Zechariah 1: 1 – 20
Ring around the Myrtle Bush
1 In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, 2 “The LORD has been very angry with your fathers. 3 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the LORD of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the LORD of hosts. 4 “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets preached, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Turn now from your evil ways and your evil deeds.”’ But they did not hear nor heed Me,” says the LORD. 5 “ Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6 Yet surely My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? “So they returned and said: ‘ Just as the LORD of hosts determined to do to us, according to our ways and according to our deeds, so He has dealt with us.’” 7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet: 8 I saw by night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees in the hollow; and behind him were horses: red, sorrel, and white. 9 Then I said, “My lord, what are these?” So the angel who talked with me said to me, “I will show you what they are.” 10 And the man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, “These are the ones whom the LORD has sent to walk to and fro throughout the earth.” 11 So they answered the Angel of the LORD, who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, “We have walked to and fro throughout the earth, and behold, all the earth is resting quietly.” 12 Then the Angel of the LORD answered and said, “O LORD of hosts, how long will You not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which You were angry these seventy years?” 13 And the LORD answered the angel who talked to me, with good and comforting words. 14 So the angel who spoke with me said to me, “Proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “ I am zealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with great zeal. 15 I am exceedingly angry with the nations at ease; For I was a little angry, and they helped—but with evil intent.” 16 ‘Therefore thus says the LORD: “ I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy; My house shall be built in it,” says the LORD of hosts, “ And a surveyor’s line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.”’ 17 “Again proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “ My cities shall again spread out through prosperity; The LORD will again comfort Zion, and will again choose Jerusalem.” 18 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were four horns. 19 And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these?” So he answered me, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.” 20 Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen. 21 And I said, “What are these coming to do?” So he said, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, so that no one could lift up his head; but the craftsmen are coming to terrify them, to cast out the horns of the nations that lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.”
Welcome. Today we begin our study of the prophet Zechariah. He is referred to as a minor prophet. This is not because he didn’t have important things to say, but somebody listed the prophets as minor and major because of the length of their writings. There are 4 Major Prophets – Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. They are responsible for 5 books. Now which one wrote two? Yes – Jeremiah – he also wrote the book of Lamentations. It is interesting that Zechariah is considered the principal book of the 12 listed minor prophets. How about that for information.
The book of Zechariah has been called by some as the ‘Little Revelation’ or ‘The book of Revelation of the Old Testament’ because of its references to so many factors in the New Testament book of Revelation.
His name means ‘The Lord Yahweh Remembers’ We read in verse 1, “1 In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet.” Out of the two additional names mentioned “Iddo’ stands out. He was one of the leaders of the priests that returned from Babylon to Judah. We find this information out from the book of Ezra chapter 5, 1 Now these are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, 5 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah.
Those who returned to the land of Israel had very difficult conditions to overcome. They were faithful to immediately erect an altar to the Lord. In joy and earnest they set about to build a new Temple but was thwarted in their efforts by the foreigners who also lived in Jerusalem. So, for 15 years they did not pursue rebuilding the Lord’s House. They just set about on building their own comforts and living conditions.
Our Holy God had not only remembered His people who were captives in Babylon but He set His prophets Zechariah and Haggai to challenge the Jews to repent of their sins and be cleansed and again experience the Lord’s Blessings. Our Holy Father was concerned for the final completion of His House. This would unite the people and give focus to their worship and pride in their inheritance.
1 In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, 2 “The LORD has been very angry with your fathers. 3 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the LORD of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the LORD of hosts.
Zechariah’s first charge is to call the people to repentance of their past sins, ‘2 “The LORD has been very angry with your fathers. 3 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the LORD of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the LORD of hosts.’ This is the first requirement in getting right with God. Look at what John the Baptist said in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 3, “1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
Zechariah reminds the people that the Lord’s displeasure was the result of their ancestors’ sins and ultimately resulted in their exile. In addition they also were incurring God’s displeasure because of their spiritual apathy. In spite of their new given ‘Second Chance’ or ‘New Beginning’ they were neglecting His work and failing to heed His voice. Their despair and discouragement over pressure of their enemies caused them to lose their first priority – love the Lord God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength. Neglecting our spiritual priorities can be just as devastating today for us to fulfill God’s purposes in our lives.
