A Prayer about the Prince of Hope

Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I will restore to you double.

Zechariah 9:12

Holy Lord,

Zephaniah and Zechariah have fierce warnings for your people 

about what will happen if they don’t repent of their rebellion 

and turn back to you.

 But these prophets also overflow with messages of your mercy 

that leave us shaking our heads in wonder 

at your gracious forgiveness. 

This passage begins with the familiar promise 

we hear at Easter:

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your king is coming to you;

Righteous and having salvation is he,

Humble and mounted on a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9).

We recognize this king as Jesus, our great Prince of Peace. 

As Pastor Scotty Smith says,

 Jesus is the “Prince of Hope” 

who brings the “Promise of Hope” 

who paid the “Price of Hope” 

that we might become “Prisoners of Hope.” 

For all who find themselves in waterless pits 

of worry, fear, or hopelessness today—

worried about children, 

fearful about finances, 

desperate for a cure,

hopeless about enslaving sin, 

may this profoundly good news remind us 

that in your mercy, 

we can never escape hope. 

You have redeemed us, 

and you will continue to heal and help us 

until the day of final restoration.

In Jesus’ Princely name. Amen. 

Read Zechariah 9:1-17.