On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, Zechariah the prophet, saw a man riding a red
horse, and he was standing among the myrtle trees which were in the ravine, with red, sorrel and
white horses behind him."
Who is this man on the red horse? He is no mere man or angel. He is the man Joshua saw "standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand." When Joshua asked him, "Are you for us or for our adversaries? He said, ’No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the Lord" (Joshua 5:13-14). He is the One whose voice Moses heard in the burning bush (Exodus
3:4). He is the preincarnated Christ. He appears in the vision in the form of a man because of his office as an intercessor and advocate.
Mounted on a red horse signifies his majesty and glory as a king or general of an army and his readiness, willingness, and ability to defend his people and deliver them from the hands of their enemies. Standing in the myrtle tree grove tells us he is among his people in their present situation. He wants to defend them and deliver them from their present situation if they will call on him.
In this man we see the willingness of Christ to come to earth to deliver all mankind from the hand of their enemy and the enemy of the Lord. He willingly left the throne of God, set aside his royal robes, took the form of a man and assumed the human nature. He willingly suffered, bled and died on a Roman cross. He paid the penalty demanded for the redemption of humanity, was raised from the dead, ascended into heaven, took his place on God’s throne and is our intercessor and advocate. One day he will return to earth and establish his kingdom on earth and rule over all nations. When he returns to earth he will be mounted on a white horse with a sword in his hand.
He will defeat the enemies of God and his people. He will bring all evil, wickedness, violence, and
suffering to an end.
There are times in this life when the temptations are strong and faith weak. It seems like God is no where to be found, Christ has deserted us and the Holy Spirit has removed His influences from the world. The life and power of the church seems to be fading. It is in these times we need to see what Zechariah saw in the myrtle tree grove. Christ is in the midst of His people and He will not be moved.
Zechariah asked: “My lord what are these?”And the angel who was speaking to Zechariah said, “I will show you what these are. And the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered and said, ‘These are those whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth.’”
Zechariah’s question is answered by the man who was standing among the myrtle trees instead of the angel with Zechariah. The horses "are those whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth." In the Book of Job we are told Satan "walks to and fro in the earth," implying restless activity, seeking ways to harm the people of God (Job 1:7). The Lord sends angels to "walk to and fro" countering the activity of Satan and defending God’s people (Psalm 34:7; 91:11; 103:20, 21). The patrolling angels report: "We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth is peaceful
and quiet."
The enemies of God’s people are prospering and self-confidently secure while the people of God are depressed and downtrodden. The world was free from wars. But Jerusalem and Judah were infested with their enemies who were hindering the restoration of the temple. The appointed time of punishment has been fulfilled. It is time for the Lord to intervene in the affairs of His people.
The man in the myrtle tree grove is not only among the people he is their intercessor. He asks: "O Lord of hosts, how long will You have no compassion for Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which You have been indignant these seventy years?"
Prior to the completion of the appointed time of punishment was not the time to intercede for Israel and the people. The fulfillment of the appointed time of punishment is the proper time to intercede.
Zechariah didn’t record the answer of the prayer. It is possible, he didn’t hear the answer or under
the direction of the Holy Spirit he didn’t record the answer. Before entering the Promised Land Moses told the Israelites, "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever" (Deuteronomy 29:29). This verse sets the limits and purpose of God’s revelation. Some things the Lord chooses to keep to Himself. The answer to the question the angel of the Lord asked may be something that the Lord didn’t want revealed.
“The Lord answered the angel who was speaking with me with gracious words, comforting words.” The Lord answered the angel who was speaking to Zechariah and the angel told Zechariah: "Proclaim, saying, ’Thus says the Lord of hosts, I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and Zion.”
The Lord of hosts jealousy is like a husband’s jealousy for his wife who has been wronged by others so the Lord’s jealously is for Judah and Jerusalem who have been wantonly injured by the Gentiles. Because they have wantonly injured His people the Lord is, "very angry with the nations who are at ease; for while I was only a little angry they furthered the disaster" (v. 15). The Lord’s anger with His people is temporary and for their chastening. His anger with the Gentiles who have injured His people is final and fatal (Jeremiah 30:11).
The Gentile nations were the Lord’s instruments for chastening His people. But they went beyond what was necessary. They sought the utter extinction of Judah and Jerusalem to gratify their own ambitions and revenge (Isaiah 47:6; Ezekiel 25:3, 6). Zechariah is told the Lord will "return to Jerusalem with compassion" and His "house will be built in it." In anger the Lord had withdrawn from Jerusalem (Hosea 5:15). A measuring line will be stretched over Jerusalem (v. 16-17). The Lord made it very clear He will not share the city He loves and the land He has set aside for Himself. He will do what is best for His people. He will pour out His wrath upon those who abuse His people.
The Lord will dwell in His house, the Temple. The cities of Judah will be filled to overflow with
all the blessings of grace and good tidings. The people will be blessed and comforted.
