"STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS"

Zechariah - I Am Zealous For Zion (4:1-6:15)

INTRODUCTION
  1. Our previous study introduced us to the book of Zechariah...
    1. A prophet of God who worked together with Haggai
    2. Whose work focused mainly on the rebuilding of the temple - Ezra 5:1-2; 6:14-15
  2. The book starts out in typical fashion with a call to repentance (Zech 1:1-6), but then we find eight visions that occurred in one night...
    1. We briefly considered the first four in the previous study
      1. The rider and the horses - Zech 1:7-17
      2. The four horns and four craftsmen - Zech 1:18-21
      3. The man with the measuring line - Zech 2:1-13
      4. Joshua the high priest - Zech 3:1-10
    2. These visions were designed to motivate the people in completing the temple
      1. As God related His zeal for Jerusalem and His house - e.g., Zech 1:14,16,21; 2:4
      2. As God reassured Joshua the high priest of his role - e.g., Zech 3:6-7
      3. As God revealed even greater things to come pertaining to His Servant (the Messiah) - e.g., Zech 3:8-10
  3. In this study, we shall examine...
    1. The remaining four visions - Zech 4:1-6:8
    2. The command to crown Joshua the high priest - Zech 6:9-15

[From Zech 4:1, it appears that Zechariah had fallen into a deep sleep after the first four visions. Awakened by the angel, he is shown four more...]

  1. VISIONS IN THE NIGHT - Part Two
    1. THE GOLD LAMPSTAND AND TWO OLIVE TREES...
      1. Awakened from a deep sleep, Zechariah is shown a golden lampstand with seven lamps and seven pipes, with olive trees on both sides - Zech 4:1-3
      2. Asking the angel what they represent, he is told...
        1. That it is a message to Zerubbabel (the governor) - Zech 4:6a
        2. That by God's Spirit, not man's might or power, Zerubbabel shall bring forth the capstone (finishing stone) of the temple - Zech 4:6b-7
        3. Thus Zerubbabel will finish the temple - Zech 4:8-9
        4. For the eyes of the Lord (represented by the seven lamps) which scan the whole earth, rejoice to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel - Zech 4:10
        5. And that the olive trees represent "two anointed ones" (Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor?) who stand beside the Lord - Zech 4:11-14
        -- With such encouragement, who can "despise the day of small things?" (as the temple looked when its foundation was first laid - cf. Ezra 3:11-12; Hag 2:2-3)
    2. THE FLYING SCROLL...
      1. Turning and raising his eyes, Zechariah sees a flying scroll, twenty cubits long and 10 cubits wide (approx. 30 feet by 15 feet) - Zech 5:1-2
      2. The scroll is explained as being the curse going out on the whole earth - Zech 5:3-4
        1. According to what is written on one side, every thief will be expelled
        2. According to what is written on the other side, every perjurer will be expelled
        3. Thus it will enter and consume the houses of thieves and those who swear falsely
        -- Such people were responsible for the downfall of Israel and Judah (cf. Hos 4:2-3; Mic 2:2-3); this vision ensures such will be removed from God's people
    3. THE WOMAN IN THE BASKET (EPHAH)...
      1. Zechariah is directed to see a large basket, in which sits a woman - Zech 5:5-7
      2. As the woman is explained to represent wickedness...
        1. She is thrust down into the basket with a lead cover over the top - Zech 5:8
        2. Two women with wings like those of a stork lift the basket to take it a house in the land of Shinar (Babylon) - Zech 5:9-11
        -- This vision symbolizes that wickedness will be removed from the land
    4. THE FOUR CHARIOTS...
      1. Zechariah sees four chariots coming between two bronze mountains - Zech 6:1-3
        1. The first chariot had red horses
        2. The second chariot had black horses
        3. The third chariot had white horses
        4. The fourth chariot had dappled horses
      2. He is told what the chariots represent - Zech 6:4-8
        1. They represent the four spirits of heaven
        2. The chariot with the black horses is going to the north country, followed by the chariot with the white horses
        3. The chariot with the dappled horses is going to the south country
        4. The chariots go throughout the earth, with those going to the north giving rest to God's Spirit in the north country
      3. This final vision appears to correspond with the first (cf. Zech 1:7-11)
        1. In the first vision, the four horses report that the earth was at peace, while the temple lay uncompleted
        2. Now, it is God's Spirit which is given rest in the north country (Babylon?)
        -- Perhaps this vision reflects that God would be at ease once His purposes concerning Jerusalem (restoration of its temple) and Babylon (judgment for its sins) were completed

      [With these eight visions in one night, Zechariah had a message to encourage Zerubbabel and Joshua in their efforts to rebuild the temple. The message would be reinforced with yet another given to Zechariah...]

  2. THE COMMAND TO CROWN JOSHUA
    1. THE INSTRUCTIONS TO ZECHARIAH...
      1. Take the gift from the captives and make an elaborate crown - Zech 6:9-11a
      2. Set the crown on the head of Joshua the high priest - Zech 6:11b
      3. Speak the following words to Joshua - Zech 6:12-13
        1. Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH!
        2. From His place He shall branch out
        3. He shall build the temple of the LORD
        4. He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and reign on the His throne
        5. He shall be a priest on His throne, with the counsel of peace
      4. The elaborate crown to be a memorial in the temple - Zech 6:14
      5. Those from far away will help build the temple - Zech 6:15
    2. THE MESSIANIC ELEMENTS OF THIS SYMBOLIC CROWNING...
      1. Certainly this symbolic crowning was intended to encourage Joshua and those captives who had returned to build the temple
      2. But Joshua appears to be a type of the coming Messiah., i.e., Jesus
        1. Jesus was called "a Nazarene" (branch) - Mt 2:23; cf. Zech 3:8
        2. He would "branch out" - cf. Isa 11:1-2; 53:2
        3. He would build the "temple of the Lord" (i.e., His church) - Mt 16:18; Ep 2:21-22
        4. He would "rule on His throne" - 1Co 15:25; Re 1:5; 2:27-28
        5. He would be "a priest on His throne" - He 8:1-2; Re 3:21
        6. He would provide the "counsel of peace" - Ep 2:14-17
        -- And so this symbolic crowning was not only to encourage Joshua, but those who looked forward to the coming of the Messiah, whom Joshua represented!
CONCLUSION
  1. Through the use of such visions and symbolic representations...
    1. Zechariah succeeded in motivating Joshua, Zerubbabel, and the captives who returned with them to rebuild the temple - cf. Ezra 6:14-15
    2. Zechariah likely increased their anticipation of the future as well, as they would wonder about the fulfillment of these visions
  2. Zechariah's work is not finished, however...
    1. He will provide answers to questions the people had regarding certain fasts
    2. He will have more to say about the future of Jerusalem and the coming Messiah ...which we shall consider in the next couple of lessons

Having been reminded in this study of our Lord's role as both king and priest, perhaps we can close by asking:

Are you submitting to the Kingship of Jesus Christ?
Are you making proper use of His intercession as our High Priest?
How you respond to His gospel will answer such questions!