Zechariah 1:12-21

We think peace and quiet is good and could wish for some in our own day.  But in v12 we hear the Angel of the LORD (the Son) speak to the LORD of hosts (the Father): how long?  This is the question often asked by the righteous.  Here the question is how long will You not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which You were angry these seventy years?  This is a proper question because it goes to God’s faithfulness in keeping His word to Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3).  The answer from the LORD came to Zechariah through the angel and the words are good and comforting (v13).  What did God say?

·        1:14-15: First God reaffirms His zeal for Jerusalem and Zion, the city He had chosen for both the temple and the seat of government for Israel.  Remember that God’s covenant with David was that David’s throne would be occupied by the Messianic King, God’s only Son (2 Sam. 7:16; Psa. 2:6).  The nations He used to judge Judah and Jerusalem exceeded His anger; they went beyond God’s righteous plan and helped with evil intent.

·        1:16: Then God promises His mercy upon Jerusalem, sufficient mercy so that His house (i.e. the temple) will be finished.  The surveyors line indicates that the city will be rebuilt (remember that was promised in Daniel 9:25).

·        1:17: Further the LORD promises prosperous times for Judah and Jerusalem.  He will keep His word concerning the choice of Jerusalem to be His city (cf. Zech. 2:12; Psa. 78:67-68).

These words, clearly, are good and comforting to those building the temple.  These promises were fulfilled in the post-exile time until the times of Christ.  But likely their richest fulfillment goes beyond that until the times of the Gentiles are complete in the time of Jesus’ return.

In the second vision Zechariah sees four horns.  Horns are symbolic of military power belonging to governments.  Thus these horns, we are told, are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.  Since they scatter God’s people these are not the four empires of Dan. 2 and 7 (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome).  Rather they are Assyria, Babylon, Rome and the Antichrist.  These four actually have, or will, dispersed God’s earthly people.

Zechariah also sees four craftsmen who will terrify the horns of the nations that scattered God’s people.  In Zechariah’s time there had been a return of many of Israel to the land.  But for the most part Jews were scattered across the world.  Today there is a major regathering going on in Israel, but Rev. 12:13-17 indicates there will be one more dispersion before all Israel is saved and Jesus returns to occupy the throne of David in Zion.

These words comforted those building the temple in Zechariah’s day and should comfort us as well.