell in the stronghold and regardless of the situations and circumstances we can hope in the promises of God that He will deliver and restore double to his beloved sons and daughters. If you must be a prisoner to something, be a prisoner of hope!