Zechariah’s First Vision Series

This is the third message in our study of the book of Zechariah. In the previous messages we learned two truths that provide foundation for our understanding of the visions we encounter in the text today.

1st the THEME of the book is found in the meaning in Zechariah’s name. Zechariah means “Yahweh [God’s covenant name] Remembers.” God Remembers! That revelation is particularly important for God’s people when they are going through difficult times. The nation of Israel has been captives in Babylon for 70 years. Seventy years represents a lifetime (Ps. 90:10). Most of people Zechariah is speaking to were born in Babylon. Their families were some of the most devoted Jews. Only the devout Jews were willing to leave the security of Babylon and return to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. The 70 years of captivity had left Israel humbled and discouraged—maybe even wondering if God had forgotten them and forgotten his covenant with them. This was accentuated when these Jews in Jerusalem encountered such fierce opposition from the local Samaritans. Zechariah’s message is an encouragement that God Remembers them and will bring restoration.

2nd the INVITATION God extends to his people is back by a promise. Zechariah 1:3: “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.”i Why does God refer to himself as “the Lord of hosts”ii three times in that verse? The NIV translates the phrase as, “the LORD Almighty.” The title communicates God’s capacity to bring his will to pass. The heavenly army that God leads is capable of overcoming any obstacle or opposition. He is omnipotent and able to do what he says he will do. He is more than able to fulfill his promises to them.

It is time for the restoration of Jerusalem. The harsh resistance from the Samaritans has worn down the small remnant who came to rebuild the temple. It left them so discouraged that nothing got done for 16 years. But now in 520 BC God has raised up the prophet Zechariah to encourage them to finish the work. The key to that happening is their whole-hearted return to the Lord. When they do that, God promises to be with them. His presence will give them strength and prosper their efforts.iii

With all that in mind we now come to Zechariah 1:7: “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.” That equates to about February 15, 519 BC on our calendars.iv

More importantly, this word from God comes 3 months after the first word that came to Zechariah (1:1) which is recorded in the first six verses and 2 months after Haggai’s last messages, recorded in Haggai 2:10, 20. So from this time forward Haggai has finished his ministry, and Zachariah is the prophet of the day.

During the 3 months since Zechariah’s call for repentance (1:1-6), the Jews in Jerusalem apparently responded in a positive way.v We will see indications of that in the visions that are given as this second word from God.

Zechariah 1:7 introduces 8 visions that are recorded in Zechariah 1:8 to the end of chapter 6. These visions constitute the second word Zechariah received from the Lord. Apparently, they came all in one night.

Let’s read the first vision in verses 8-17:

“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.’”