Zechariah Sermon Series: Sermon 3
8-18-24 – Pastor Martin Saine
Pastor Martin teaches on the night visions of Zechariah.
These visions are blessings that will be bestowed on Israel as part of God’s plan for them. They are designed to give hope for the future to the people.
Just as God told Jeremiah to condemn the false prophets going into the captivity; He warned them not to follow their pattern of disobedience, delay, and disbelief on their way out of captivity.
Zec 1:7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, (approx 3 months after the call to repentance above- Feb 15th, 519 BC) 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:
Zec 1:8 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.
The vision starts with a man on a horse. Horses symbolize war.
By contrast See Zech 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.
Kings approaching in peace rode on donkeys not horses. Nobody goes to war on donkeys! Not only that, but a king who approached on a donkey left himself vulnerable to the kingdom he was approaching. If he was not received in peace, his chances of getting away on the donkey were much less likely than if he was on a war steed.
The horse this man rides is red, symbolizing judgement, bloodshed, and war. This horse and rider are among the myrtle trees in the hollow or “in the bottom” which is metsoolaw literally “shaded”. Myrtle trees are identified with Israel in Neh 8:14-15 in reference to the Feast of Booths from Lev 23:33-44. Also shown in Isaiah 41:19 and 55:13 in regards to blessings in the Millenium. In addition, the myrtle trees typically grew to maximum 6-8 feet in height.
The rider is identified in vs 12 as “The Angel of the Lord” which is a Christophany, or pre-incarnate appearance of Christ.
Taken altogether, the opening scene of the first night vision shows King Jesus seated on a war horse among his people who are “in the hollow” or at the bottom of a deep dark place in a very low position. Because they are symbolized as the myrtle which doesn’t grow very tall, their King should always be seen above them. That should be a lesson for us. Whenever we see Israel look for the King!
At His back are other horses (implied they have riders also) of Red (war, judgment), White (victory and conquest), and Sorrel (mixed).
Zec 1:9 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.”
This is not The Angel of the Lord he’s speaking to. Note that Zechariah is awake, asking questions, and interacting with the angel. Even though this is a vision, it’s not a sleeping vision as in a dream, it’s a waking vision with active participation among the players.
Zec 1:10 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.”
Zec 1:11 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.”
You can tell from this verse that the other riders answer to the Angel of the Lord, that He is their Commander. They have done recon throughout the earth and are bringing back their reports to the Commander.
Also reminds of Job 1 where God asks Satan where he’s come from and he says
“From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” “
Consider” here would be to evaluate for military purposes.
Satan obviously has been reconnoitering Job because he tells God in Job 1:9-10 “So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side?”
Satan had already probed Job’s defenses for weak spots!
The riders on the horses in Zechariah appear to be doing the same type of “considering”.
The interesting part about the riders’ report (that the earth is resting at ease) seems ominous and provokes an unexpected response from the Angel of the Lord in vs 12.
Zec 1:12 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 (Zawahm- to foam at the mouth, to be enraged) these seventy years?”
Zec 1:13 And the LORD answered the angel who talked to me, with good and comforting words. Apparently Zechariah needed to be comforted because the world was at ease, which provoked The Angel of the Lord!
Zec 1:14 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. (She is, after all, called the wife of Yahweh!)
Zec 1:15 I am exceedingly angry with the nations at ease; For I was a little angry, And they helped—but with evil intent.”
The nations that God used to bring judgment were under very special terms! They were to execute judgment as directed, but not one bit more! In this passage God was angry and burst forth on Israel because of their disobedience, but He was totally enraged at the excessive abuses of the nations for going too far! Their hearts weren’t bent on judgment as the Lord’s was, it was on evil destruction.
See: Jeremiah 25:3-13 – Babylon
See: Genesis 15:13-14 – Egypt
See: Daniel 8:23-25
Revelation 17:17
Matthew 25:32-46 – Final world kingdom “Latter days of their kingdom”
Zec 1:16 ‘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.” ‘
Zec 1:17 “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.” ‘ “
Often is scripture when a line is drawn it signifies judgment. This time it signifies enlargement! The house is to be built in Jerusalem (the Temple) and the surveyor’s line is to be spread out for building and prosperity!
Three major declarations in this passage:
1) God is Zealous for Jerusalem!
2) God is angry with the nations.
3) God will judge these nations. (implied here, see Joel 3:1)
Joe 3:1 “For behold, in those days and at that time, When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem,
Joe 3:2 I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land.
Joe 3:3 They have cast lots for My people, Have given a boy as payment for a harlot, And sold a girl for wine, that they may drink.
Four words of Comfort:
1) The Messiah will come to Jerusalem.
2) The House (Temple) would be built.
3) Jerusalem’s borders would expand.
4) God would once again Comfort and choose Jerusalem
