I Will Refine Them

Zechariah 13 brings us into the heart of God’s redeeming work—a work not only of cleansing but of refining. It is a chapter filled with both promise and warning, as the Lord declares His power to cleanse His people from sin, remove idolatry from their midst, and preserve for Himself a faithful remnant. The main message is clear: God promises to cleanse and refine those who trust in Him.

The Fountain of Redemption

The chapter begins with a promise of cleansing: “On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness” (Zechariah 13:1). This is the new covenant in action, accomplished not by human effort but by God Himself.

Ezekiel foretold this when he wrote, “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean” (Ezekiel 36:25). This fountain is Christ Himself, who is not said to have merely received salvation, but to be salvation. In Him flows the living water that satisfies the thirsty soul and cleanses the guilty heart (John 7:37–39). Redemption is available to all who will come to Him, not because of who we are, but because of who He is.

The Purifying Work of God

But cleansing is only the beginning. God also promises to purify His people, to strip away idols and expose false prophets who deceive. Where idolatry thrives, false prophecy follows, leading hearts astray. The Lord warns that such deception leads only to suffering and judgment (Jeremiah 23:13–14).

Jesus echoed this when He cautioned that false christs and false prophets would arise to mislead, “if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24). In His refining work, God removes what does not honor Him, so that His people may shine with holiness. Refining is never comfortable—it burns away dross and impurity—but it is necessary, because it prepares us for eternity.

The Shepherd and the Remnant

Zechariah also points us to the Shepherd who would be struck, causing the sheep to scatter (Zechariah 13:7). Jesus Himself quoted this verse on the night of His betrayal: “You will all fall away because of Me this night” (Matthew 26:31). The prophecy finds its fulfillment in Christ, the Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep.

In His absence, the false sheep scatter, but the true sheep remain His, held fast not by their strength but by His faithfulness. God always keeps a remnant for His glory, a people who cling to Him in the midst of trial. As R.C. Sproul noted, the very name Zechariah means “The Lord remembers.” Even when His people forget, He remembers His covenant, and He preserves His flock.

Ultimately, Israel will be delivered not by works or law-keeping, but by confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and Messiah. And we, though not Israel, must learn from her story—that salvation is not by effort but by grace, and that the flock of God includes people from every nation under heaven.

Living as Refined Disciples

So how should we live as those redeemed and refined by God?

• Put off impurities. Walk in the Spirit, renouncing idolatry, selfishness, and pride. Live as children of the light.

• Put on godliness. Grow daily as disciples of Christ, letting Him lead step by step.

• Set your eyes on eternity. Carry your cross not as an escape from this world, but as a joyful preparation for the unending celebration of God’s presence.

A Refined People for God’s Glory

Zechariah 13 reminds us that God’s work in us is both merciful and relentless. He not only washes us clean but also purifies us in the fire, shaping us for eternity. To be refined is not easy, but it is evidence of His love—a love that will not settle for half-measures, but aims for holiness, beauty, and glory.

The fountain of cleansing has been opened in Christ, and the refining fire is at work in all who belong to Him. The question is not whether He will finish His work—He surely will. The question is whether we will trust Him in the refining, surrendering to His hand, and rejoicing that He remembers, He redeems, and He refines.