Zech's First Two Visions
Notes
Transcript
Review
Review
Yahweh remembers - that is what Zech’s name means.
Post exile; so more focus on restoration
Zech writes about the Jews and Jerusalem
Jerusalem mentioned 42 x
Lord of Hosts 52x
The Book breaks down into 6 Visions, 4 Messages, and 2 Burdens/prophecies. We are today starting the section of Visions.
It is a book about God showing Himself to be King over all the earth!
Todays passage fits into a vision from the night of 15 Feb 519BC
1.The Vision of the Riders 1.7-17
1.The Vision of the Riders 1.7-17
A. What: Spiritual warfare from God’s perspective.
A. What: Spiritual warfare from God’s perspective.
In both the Old and New Testaments we can see a spiritual battle. Often Christians think of how Satan wars against them and the Church. They think of the Spiritual Armour in Eph. 6.
They think of the demons.
They think of the spiritual battles we only very briefly hear about in books like Daniel and Revelation
In contrast, here we see spiritual warriors who are maintaining the peace so that God’s other work can advance.
Lord, You will establish peace for us, For You have also done all our works in us.
B.Who: The players in this vision:
B.Who: The players in this vision:
Zech - he is there to learn and record.
Zechariah 1:8 (ESV)
“I saw in the night, and behold, ...
The angel who talked with him - interpreter.
We will see this angel again and again throughout this series of visions.
The Lord spoke to this angel and this angel spoke to Zech,
And the Lord answered gracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.
The Angel of the Lord who is among the myrtle trees. I, with Unger and many other conservative scholars, believe this to be the pre incarnate Christ. He is the “Prince of peace!” he can easily be seen as the messenger of God.
Jesus told us the timing of His return was in the Father’s hands, and I believe we see here the timing at this point in history was also in the Father’s hands.
The Angel of the Lord asks the question just so Zech can here the answer that proclaims God’s passion.
1.13 “good and comforting words”
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
The armies of Yahweh who were riding horses with their leader on a red horse. (these v10 & they v11)
In the background is Yahweh who sent these messengers on a task. In Verse 13 God steps into the situation and speaks.
of his Jealousy 14
His zeal
His anger with the ungodly nations. 15
His mercy 16
His comfort 17
His willingness to repeat Himself. The Hebrew and the ESV use the word “again” 4 times in verse 17.
Zechariah 1:17 (ESV)
Cry out again, Thus says the Lord of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.’ ”
C.Why:
C.Why:
God sent angels out to make sure there was peace over the whole world.
It is easier to build in times of peace. Resources can go towards buildings rather than war. When people are concerned about their welfare they are not thinking about expanding with beautiful buildings.
This is a recording of spiritual events written in a way people could imagine in their everyday life. Jesus told parables - everyday life stories with spiritual meanings. I’m not saying these visions did not happen! I’m saying that Zech is seeing things that he can record for people then and now to understand. These things that he saw are spiritual in nature. They do have implications! We are supposed to learn from them.
Dream 1 shows the Lord’s omniscience and grace and comfort towards His people. This would be on display for the whole world to see.
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever;
2.The Vision of The Craftsmen 1.18-21
2.The Vision of The Craftsmen 1.18-21
Vision 2 is about God’s control over all the nations - not just Israel.
It is an extension of verse 15
And I am exceedingly angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was angry but a little, they furthered the disaster.
A.He notices the horns.
A.He notices the horns.
And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four horns!
Zechariah 2. The Second Vision: Four Horns and Four Craftsmen (1:18–21 [Hb 2:1–4])
Though the bull symbolizes power, the bull’s horn epitomizes everything the bull represented, much as horns represent the trophy of the hunt.
Thankfully we are quickly told more information that helps us understand.
And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these?” And he said to me, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.”
Assyria, Babylon, Media, and Persia.
Just like many hunters cut off the horns and mount them - place them on display - So too God is placing these nations on display as examples.
B.Then the Lord showed 4 Craftsmen.
B.Then the Lord showed 4 Craftsmen.
Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen.
Why? Because craftsmen build thing, make things of quality.
Jerusalem needed walls, fortifications and more. If you remember the sledging that the people of Israel had faced when they started rebuilding, the enemy said that “even a fox walking on the wall would make it fall down.” A craftsman would build better than that.
Who? Like a parable we are not told and don’t need to know names.
And I said, “What are these coming to do?” He said, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, so that no one raised his head. And these have come to terrify them, to cast down the horns of the nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter it.”
Some of the best ministries are done when no one cares about who gets credit.
What? Notice that God says the craftsman will terrify and cast down. Not soldiers, God uses everyday skilled people.
Back in verse 16 he had seen a measuring line. This measuring line is still used today by craftsmen who are putting in foundations or building brick walls. The simple string-line keeps things straight. You could say that here, in this vision the simple everyday craftsmen are laying a foundation for what God will do and showing the nations that had done so much damage “what straight looks like.”
Conclusion: God will show Himself to be King over all the earth.
Conclusion: God will show Himself to be King over all the earth.
Today we saw the Lord of hosts receiving a report from His armies at the ready who reported peace. We also saw God’s desire to use that peace to rebuild Jerusalem and comfort His people. Yes that meant that the nations who went to far in punishing Israel would themselves be punished. It also meant that God would skilfully use the situation at hand to show Himself in control and working His plan.
1.Do you have God’s peace?
2.Can we spot where God is ordaining peace?
3.Are you the craftsman that God wants to use to make a difference in our current situation?