In this passage we see, God, as King of nations, ruling the world by the ministry of angels.
In this vision Zechariah saw four chariots coming forth from between two bronze mountains, drawn by horses of different colors. Zechariah asked the angel who was with him, “What are these, my lord?” The angel told him they are the four spirits of heaven who are going forth after standing before the Lord of all the earth. In the Bible angels are often called the “chariots of God” (Psalm 68:17). The servant of Elisha saw “the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2nd Kings 6:17).
The decrees of God are the beginning of the events that will result in the establishment of the earthly kigdom that Christ will rule over are immovable as mountains of brass. God performs the things that are appointed for us according to His will and it is useless to oppose His will. It is our duty to submit to the will of God.
God executes His decrees in the world as a king who rides in an open chariot, to show His glory to the world and in chariots of war He rides forth to conquer His the enemies of His glory and government. He moves swiftly and strongly as chariots, but all directed and governed by His infinite wisdom and sovereign will, as chariots by their drivers.
The angels in heaven are the ministers of God and are employed by Him as the armies of heaven for the executing of His decrees among the inhabitants of the earth. They are the chariots which come from between the mountains and are the horses that draw the chariots, great in power and might and are clothed with thunder, are terrible, but cannot be terrified nor made afraid. They are observant of and obedient to the will of God as well-managed horses are to their rider or driver. Not that God needs them or their services, but He is pleased to make use of them, that He may put honor upon them, and encourage our trust in His providence. When He tells them to go forth, they go as His messengers and ministers of His justice and mercy. God’s wrath is executed upon the enemies of His people and His favor is conferred upon His people.
In the first part of this chapter God spoke by a vision, which only Zechariah saw. In the second part He speaks by a sign, or type, which was a prediction of the Messiah as the priest and king of His church.
In the Old Testament there are two eminent types of Christ, both were named Joshua, the same name which is translated by the Septuagint, and in the New Testament, Jesus (Acts 7:45). There is Joshua the chief captain, a type of Christ, the captain of our salvation, and Joshua the chief priest, a type of Christ the high priest of the church.
Something was done to Joshua the high priest by divine appointment that he might be a type of Christ, a priest after the order of Melchizedek, who was both a king and a priest. Joshua was far from being ambitious of a crown but to the great surprise of both Zechariah and Joshua, Zechariah is ordered to crown Joshua as if he had been a king. It was done in such a way it would
not offend Zerubbabel and kept the kings of Persia.
We are told some Jews came from Babylon with an offering. Instead of merely coming to visit Jerusalem and bring an offering they should have come to Jerusalem with the intent to settle in Judah and Jerusalem with their brethren in their own land, and for their remissness and indifference in not doing so they thought to atone it by this visit. Perhaps they came as ambassadors from the body of the Jews that were in Babylon, who lived there in ease and hearing
that the building of the temple went on slowly for want of money, they sent them with an offering of gold and silver for the building program. They brought their gold and silver, to be used in the rebuilding of the temple, but God had other plans for the offering. Their silver and gold was to be used to make a crown that was to be put on Joshua’s head.
It is believed that there were two crowns were made, one of silver and the other of gold; the silver
denoting his priestly dignity, the gold his kingly dignity. The purpose of the silver crown represented the kingdom of the Messiah when Christ was here on earth, for then He was the King of Israel (John 1:49). The crown of gold represented His exalted state, the glory of which far exceeded that of the former as gold does silver.
Those who brought the offering of silver and gold probably asked Zechariah, "What is the meaning of Joshua’s being crowned." Zechariah told them, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Behold, a man whose name is Branch, for He will branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of the Lord. Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the Lord, and He will bear the honor and sit and rule on His throne. Thus, He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of
peace will be between the two offices.’”
God will, in the fullness of time, raise up a great high priest, like Joshua. Zechariah is told to tell
Joshua he is but the figure of one that is to come, a faint shadow of Him. He will branch out from the place of His birth, Bethlehem the city of David. Though His family is like a root in the dry ground He will spring out of it, as in the spring, when the sun returns, the flowers spring out of the roots, in which they lay buried out of sight and out of mind. Joshua is a foreshadow of the One who shall be the masterbuilder, the sole builder of the spiritual temple, the church. He will an instrument of God’s glory and a great blessing to mankind.
In the temple God made Himself known to His people, and there He received the service and homage of His people. In the church, the light of divine revelation shines by the word, and the spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise that are offered. The Branch will not only be the foundation, but the founder, of the temple.
The Branch will bear the glory of God. That which he shall bear, which he shall undertake, shall indeed be the glory of Israel, and they must wait for that, and, in looking forward to it must be content in the wanting of the external glory which they formerly had. He shall bear a glory greater than that of the former.
Christ, as a priest makes intercession for us sitting at his Father’s right hand, as one having authority (Hebrews 8:1). We have a high priest Israel never had, because He is seated on the right hand of the Majesty in heaven which puts a prevailing virtue into His mediation. He that appears for us within the veil is one that sits and rules there. Christ, who is ordained to offer sacrifices for us, is authorized to give law to us. He will not save us unless we are willing that He should govern us. God has prepared Him a throne in heaven and, if we would have any benefit from that,
we must prepare Him a throne in our hearts, and be willing and glad that He rules from that throne. To Him every thought within us must be brought into obedience.
Peace between God and man, by the mediation of Christ, shall be by Infinite Wisdom in the covenant of redemption. God’s thoughts towards us were thoughts of peace and in obtaining that peace He exalted His Son Christ Jesus to be both a prince and a Savior. He gave him a throne, but with the provision that He will be a priest upon His throne and by executing the two offices of a priest and king He will bring about man’s reconciliation to God.
By this the peace and welfare of the church, and all believers is wrought not through two separate
persons but by the virtue of two separate offices meeting in one. Christ purchasing the peace by His priesthood and maintaining and defending it by His kingdom and his prophetic office is serviceable to both.
Zechariah is told, “Those who are afar off will come and build the temple of the Lord. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. And it will take place if you completely obey the Lord of hosts, your God.”
The Branch will build the temple and the Gentiles will help build it. From among them God will raise up ministers that shall be workers together with Christ in the building of the temple and all the Gentile converts will be stones added to the building, so that it will grow to be a holy temple (Ephesians 1:20-22).
The accomplishment of this will be a strong confirmation of the truth of God’s word. The promise
that those that were afar off will come and assist in the building of the temple will be a sign all the
promises God has made will be fulfilled in due time. This surprising assistance that will come from afar off will be evidence that Zechariah, who told them of it before it occurred, was sent of God, and that therefore his word concerning the man the Branch will be fulfilled.
These promises were strong obligations to obedience. The workers restoring the temple must understand though their God is coming towards them in a way of mercy, they cannot expect Him to proceed in it unless they conform to His laws. That which God requires of us, to qualify us for His favor, is obedience to His revealed will.