If they respond correctly then He will return to them and act on their behalf. You move in the slightest way out of your comfort zone on behalf of the Lord and He immediately moves towards you. I love these verses in Daniel when he began to pray to the Lord to fulfill His promise to allow the Israelites to return to their land in chapter 9, 1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— 2 in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the LORD through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.3 Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. 4 And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, 5 we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. 6 Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land. 7 O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face, as it is this day—to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those near and those far off in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of the unfaithfulness which they have committed against You. 8 “O Lord, to us belongs shame of face, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him. 10 We have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by Hisservants the prophets. 11 Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him. 12 And He has confirmed His words, which He spoke against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us a great disaster; for under the whole heaven such has never been done as what has been done to Jerusalem. 13 “As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth. 14 Therefore the LORD has kept the disaster in mind, and brought it upon us; for the LORD our God is righteous in all the works which He does, though we have not obeyed His voice. 15 And now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and made Yourself a name, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have done wickedly! 16 “O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all those around us. 17 Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. 19 O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people arecalled by Your name.” 20 Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God, 21 yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. 23 At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision: 24 “ Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy. Wouldn’t you love to hear an angel tell you that you are greatly beloved and that as soon as you started praying our Holy Father gave the command to answer our prayers?
4 “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets preached, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Turn now from your evil ways and your evil deeds.”’ But they did not hear nor heed Me,” says the LORD.
I am sure that you have heard the phrase ‘Like father, like son’ I have always tried to get my kids to have proper table manners, but no matter how hard I try they still eat like me.’ In other words the children turn out like their parents. Israel was warned not to be like their fathers because if they did they would suffer the same fate or consequence. What has happened to Israel is for our learning and admonishment. We are all responsible before God for our actions We are not forced by heredity or our environment to do wrong. He will not consider these conditions as a valid excuse to alleviate His discipline. We are given a conscious and more importantly His Holy Spirit to help us turn from sin and turn to Him for a proper life.
5 “ Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6 Yet surely My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? “So they returned and said: ‘ Just as the LORD of hosts determined to do to us, according to our ways and according to our deeds, so He has dealt with us.’”
How long do you have to live here on earth? One thing that we do not want to think about is this question. We go about our daily lives until this ugly thing breaks into our lives. We change our schedules to deal with this horrible situation. As soon as possible we try to move forward not thinking about its consequences. In Psalm 103 we read, 15 As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. 16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.” Our lives are only temporary at best.
On the other hand God’s Word and His Purposes are permanent. For the Israelites God wanted them to think - to think about their fathers. They were judged severely because of their disobedience. He now wants this current generation to stop and think about themselves. They must consider their own ways. What will it be? - The world’s ways or God’s?
The bible was written for our admonition and learning. Because our Holy Ruler’s Word endures, we must daily read, meditate, and apply His word to our lives. If we learn His word we will not repeat the same serious sins that we see others have done as Psalm 119 encourages us, ‘ 9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. 10 With my whole heart I have sought You; oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”
Zechariah is now going to see 8 visions. You might, like other avid learners pick up ten visions, so first see if you catch that possibility before I point it out.
7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet: 8 I saw by night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees in the hollow; and behind him were horses: red, sorrel, and white. 9 Then I said, “My lord, what are these?” So the angel who talked with me said to me, “I will show you what they are.” 10 And the man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, “These are the ones whom the LORD has sent to walk to and fro throughout the earth.” 11 So they answered the Angel of the LORD, who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, “We have walked to and fro throughout the earth, and behold, all the earth is resting quietly.” 12 Then the Angel of the LORD answered and said, “O LORD of hosts, how long will You not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which You were angry these seventy years?” 13 And the LORD answered the angel who talked to me, with good and comforting words. 14 So the angel who spoke with me said to me, “Proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “ I am zealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with great zeal. 15 I am exceedingly angry with the nations at ease; For I was a little angry, and they helped—but with evil intent.” 16 ‘Therefore thus says the LORD: “ I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy; My house shall be built in it,” says the LORD of hosts, “ And a surveyor’s line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.”’ 17 “Again proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “ My cities shall again spread out through prosperity; The LORD will again comfort Zion, and will again choose Jerusalem.”
The month ‘Shebat’ is the Babylonian name for the eleventh month of the year. Don’t forget that the Israelites have been living in captivity for 70 years. They had become acclimated to their captors customs. Having called His people to return to Him, He wants to show His people the current conditions of the world.
