Now as you can see from the passage Zechariah encounters 3 different beings in this chapter, the first being that of a man in Verseââ?¬â?¢s 1-2 going to measure how long and wide Jerusalem is, there are many different theological arguments about who this ââ?¬Å?builderââ?¬Â is but for the prupose of this we will stay out of that debate, then in verse 3 the Angel that is accompanying Zechariah seeââ?¬â?¢s another Angel and quickly go into conversation with each other, the second angel is clearly a messanger direct from God as he has words from the Lord with which he must share (verses 4-13)

This first part of the prophecy verses 3-5 had a short term fulfilment in God�s protection of the rebuilding, and blessing of the city under Ezra and Nehemiah; but clearly, its ultimate fulfillment is rebuilding under the rule of the Messiah.

As we carry on to the second part of the prophecy verse 6 in Zechariahs day few of those who were carried to captivity in the Babylonian Empire returned to the Promised Land when they were allowed to. Here the LORD exhorts His people to return back to their land. Sadly most of the exiles were comfortable in Babylon and refused to endure the challenge to build a work of God. Verse 7 , throughout the Bible Babylon is used as an idea as well as a city. If Jerusalem carried the idea of ââ?¬Å?Godââ?¬â?¢s cityââ?¬Â then Babylon carries the idea of the city of the world. Zechariahââ?¬â?¢s call to come out of Babylon is both literal and figurative (Revelation 18:4-5).

In the 3rd part of this vision God promises to protect his precious people, verse 8 ââ?¬â?? in modern translations of the bible, it usually changes the wording of this verse from for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye to anyone who harms you, harms my most precious possession. Spurgeon sums this section up quite nicely I quote

In the final part of this vision (verses 10-13) Verse 10 God doesnââ?¬â?¢t expect His people to be passive or ââ?¬Å?coolââ?¬Â in view of such dramatic promises. He expects them to sing and rejoice. This is also the first reason why Godââ?¬â?¢s people should be excited is because He will be among them in a unique and powerful way. Verse 11 is the second reason for joy is that God will bring many into His Kingdom. Godââ?¬â?¢s desire to bless Israel was never intended to stop with Israel, but to use them as a channel of blessing for many nations. Verse 12 is interesting as this is the only place where the phrase Holy Land is used in the Bible. The land is holy because it is separated unto God in a unique way. Some assume that it is only the people of Judah and Jerusalem that are Godââ?¬â?¢s holy inheritance but passages like this show that land itself is holy and precious to God.

What I find exciting more than anything is that this passage shows us that if we live for God that no matter what he will protect us, this isn�t to say we won�t come into problems or situations that we find difficult, but as we are his children we are his Precious Gift and he will do anything to keep us safe!

The book starts by encouraging the Jewish people not to be like their forefathers but to turn from evil and follow Him. It is my understanding here that the sins of the pre-exile Jews caused the Lord to allow them to be captured by the Babylonians. The thing that sticks out to me instantly is the emotion that is fuelling Gods actions – His anger caused them to be exiled and His compassion and love for them is what is driving God to fight for their attention. In verse 14 God openly admits He is jealous for Jerusalem. Sometimes it is easy to forget that as we were made in Gods image, there are things that make us tick – like our emotions – that also make God tick.

Zechariah then launches into his first vision. Zechariah had eight visions in all – and they all occurred in the same night! In the words of Vallie Frankie, “Oh what a night”… The first vision talks about a ‘Man amonst the myrtle trees’. The man is riding a red horse surrounded by other brown and white horses in a ravine. There is also another person there – an angel who chips in with useful information now and then.

It actually gets quite confusing who is talking to who here as while their appears to be Zechariah, an interpreting angel and a man, I think the man is also known as ‘the angel of the Lord‘. He asks the Lord how long Jerusalem will be oppressed – as while the region was currently stable and at peace, the Jewish people were still being oppressed. Then the interpreting angel instructs Zechariah to proclaim the Lords jealousy over Jerusalem and Zion (another word for God’s Holy city) and then says that the Lord will return to Jerusalem and His house will be rebuilt there. This is an obvious reference to the completion of the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. The Lord also promises prosperity onto the Jewish people once again.

The second vision then details four horns and four craftsmen. Horns often turn up in visions like this (we saw some in Daniel 7) and they are a symbol of strength. It is not clear whether the four horns should be taken literally (i.e. representing four entities or nations – some suggest they could represent Assyria, Egypt, Babylonia and Medo-Persia) but the vision states they are ‘horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem‘. Then come the four craftsmen – again it is not clear whether it should be taken literally (some suggest they could represent Egypt, Babylonia, Persia and Greece) but they described as coming to terrify the horns. What is clear from verse 21 is that all Judah’s enemies will ultimately be defeated.

The thing I pick up from this passage is that God is acting in sort of a fatherly manner – whilst it is clear that He has compassion and love for His nation and will go out of His way to prosper them, He is not afraid to allow them to get their ‘come-up-ence’ if they continue to walk away from Him. I love it that our God does not force our affection – but allows us to choose to follow Him or not.

Any other thoughts?