In chapter 6, Zechariah concludes with the eighth vision and then gives a glimpse of brighter things to come.
The Vision of the Chariots
This is a vision of protection and deliverance. Four chariots issue from the mountains around Jerusalem (Perhaps Mt. Zion & Mt of Olives).
The colors of the mountains indicate judgement as well as the colors of the horses commissioned to execute against judgement against the nations. We see these steeds (or similar ones) again in Revelation 6!
“In the usual Scriptural symbolism red speaks of war, black of famine and death, white of victory, and grizzled ofpestilence (Ezekiel 14:21; Revelation 6:18).” (Luck)
Father, allow us to be messengers of Your grace and love. That because of our sharing of free grace of Jesus Christ there would be no need for the four horses of judgement to be dispatched! Help us to think radically like that, especially as we minister to the Bright Zone...what if everyone who lives in the Bright Zone were to have a loving relationship with You? Grant us vision and zeal, O Lord! Amen!
The Priest Crowned King
Note the closing incident, which foreshadowed the union of the offices of priesthood and kingship in the person of our Lord.
According to Zechariah 3:8, Joshua stands symbolically in these visions "for things to come," and especially for the promised Branch (Messiah).
The picture is one of a union between the office of priest and that of king in a single individual. When He comes to "be a priest on His throne," the final and true temple of the Lord will be erected.
The uniqueness and unusualness of this dual office is clearly told in 2 Chronicles 26 which tells the tragic story of King Uzziah who tried to function as a priest, and was stricken with leprosy to the end of his life. Through the history of Israel God commanded a separation between the religious and the civil leadership of Israel.
Taking the meaning of the names:
- Heldai means robust,
- Tobijah means God’s goodness, and
- Jedaiah means God knows,
J. Vernon McGee sees the intention that "God knows that through His goodness, He will put His king on the throne, and He will do it in a robust manner."
We already saw this Branch in Zechariah 3:8, and it is a familiar title for the Messiah (Isaiah 4:2 and 11:1, Jeremiah 23:5 and 33:15).
The Branch is associated with fruitfulness and life. Jesus used the same image when He said that He was the vine and we are the branches (John 15:5).
Behold, the Man: “In the Hebrew text the prophecy begins ‘Behold the Man,’ the very words Pilate used to present the beaten Christ to the people of Jerusalem: ‘Ecce homo!’ “ (Boice)
But in Zechariah’s vision it isn’t the humiliated Jesus we are asked to behold, it is the triumphant Jesus.
Jesus shall build the temple of the Lord: The Branch will rebuild the temple - not the same temple Zerubbabel worked on, but the temple of His people (Ephesians 2:19-22, 1 Peter 2:5).
Jehovah Tsidkenu, The Lord our Righteousness, thank You for being for us our Prophet, Priest and King. You are all things to us. Help us to look to You to fill every capacity in our lives. There is no void You cannot fill! I pray Lord that every member of St. Philip's will discover more of who You are and bask in the wonder of it all. And then joyfully share it with others. Grant us uncommon grace during these troubling times. In Jesus' name, Amen!
Join all the glorious names
Of wisdom, love, and power,
That ever mortals knew,
That angels ever bore:
All are too mean to speak His worth,
To poor to set my Savior forth.
Great Prophet of my God,
My tongue would bless Thy Name,
By Thee the joyful news
Of our salvation came,
The joyful news of sin forgiv’n
Of hell subdued, and peace with Heav’n.
Jesus, my great High Priest,
Offered His blood, and died;
My guilty conscience seeks
No sacrifice beside:
His powerful blood did once atone,
And now it pleads before the throne.
My dear almighty Lord,
My Conqueror and my King,
Thy scepter and Thy sword,
Thy reigning grace I sing:
Thine is the power; behold I sit
In willing bonds beneath Thy feet.
Now let my soul arise,
And tread the tempter down;
My Captain leads me forth
To conquest and a crown:
A feeble saint shall win the day,
Though death and hell obstruct the way.
1 comment:
This was a blessing. I enjoy reading your blogs again! (now that I'm feeling well enough to catch up on my blog-reading, that is!)
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