Zechariah 1

Zechariah 1:1-6

In this chapter, after the introduction, ver. 1. we have, 1. An awakening call to a sinful people to repent of their sins and return to God, ver. 2—6. 2. Great encouragement given to hope for mercy. (1.) By the vision of the barfess, ver. 7—11. (2.) By the prayer of the angel for Jerusalem, and the answer to it, ver. 12—17. (3.) By the vision of the four carpenters that were employed to cut off the four horns, with which Judah and Jerusalem were scattered, ver. 18—21.

IN the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah the son of Barachiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, 2. The LORD hath been fore displeased with your fathers. 3. Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. 4. Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD. 5. Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever? 6. But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.

The prophet Zechariah received his commission from God, and began to speak about two months after Haggai. He is called the son of Barachiah, and the same, as some suppose, whom our Lord mentions, Matt. xxiii. 35. as Slain between the porch and the altar, the son of Iddo, the prophet, which may refer to Zechariah, and not his grandfather; or he might be a prophet also. He begins his discourse.

1. With reminding them of the sins and provocations of their forefathers, with whom God was fore displeased, and whom he had severely punished, whose sufferings should be a warning to them, v. 2.

2. With exhorting the people to turn unto God; and gives them the most gracious encouragement to do so, for he will turn unto you; and thrice he adds, thus saith the Lord of hosts, to give weight and authority to the admonition, and engage their faith in the certainty of his promised mercy. Conscious guilt makes the heart fearful; and the sinner, who sees his iniquities in their true colours, can scarce be persuaded that God can and will receive one so unworthy into his favour.

3. He reminds them of the sins of their forefathers, which had provoked God, and bids them take warning by their sufferings, and not imitate their bad examples, v. 2. Be ye not as your fathers, treading in their steps, who, though repeatedly, fervently, and for a long season, called upon by the former prophets to repent, turned a dead ear to God’s word and hardened their hearts; and where are they? They went captives into a strange land; and many of them no doubt were cut off in their iniquities, and were gone to receive the just reward of their deeds. And the prophets are dead also; but their words survived them, and overtook the sinners against whom they were denounced; and this in so evident a manner, that when the threatened judgments came, too late, in their accomplishment, their forefathers, in a miserable captivity, felt that righteous

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7. Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the Second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah the son of Barachiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, 8. I saw by night, and behold, ‘a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle-trees that were in the bottom, and behind him were there red horses + speckled and white. 9. Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me, said unto me, I will show thee what these be. 10. And the man that stood among the myrtle-trees answered and said, ‘These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth. 11. And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle-trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and behold, all the earth ‘fitteth still, and is at rest. 12. Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, ‘O LORD of hoffs, how long will thou not have mercy on Jerusalem, and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation ’these threesome and ten years? 13. And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me, with good words, and comfortable words. 14. So the angel that commanded with me, said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus faith the LORD of hoffs, I am ‘previous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. 15. And I am very fore disloyal with the heathen ’that are at ease: for I was but a little disloyal, and they helped forward the affliction. 16. Therefore thus faith the LORD, ‘I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, faith the LORD of hoffs, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. 17. Cry yet, saying, Thus faith the LORD of hoffs, my cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad, and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and I shall yet choose Jerusalem.

Zechariah 1:7-17

The vision here recorded was given to the prophet about three months after the former discourse was delivered, and is designed for the encouragement of the people who had turned unto God, and diligently employed themselves in rebuilding his holy temple. We have

1. The vision, v. 8. The grace of myrtles in the letters fully reproduced the state of the Jewish church, finds very low in the deep gloom of afflictions and want, and surrounded by the hills of the neighbouring nations, far greater than they. It may signify also the church militant in general, which through much tribulation enters into the kingdom of God, the members of which, though low, are chiefly united, and their graces breathe fragrance before God. In the midst of them Jesus appears, become more for us men and for our salvation, and going forth to fight our battles, conquering and to conquer, and ridging upon a red hazy as the Captain of salvation, who by his own blood is to redeem his people, and by his power treads down his enemies, till their blood reaches to the horses’ brides, Rev. 20. Behind him stood marshalled the armies of heaven, his manifesting spirits, on horses of different colours, according to the various services in which they are employed, for judgment or for mercy.

