Zechariah 1:7-17

Zech. 1:7-6:15 records 8 visions to the prophet from the LORD.  As there is a date in 1:7, and not another one until 7:1, it is likely these visions came all at once.  The transition of one to the other also indicates that, like John in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, these came all at once.

There are three perspectives to consider in understanding these visions.

·        Historical: what did this mean to the original hearers?  Zechariah is called to encourage the people in completing the temple; how does each vision do this?

·        Prophetical: does this vision still have a future fulfillment?

·        Practical: is there something to help us now in living for and serving Christ?

The first vision (1:7-17) is of angelic horsemen.  A comparison with Scripture shows that these visions came to Zechariah 3 months after he had called the people to repent (Zech. 1:1), 5 months after the work had re-started (Hag. 1:14-15) and about 3½ years before the temple was completed (Ezra 6:15).  By now you could see that the repentance was genuine, and the workers also knew the job wasn’t going to be complete with just a burst of energy; it was going to take time.  These visions provide some profound encouragement to keep working!

·        1:8: What Zechariah saw in this vision.

o   He saw a man on a red horse who is apparently the Angel of the LORD (cf. vs.10-11).  The Angel of the LORD is a pre-incarnate mode in which God (the Son, who is the Person in the Trinity who visits earth) visited men prior to the Incarnation.  See the call of Gideon (Jud. 6:21-23) and God’s appearance to Abraham (Gen. 18:1-2,13-14,22,33) to bear this out.  The red horse likely speaks of bloodshed or war.

o   The myrtle trees (grove) in the hollow is a small, lowly bush that is very fragrant and full of small blossoms.  In this context it typifies Israel.  Being in a ravine it speaks of Israel’s present degradation, being back in the land but under the authority of Gentiles (the Medes and Persians). in a ravine it speaks of Israel’s present degradation, being back in the land but under the authority of Gentiles (the Medes and Persians).

o   The colors of the other horses ridden by angels likely indicate the variety of uses God makes of His angelic hosts.

·        1:9-11: The explanation of the angel who spoke with Zechariah.  The prophet asks for an explanation which is given to him.  These horses are ridden by angels who go throughout the earth assessing the situation so as to report to the Angel of the LORD.  Their assessment is that all the earth is resting quietly.  It is interesting that at the very time Zechariah is seeing these things it was true, that under the Medes and Persians, and particularly in the reign of Darius who was a competent ruler, that things were in fact quiet.  

Is peace and quiet good?  We will see tomorrow as we finish Zechariah 1.