Zechariah 1
HAGGAI and Zechariah prophesied at the same time, but their messages are quite distinct in character; the one was concerned with the building of the temple, and the other with the then future history of the Jews, particularly in connection with Jerusalem. Yet the two prophets are linked together in Ezra 5:1,1Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. (Ezra 5:1) and 6:14 as fellow laborers in the service of God who used both of them to arouse the slow-hearted sons of Jacob to go on with the construction of the house.
The beginning of the word of God through Zechariah is an earnest address to the remnant returned from Babylon (verses 2-6). Though they were no longer owned as His people, because of their sinfulness, He yet cared for them, and sought to win them back to Himself. With much reason God had been “sore displeased” with their forefathers, and it was because His warnings had fallen on deaf ears that the present generation was in such evil case. God is faithful, however unfaithful they may be to whom He speaks, and what He had foretold came true, as always in the prophecy which begins with verse 7, several symbols are used, and we are thus reminded of the books of Ezekiel and Daniel and the Revelation. Symbols are used in the Scriptures with divine purpose and wisdom, evidently to give to the believer, intelligent in God’s ways, a knowledge of principles or characteristics, etc., which many words could not better convey. The horse is the symbol of divine energy in the earth, as may be seen from Revelation 19:11, 11, 10, 2111And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (Revelation 19:11)
11And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (Revelation 19:11)
10And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19:10)
21And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. (Revelation 19:21).
In the book of Daniel, four successive monarchies of great power are mentioned, —Babylonia, Persia, Greece and Rome; the first of these was now gone, and the second ruled the civilized world. The red horses in verse 8 evidently refer to Persia; the “speckled”, or bay horses to Greece, and the white to Rome; the red horse and his rider represent God’s angelic servant concerned with the government of Persia —him who spoke to Daniel in chapters 10-12 (See Daniel 10:13,13But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. (Daniel 10:13) and 11:1).
The Gentile world was at rest (verse 11), since the twelve tribes of Israel were no longer a thorn in their sides. The nations had afflicted Israel more than God had intended, and they would be dealt with because of this cruelty in due season (verses 11, 15, 21). These four great enemies, which have been named, are the horns of verses 18 and 19; four “carpenters”, or smiths, in verse 20 represent the means God employed to bring to naught these enemies. He sets up kings, and removes them.
Verses 16, 17 are chiefly future in fulfilment, for the return from Babylon was in very small measure, an answer to the promise here made.
ML 07/25/1937