Grace Bible Church
Pastor-Teacher
Robert R. McLaughlin
Thursday,
May 21, 2020
Pastor Rick Kabrick
The Book of Zechariah. The 8 Visions CH 1-6
Two such prophecies are in ZEC 9:9, the triumphant entry of the Messiah into Jerusalem, fulfilled when Jesus entered through the East gate on what is called Palm Sunday. Another ZEC 12:10 which prophesies of the one they will pierce, which was fulfilled in JOH 19:37, in the piercing of Christ’s side on the Cross.
The name Zechariah means “The LORD Remembers,” a fitting name for a prophet of restoration. This prophet was called to encourage and mobilize God’s people to accomplish a task that they had begun yet lost the momentum for completion.
The land was desolate after 70 years of neglect. The work was hard, rebuilding and restoring. There were still enemies to look for look out for. To many of the people, life was easier when they were captives in Babylon.
“I saw at night, and behold, a man was riding on a red horse, and he was standing among the myrtle trees which were in the ravine, with red, sorrel and white horses behind him.”
This angelic patrol found that the world was at peace, but it was not the right kind of peace. If the earth is at rest at the expense of HIS people, there is no rest at all.
These probably represent the four nations that attacked Judah. Probably Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. In this vision the prophet sees four horns. The prophets often use “horn” to describe a proud or powerful nation.
The Hebrew word translated craftsmen is a word that means skilled worker, like blacksmiths, metal workers, carpenters, that sort of thing. However, craftsmen don’t typically terrify and cast down mighty empires and armies. That is the work of soldiers, cavalry, infantry.
Many see this as Jerusalem being measured to make sure that it is large enough for the multitudes GOD will bring to it. In the time of Zechariah, it seemed strange to worry about Jerusalem being big enough, because there seemed to be too few people for the city.
Here the LORD exhorts HIS people to return back to their land. To return the to the geographical area they were meant to be at.
The pupil of the eye is the tenderest part of the tenderest organ, and very fitly sets forth the inexpressible tenderness of God’s love.”
We are the most fragile and tender part of the LORD, and he is our keeper our protector.
The first reason why GOD’s people should be excited is because HE will be among them in a unique and powerful way. No more exciting than in the Millennial reign, in this dispensation of the Church-age, HE is in us.
GEN 22: 17-18 “I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
Satan had a lot to accuse Joshua of, just like he does with regard to us. But like Joshua did we too have an even greater advocate in the Angel of the LORD.
Notice that the accusation is made, the LORD responds and Joshua kept his mouth shut. A lesson there for us indeed.
The Hebrew word translated filthy is “the strongest expression in the Hebrew language for filth of the most vile and loathsome character and the word is only used here in Zechariah.
JOS 1:7, Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
HEB 4:16, Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
The seven eyes speak of the perfection and fullness of the knowledge and wisdom only found in the Messiah, the LORD Jesus Christ. If that stone represents the Messiah it would follow that the inscription written upon it represents HIS wounds from the Cross.
Many believe that this verse means that the “two olive trees” are the natural branch (physical Israel), and the grafted in branch (spiritual Israel), meaning the Church. ROM 11:24, and REV 11:4.
Looking back to the vision we just saw, we see clearly that GOD wanted Zerubbabel to know that the Holy Spirit would continually supply his need, just as the olive trees supplied oil to the lamps on the lampstand. Oil is a good representation of the Holy Spirit.
MIC 5:4, He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.
To steal was to injure your neighbor; to perjure was to dishonor GOD. The two sins, one from each side of the tablets of the Ten Commandments, represented all of Israel’s sin.
Zechariah prophesied to those who returned from the Babylonian exile. Many of GOD’s people came back from Babylon with a materialism problem, and this vision spoke to this problem. It is a problem that remains to this day in GOD’s people, beware of it.
