Passage: Zechariah 1:7-21
The Big Idea
In Zechariah’s first visions, a mysterious Man stands among the myrtle trees, God speaks good and comforting words to His discouraged people, and craftsmen come to break the horns of the nations. The Man is Jesus, the Angel of the Lord, and He is the Warrior who fights for His people.
God Is Still at Work
Remember the names: Zechariah (God remembers), Berechiah (God blesses), Iddo (at the appointed time). God keeps reminding His people of His long plan to restore and heal them, even across three generations.
The Vision of the Horses (Zechariah 1:8-11)
At night Zechariah sees a Man on a red horse standing among myrtle trees in a hollow, with red, sorrel and white horses behind Him. They have been patrolling the earth and report that the whole earth is at rest.
About visions
God has spoken through visions many times. He came to Abram in a vision, told him not to be afraid, and promised to be his shield and his very great reward (Genesis 15:1). Every vision in Scripture that is from the Lord is true, a glimpse into a spiritual world we can’t see.
But not every claimed vision is from God. Jeremiah warned of prophets who prophesied lies and false visions in God’s name (Jeremiah 14:14; Ezekiel 13:7).
We have a huge advantage: the whole Bible. If someone tells you they had a vision for you, you have all of Scripture to test it against and see whether it matches God’s heart.
Who is the Man?
The Man among the myrtles is called the Angel of the Lord (Zechariah 1:11-12). This is Jesus.
“Wait,” you say. “Wasn’t He born in Bethlehem about 500 years later?” Yes, that’s when He took on a human body permanently. But He appeared many times in the Old Testament. These appearances are called Christophanies. Whenever God is revealed as a Person you can see, it’s the Son, because no one has seen the Father (1 Timothy 6:16; John 1:18).
A few examples:
- Hagar (Genesis 16:7-13). The Angel of the Lord found her by a spring in the wilderness, promised to multiply her descendants, and she called Him “the God who sees me.”
- Abraham (Genesis 22:11-18). The Angel of the Lord stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac, provided a ram, and swore by Himself to bless all nations through Abraham’s Seed.
- Israel at Bochim (Judges 2:1-4). The Angel of the Lord reminded them He had brought them out of Egypt and never broken His covenant. The people wept, just as they will when they see Jesus at His return (Zechariah 12:10).
Jesus is an active part of world history:
- He created it. (All-powerful.)
- He showed up many times. (Always present.)
- He was born and lived a full human life here. (He understands.)
- He was crucified here. (All-loving.)
Why? No one has seen God, but the only Son, who is in the Father’s heart, has made Him known (John 1:18). It’s so good with the Father that Jesus can’t help telling His friends about it.
“To and fro”
The horsemen patrol the earth. God isn’t passive. His eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong for those whose hearts are loyal to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9). He doesn’t have more important things going on in heaven.
Satan also goes to and fro (Job 1:7), looking for ways to hurt those Jesus loves. But Jesus is watching too.
Good and Comforting Words (Zechariah 1:12-17)
The Angel of the Lord intercedes, asking how long God will withhold mercy from Jerusalem after seventy years of anger. And the Lord answers with good and comforting words (Zechariah 1:12-13).
That’s Jesus’ character. When you’ve had a terrible day or a terrible season, He knows exactly how to speak good and comforting words.
These people were discouraged. They felt abandoned, punished and forgotten. But that was far from the truth. Our feelings and circumstances can lie to us. We have to go back to the Word for truth.
“I feel forgotten. I feel unloved. I can’t see a way out.” What does the Word say? Believe it. If you disagree with the Word, you’re the one who’s wrong. Sometimes the Word calls us to turn around. Sometimes it tells us we’re loved. Here, it’s good and comforting words.
God isn’t saying, “Fix it, get right, and then come to Me.” When our lives are in disarray, He speaks comfort.
Zealous for Jerusalem (Zechariah 1:14-15)
Jesus says, “I care!” So much that His face turns red at the injustice done to His people. Not just zeal, but great zeal. He is passionate for us and will fight for us:
- “I’ll do whatever it takes for you to be healed and restored.”
- “I’ll die for you if I have to.”
- “I’ll forgive everything you’ve done.”
- “I’ll take the blame and the punishment.”
- “I love you.”
A famous English actor named William Macready was once asked by a preacher why crowds flocked to his plays but stayed away from church. “You present fiction, and the crowds come. I preach unchangeable truth, and no one comes.” Macready replied, “I present my fiction as though it were truth. You present your truth as though it were fiction.”
God’s zeal for us is not fiction. Isaiah said the zeal of the Lord of hosts would accomplish the coming of the Child born to us, the Son given, whose kingdom would have no end (Isaiah 9:6-7).
“I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy” (Zechariah 1:16-17)
It’s not “Here’s a list of everything you need to do to fix this.” It’s “I will do it. I’m coming to fix it all. I am the Builder and the Restorer. I’m returning with mercy.”
And what kind of prosperity follows? His house will be built, the place where people meet with Him. And the cities will overflow with people. Just like the church grows, both as a place to meet God and in number.
About four years after this prophecy, the temple was completed.
Four Horns and Four Craftsmen (Zechariah 1:18-21)
Zechariah sees four horns, the powers that scattered Judah. Horns are a symbol of a bull’s strength, of power that seems unstoppable. Many see these as the great empires that oppressed Israel.
Then God shows him four craftsmen coming to terrify and throw down those horns. God raises up others to judge the nations that scattered His people. From the beginning He promised to bless those who bless Abraham’s people and curse those who curse them (Genesis 12:3).
Jesus the Carpenter
The word for craftsmen can mean carpenters, artisans, or skilled workers. In Nazareth, people said of Jesus, “Isn’t this the carpenter?” (Mark 6:3). And they were offended. Because of their unbelief, He did few mighty works there.
But right after that, He sent out the twelve with power over unclean spirits (Mark 6:7). As if to say: “I’ll show you what kind of Craftsman I am. I’ll fight for you who believe in Me, and I’ll fight for you to believe in Me.”
Even though evil spirits roam the world to distract, deceive and destroy, Jesus is the Warrior they fear. He can overcome them all and set you in a safe place where you can flourish.
Grace Takeaway
Your feelings may say you’re forgotten. The Word says the Man among the myrtles is standing with you in the hollow, interceding for you, speaking comfort, and burning with zeal for you. He is the Carpenter who breaks every horn raised against you.
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