Kind And Comforting Words Series

Have you ever been treated unjustly and wondered why God seemed to ignore the oppression? When Babylon conquered Israel in 586 BC, they were extremely cruel to the captive Jews. Those Jews were experiencing God’s correction in their lives. But the Babylonians went way beyond that. They exacted an oppression on the Jews that was uncalled for and cruel.

The nation of Israel knew about the justice of God. They were God’s people. They were asking God to defend them against their oppressors. Yet God did not seem to take up for them. How do we respond when people treat us badly and seem to get away with it? That is the issue our text deals with today.

We are currently studying the book of Zechariah. Last week we began discussing the first of eight visions that Zechariah received. Those eight visions are recorded in Zechariah 1:7 thru the end of chapter 6.

The first vision includes a scene in which a reconnaissance corps of soldiers has been dispatched to go throughout the earth gathering information on the current conditions, then report back their findings to the commander. The first thing Zechariah saw in this vision was “a man mounted on a red horse” (Zech. 1:1).i In our study last week, we learned that this “man mounted on a red horse” represents the preincarnate Christ—called “the angel of the Lord” in verse 11. We got through verse 11 last week, then ran out of time. So today we will finish Zechariah’s first vision, recorded in Zechariah 1:7-17.

I. The SCENE is recorded in Zechariah 1:7-11.

The most difficult issue in interpreting Zechariah’s first vision is sorting out the characters in the vision. Zechariah is faithfully reporting what he saw as he saw it. The scene opens with the “man mounted on a red horse” in verse 8. But Zechariah does not get the revelation that he is “the angel of the Lord” (preincarnate Christ) until verse 11. So that complicates the narrative. The horsemen in the vision are angels. Additionally, another angel stands beside Zechariah to help him understand his visions. Scholars refer to that angel as the “interpreting angel.” He will help Zechariah as the eight visions unfold. This “interpreting angel” is separate from “the angel of the Lord.” However, this can be somewhat difficult to sort that out when we read the text.

Therefore, as we read Zechariah 1:7-11, I will insert the word “Jesus” when the text is referring to the “angel of the Lord” (preincarnate Christ) and insert “interpreting angel” when the text mentions him. I am using the NIV this morning. Follow as we read Zechariah 1:7-11.

“On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo. 8 During the night I had a vision, and there before me was a man [Jesus] mounted on a red horse. He [Jesus] was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him [Jesus] were red, brown and white horses. 9 I asked, ‘What are these, my lord [interpreting angel]?’ The angel who was talking with me [interpreting angel] answered, ‘I [interpreting angel] will show you what they are.’ 10 Then the man [Jesus] standing among the myrtle trees explained, ‘They are the ones the Lord has sent to go throughout the earth.’ 11 And they reported to the angel of the Lord who [Jesus] was standing among the myrtle trees, ‘We have gone throughout the earth and found the whole world at rest and in peace.’”

That is scene we examined last week.

The report from this angelic patrol in verse 11 is: “We have gone throughout the earth and found the whole world at rest and in peace.” If we did not know the rest of the chapter, we might think the whole world being “at rest and in peace” was a good thing. But it was a discouraging reality for the Jews at that time. They were suffering hardship while their pagan oppressors were enjoying peace and rest.

The thing that made this particularly grievous for them was the fact that God had promised to judge the oppressor nations for what they had done to his people “in a little while” (Hag. 2:6). Two months earlier (Hag. 2:10, 20 compared to Zech. 1:7) God had promised to shake and overthrow the oppressor gentile nations. In conjunction with that he promised to bless Israel (Hag. 2:6-9, 23). Yet that had not happened! The evil nations were “at rest and in peace.” That left these Jews wondering why God hasn’t fulfilled his promise. Haggai 2 is essential background for understanding today’s text.

Follow with me as we read from Haggai 2:6:-23..