FRAMEWORKS:
Zechariah 6: Security being brought for
Israel
v.1-8
Four chariots
v.9-15
A crown for Joshua
[Preliminary
Comment: The prophetic picture language continues
to convey certain major truths:
•
God's will IS coming on the earth [v.1-7]
•
Part of this is to bring peace to the
north, and security for Israel [v.8]
•
The rule of the nation is, as previously
stated, in the hands of Zerubbabel but here we are told the
overriding rule is to come from God through His representative
in the temple [v.9-15]
Each
of these things emphasise God's sovereignty, bringing about His
purposes which involves creating a new sense of security for His
people back in their land.]
v.1-8
Four chariots
v.1-3
The prophet now sees four chariots coming towards him
v.1
I looked up
again, and there before me were four chariots coming out from
between two mountains – mountains of bronze.
v.2
The
first chariot had red horses, the second black,
v.3
the
third white, and the fourth dappled – all of them powerful.
[Notes:
The vision changes to reveal chariots, presumably each
with two horses. Whereas in a previous vision the single-horse
riders had simply been messenger, the designation of ‘chariots'
suggest these go to achieve God's purposes.]
v.4,5
They represent four spirits or winds coming from God
v.4
I
asked the angel who was speaking to me, ‘What are these, my lord?'
v.5
The
angel answered me, ‘These are the four spirits of heaven, going
out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world.
[Notes:
The prophet is told these represent [remember this is
all prophetic vision conveying truth] the spirit from God in four
forms conveying different intents for different lands but going
out to bring about the will of God in those lands.]
v.6-8
The horses strain to go throughout the earth
v.6
The
one with the black horses is going towards the north
country, the one with the white horses towards the
west, and the one with the dappled horses towards
the south.'
v.7
When
the powerful horses went out, they were straining to go throughout
the earth. And he said, ‘Go throughout the earth!' So they went
throughout the earth.
v.8
Then
he called to me, ‘Look, those going towards the north country
have given my Spirit rest in the land of the north.'
[Notes:
The red [lead] horses are not mentioned but one assumes
they went east. Presumably the different colours of the horses
is meant to convey different purposes. The only one mentioned
is the black one that has managed to bring peace to the region
of the north where, for so many years in the past, rulers had
been bent on invasion of the south [including Israel] and so v.8
implies that that threat has been removed.]
v.9-15
A crown for Joshua
v.9-11
The high priest, Joshua, is to be crowned
v.9
The word of the Lord
came
to me:
v.10
‘Take
silver and gold from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah, who
have arrived from Babylon. Go the same day to the house of Josiah
son of Zephaniah.
v.11
Take
the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of
the high priest, Joshua son of Jozadak.
[Notes:
Three wealthy returning exiles are to provide the precious
metal to form a crown for Joshua the high priest. Explanation
follows.]
v.12,13
Joshua, the Branch, will both build the temple and rule for God
v.12
Tell
him this is what the Lord
Almighty says:
“Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch
out from his place and build the temple of the Lord.
v.13
It
is he who will build the temple of the Lord,
and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his
throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will
be harmony between the two.”
[Notes:
Again we have reference to the Branch [see previously
3:8 and the comments there], clearly referring to Joshua the high
priest, who will both build the temple [v.12] AND be a priestly
ruler of the people of God. Although Zerubbabel is the ruling
governor, this present description suggests that the overriding
rule must emanate from the Temple and be ‘under God'.]
v.14,15
Instructions for the crown and assurance about the rebuilding
v.14
The
crown will be given to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen son of
Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple of the Lord.
v.15
Those
who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the
Lord ,
and you will know that the Lord
Almighty has
sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the Lord
your God.'
[Notes:
The crown is not to be worn by Joshua but kept in the
temple as a reminder that that is where God's rule for this people
is. The temple is not yet built but the Lord brings assurance
that many more people will yet return to Jerusalem and will help
in the rebuilding works. This is, of course, conditional on their
ongoing obedience.]
Continue
to Chapter 7