The first thing we notice of the first vision is the picture of the man on the red horse, ‘8 I saw by night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees in the hollow;’ There is a question as to whom this angel is. Some believe that this angel is our Lord Jesus Christ. I have had a hard time myself in deciding. I believe that this man is a high ranking angel not the Lord. In verse 12 he says to the Lord,.” ‘12 Then the Angel of the LORD answered and said, “O LORD of hosts,’
Myrtle trees are evergreen flowering shrubs that can grow as large as trees. The Israelites use these to build the little shelters during the Feast of Tabernacles. Like the returning captives from Babylon we are looking for the Lord giving us a new place to dwell.
We see another problem and that is trying to identify the additional horses behind him. The returning captives were asking God why wasn’t He punishing the wicked? After all they were judged quite severely. How come the rest of the world were getting away with evil.
The horsemen were angelic scouts of Adoni Yahweh who have gathered outside Jerusalem to report to the lead angel what they had found out as they scouted out the nations. These scouts had found out a few things. For one the nations of the world were not concerned about the Jews who had returned to the land of Israel. This should give the people some comfort in that their enemies were not scheming to come and destroy them. The second point that they report on is that these nations are living carelessly. We will discuss this point shortly.
Some teachers have tried to compare these horses to the ones we read about in the book of Revelation chapter 6, 1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. 3 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.” 4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword. 5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.” 7 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” 8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.”
If you compare these two passages of Scripture, you can see that the colors of the horses are different, so they cannot be the same. In addition we are not told the amount of horses. Is it two red, one sorrel and one white or are there a number of these horses? By the way sorrel is reddish brown. So, what can we learn from this passage. For one thing we see that they were sent by the Lord, ‘These are the ones whom the LORD has sent.’ They were instructed to ‘walk to and fro throughout the earth.’ And they, as mentioned, reported that, ‘and behold, all the earth is resting quietly.’
This may at first seem good. The world is at peace. However, this is not the correct meaning. The Holy Yahweh used these nations as His instrument in dealing with His people, the Israelites. However, they went overboard in their cruelty. And now as fat cats they are just lying around carelessly. In verse 12 the people see His protection as the angel cries out for them, ‘O LORD of hosts, how long will You not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which You were angry these seventy years?”
Have we all not cried out the same question, ‘Lord, how long?’ Our Lord comforts His people with these words, ‘13 And the LORD answered the angel who talked to me, with good and comforting words. 14 So the angel who spoke with me said to me, “Proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “ I am zealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with great zeal. 15 I am exceedingly angry with the nations at ease; For I was a little angry, and they helped—but with evil intent.” 16 ‘Therefore thus says the LORD: “ I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy; My house shall be built in it,” says the LORD of hosts, “ And a surveyor’s line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.”’ 17 “Again proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “ My cities shall again spread out through prosperity; The LORD will again comfort Zion, and will again choose Jerusalem.”
He has great concern for them and for us. He will punish these nations – pay day some day. 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 says, 1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”
God has not forgotten His people although it may seem like He has. Although they are struggling, depressed, and feeling abandoned He has watched over them with His great jealousy. When it says He Is angry, it means to a great extent.
We need His Mercy in our lives at all time. We read in verse 16 that the Lord is returning His Mercy, ‘Therefore thus says the LORD: “ I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy.’ Then He promises His people that His House will be restored and He will reside with His people again, ‘My house shall be built in it,” says the LORD of hosts.’
‘And a surveyor’s line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem’ indicates that the reconstruction of the city will take place. This stretching of the line was a promise that the work would begin and that the work would be completed. Lastly, our Holy Father wants to reassure His people that He again has great concern for Jerusalem, ‘The LORD will again comfort Zion, and will again choose Jerusalem.’
18 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were four horns. 19 And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these?” So he answered me, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.”
We now see vision 2 or 2a as to how you look at it. Zechariah sees four horns. Great beasts used their horns for power. So, they became symbolic of strong nations. There were four world powers that oppressed the Israelites – Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, and Media-Persia. The Lord is showing His people that He will do what He has promised. He will deal with these nations for their excessive cruelty against the Israelites.
20 Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen. 21 And I said, “What are these coming to do?” So he said, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, so that no one could lift up his head; but the craftsmen are coming to terrify them, to cast out the horns of the nations that lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.”
Some biblical scholars look at this vision as a third vision. The majority of interpreters look at this as a continuation of the ‘four horns’ vision. I was watching a Bugs Bunny cartoon where he is a matador. This bull that wants to get him charges and winds up with his horns stuck in wood. Bugs then take a hammer and bang the sharp horns into the wood. In a way this is what our Lord Is saying. He says that He will use other nations like craftsmen to fray the horns or power of these nations and make them useless.