2. The prophet, filled with admiration at what he beheld, pre- fumes with deep respect to all, O my Lord, what are they? And the angel, he that is the head of all principalities and powers, even the man that fixed among the myrtle-trees, is graciously pleased to welcome him. They are they whom the Lord hath put to walk to and fro in the earth, to execute his commands, and minister to the duties of Salvation. So kind and erodefocating in Jesus to the humble enquirers after divine knowledge, that cry, What I have not touch them me: these he will guide into all truth.

3. He knows the report these ministering spirits make us their King and Lord. They had discharged their commission, and Vol. II.

report, that the earth fitteth still, and is at rest, undelivered by wars, as was the cafe in the reign of Darius; secure and at cafe, whilst the poor people of God are under affliction and perpetual alarms. Thus still a careleth world fireps on: but they will shortly be fearfully roused from this fatal lethargy.

4. The Angel, the Lord Jesus, betouges becomes an advocate for his redeemed, and cries for mercy now at last upon them, after the long time God hath afflicted them, during seventy years; which, if computed from the burning of the temple, were just now completed: so long had they suffered the marks of God’s indignation; and now he begs that he will say, It is enough. It is well for the church we have such an advocate with the Father: and in all times of trouble we should remember this for our support.

5. An answer of peace is given to this Saviour’s prayer. The Lord outturned the angel with good words, and comfortable words, for him the Father heareth always: and if he undertake our cause, it shall not miscarry.

6. He communicates this answer to the prophet, to be proclaimed to his people for their comfort and encouragement: Thus faith the Lord of hoffs, I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy: on fire to repair their wrongs, and zealous to promote their happiness. Their enemies, who now sit at cafe, are the objects of his wrath: he sent them to correct his people in a little disloyal, and they helped forward the affliction, exceeding their orders in cruelty and inhumanity, and inflicted over the miseries of their unhappy captives: but God will avenge their quarrel. Whilst on the other hand the prophet must proclaim aloud. Thus faith the Lord, I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: the temple shall be built, Jerusalem be raised from its ruins, and plenty and prosperity once more dwell in the cities of Judah. And the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, after the days of her mourning, and shall yet obey Jerusalem, for his birth abode: which was literally fulfilled in the days of Zechababel and of the Macephes; but most eminently when the Messiah appeared in the midst of her, and his gospel went forth through all the cities of the land.

7. Then lift I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold, four horns. 19. And I laid unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, ‘These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. 20. And the LORD shewed me four carpenters. 21. Then said I, What came these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but ’these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lift up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.

Zechariah 1:18-21

We have here a second vision to the same purpose as the former, comforting the people of Israel against their mighty foes.

1. The prophet saw four horns, and, asking an explanation of them, is informed, that these are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem; the various nations that at different times harassed and dispersed them, so that no man did lift up his head; so oppressed and dispersed they were, and brought so low. Some refer these horns to the Samaritans, Arabians, Ammonites, and Philistines, who gave them such hindrances in the building the temple and city. And all who set about this blessed work may expect to be pushed at by many a horn.

2. The Lord shewed him four carpenters, or Smiths, I, Sam. 18. 19. These he had not seen. Our fears of danger so engage us, that we often overlook the help provided for us. And he tells him what these came to do, v. 20. to pay them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles. And these may be interpreted of the several monarchies which have risen up to destroy each other; or of the angels whom God sends to execute his judgments; or of the four great promoters of God’s work, Zerubbabel, Joshua, Ezra, and Peternish; or perhaps of the ministers of the gospel, who go forth and are strengthened for carrying on the work of God in the midst of all opposition. Now, Whatever enemies are against us, we have greater friends for us: and, though soe thrush at that we should fall, in the Lord is our help, who will break all the horns of the ungodly.