Year 2, Week 25, Day 3 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 25, Day 3

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Zechariah 1-4.

Today’s reading still has us stepping out of Ezra in order to look at some other readings that coincide with the historical material thus far covered in Ezra. Today’s reading begins the Book of Zechariah. Like Haggai, Zechariah is a prophet whom the LORD raised up to stir up the returnees to resume the work of completing the Temple: “In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying, “The LORD was very angry with your fathers. Therefore say to them, Thus declares the LORD of hosts: Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 1:1-3). Zechariah begins his ministry just a couple of months after Haggai. While their focus is the same—to stir the returnees on to complete the Temple-Zachariah’s ministry consists of declaring a series of visions that the LORD gave to Zechariah. Zechariah 1 records two visions. The first vision is of a man on a red horse: “I saw in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses” (Zechariah 1:8). This first vision is meant to convey that Jerusalem would be shown mercy. Zechariah 2 reports the third vision, which is of a man holding a measuring line: “And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand! Then I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem” (Zechariah 1:1-2a). Zechariah 3 reports the fourth vision, which is about an accusation that Satan levels against Joshua the High Priest: “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him” (Zechariah 3:1). Zechariah 4 reports the fifth vision, which is of a lampstand whose supply of oil continually keeps it lit: “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left” (Zechariah 4:2-3).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was how the intent of the visions were meant to explain to the returnees some of the ways the the LORD was graciously giving them everything that they would need to complete the Temple: “Therefore, thus says the LORD, I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built in it, declares the LORD of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. Cry out again, Thus says the LORD of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem” (Zechariah 1:16-17). The wrath of the LORD’s judgment was being lifted from Jerusalem and the message that the LORD had for His people was that He would enable them to succeed in rebuilding the Temple. No amount of opposition and obstacles would exceed the measure of mercy that the LORD would provide. The subsequent visions unpack with more specifics the numerous ways that the LORD’s mercy toward them would empower the work. Two of these first five visions particularly struck me.

The vision of Joshua the High Priest demonstrated how the mercy of the LORD would provide a cleansing to empower them for their work: “Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments” (Zechariah 3:3-4). If the High Priest was unclean before the LORD, what state would the rest of the returnees be in? Neither Joshua nor the people were fit to be in God’s presence! However, Satan’s accusation concerning the moral filth of the High Priest was quickly silenced, not because it was untrue-it was true-but because the LORD would provide a cleansing: “Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring my servant the Branch” (Zechariah 3:8). The basis for their cleansing would be through someone from the line or branch of David. And because of the LORD’s cleansing, Joshua and the people would be qualified to perform the service before them: “Thus says the LORD of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here” (Zechariah 3:7). 

The vision of the lampstand also demonstrated how the mercy of the LORD would provide the strength to empower their work: “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?” (Zechariah 4:11-12). The light from the lampstand would stay lit by the constant flow of oil coming from the bowls and through the pipes. Thus, Zerubbabel and the people would complete the Temple, for the LORD would enable them: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!” (Zechariah 4:6-7).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe