Zechariah 9:1-8--Judgment on Israel's Enemies

Zechariah 9:1-8
English Standard Version

Judgment on Israel's Enemies
9 The oracle of the word of the LORD is against the land of Hadrach
    and Damascus is its resting place.
For the LORD has an eye on mankind
    and on all the tribes of Israel,
2 and on Hamath also, which borders on it,
    Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise.
3 Tyre has built herself a rampart
    and heaped up silver like dust,
    and fine gold like the mud of the streets.
4 But behold, the Lord will strip her of her possessions
    and strike down her power on the sea,
    and she shall be devoured by fire.

5 Ashkelon shall see it, and be afraid;
    Gaza too, and shall writhe in anguish;
    Ekron also, because its hopes are confounded.
The king shall perish from Gaza;
    Ashkelon shall be uninhabited;
6 a mixed people shall dwell in Ashdod,
    and I will cut off the pride of Philistia.
7 I will take away its blood from its mouth,
    and its abominations from between its teeth;
it too shall be a remnant for our God;
    it shall be like a clan in Judah,
    and Ekron shall be like the Jebusites.
8 Then I will encamp at my house as a guard,
    so that none shall march to and fro;
no oppressor shall again march over them,
    for now I see with my own eyes.

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The LORD goes from north to south naming Israel's remaining enemies that He is going to deal with--the people of the lands of Hadrach, Damascus, Tyre and Sido, and the Philistine city-states of Ashkelon, Gaza, and Ekron.  Why would the LORD do this?  Because He is going to defend them as He just promised and bring them peace on every side, but also because He wants justice to be done for how these nations have sinned against Him and against His people.  He will make available for His people all the Land He has promised to them (though they will not take it)--everything from Damascus in the North the region of Goshen (the Nile River Dellta) in the South was to belong to them. 

The LOR will cause the abominations these people commit to be removed from His sight because they will die and enter eternal judgment for them.  No more would the LORD hear the cries of their innocent victims go unanswered (especially the cries of His people in Israel).  The LORD will guard and defend His people so that no oppressor will ever again march over them.  Did that happen completely?  No.  We know they were controlled by Greece and Rome and Rome invaded and destroyed the Temple and dispersed the people.  Also, Israel does not stretch from Damascus to Gaza and down into Goshen today, so there is still some of this to be fulfilled.  I believe that this is partially fulfilled now as the LORD has defeated all the enemies that tried to make war with His people, but a better day is coming when there will be no enemies to take up arms against them.