The Prophet Zechariah is told to declare that there is a future day coming when God’s chosen people of Israel will mourn deeply. They will mourn over "Me whom they have pierced" – it’s clear that God is saying they will be mourning because they will realize that they pierced the very Son of God.
Zechariah continues with this interesting description of how they will mourn:
“All Israel will mourn, each clan by itself, and with the husbands separate from their wives. The clan of David will mourn alone, as will the clan of Nathan, the clan of Levi, and the clan of Shimei. Each of the surviving clans from Judah will mourn separately, and with the husbands separate from their wives.” (Zechariah 12:12-14)
Husbands mourn separate from wives – the prophet is led to say this phrase twice, so it must be of importance. Why would the point be made that they will mourn separated? Perhaps, it is to show that it is a very personal, individual mourning. Our relationship with God is 1-on-1, not in groups. Even the close marriage of a husband and wife cannot come between our marriage with Christ.
God is referring to a sorrow so deep that one must separate themselves and grieve deeply. Have you ever been so distraught, so deep in grieving, that you stole off alone – not wanting even those closest to you near during your deep mourning? Perhaps you are like this when you realize your sin before the cross – it certainly was that way for me, and is still at times when I realize the depths of sin that I’ve plumbed.
The Lord doesn’t leave His children in this state of deep grief, however. No! Just a few verses later, God gives this beautiful promise:
I will bring that group through the fire
and make them pure.
I will refine them like silver
and purify them like gold.
They will call on my name,
and I will answer them.
I will say, ‘These are my people,’
and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’” (Zechariah 13:9)
In all things, the Lord is faithful and good!
To all who mourn in Israel,
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own glory. (Isaiah 61:3)
#LoveMatters