 Again, I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains. And the mountains were mountains of bronze. 2 The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, 3 the third white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses—all of them strong. 4 Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 And the angel answered and said to me, “These are going out to the four winds of heaven, after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The chariot with the black horses goes toward the north country, the white ones go after them, and the dappled ones go toward the south country.” 7 When the strong horses came out, they were impatient to go and patrol the earth. And he said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth. 8 Then he cried to me, “Behold, those who go toward the north country have set my Spirit at rest in the north country.”
The Crown and the Temple 9 And the word of the Lord came to me: 10 “Take from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon, and go the same day to the house of Josiah, the son of Zephaniah. 11 Take from them silver and gold, and make a crown, and set it on the head of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 And say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. 13 It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”’ 14 And the crown shall be in the temple of the Lord as a reminder to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah. 15 “And those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the Lord. And you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.” Meditation God is doing something greater than you can see and He will accomplish His work through you. Moses believed saying, “Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today” (Exodus 14:13-14). Paul agrees saying, “The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24). Zechariah’s eighth vision builds on what has gone before as it connects us with what is to come. The different colored horses build on the first vision (1:8). The red horse carrying the Messianic figure stays in the north country (where the woman of wickedness resides! 2:6-7) while the black and white horses patrol the earth on a mission of redemption and judgment, blessing and cursing. The horses are sent from the throne of God (5) and we see the spirit of God resting, saturating the earth (8). God is in total control, accomplishing the work He has called his exiles to do (9-11). God’s sovereign grace will accomplish God’s work. Jehpzadak ,the high priest, points to the Branch, Jesus, the greater high priest (12). God will send the nations for participation in rebuilding the temple (15) but the Branch (Jesus) will bear the brunt for building the greater temple (13). The crown is for Christ the King (14) who accomplishes all God’s work. The returned exiles would have been motivated to rebuild, knowing God would accomplish His work through them! We too must find strength in God’s sovereign grace. “He who began a good work will bring it to completion!” (Philippians 1:6). Richly Dwelling -Where do you need to see God’s faithfulness to finish and fulfill the work He has called you to do? -How is it motivating, moving you into mission, to know God is faithful and will do what He has called you to do? -Jesus ultimately finishes and fulfills all God’s holy will and grace allows us to gaze on Him. How can you fix your eyes on Jesus as you hope in God’s sovereign grace to empower you to finish the race? Key Verse 12 And say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord Comments are closed.
|