Return from Exile: Zechariah 4-6 (4)

Pray Psalm 33.1-5.
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous!
For praise from the upright is beautiful.
Praise the LORD with the harp;
Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
For the word of the LORD is right,
And all His work is done in truth.
He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

Sing Psalm 33.1-5.
(Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
Sing with rejoicing in the Lord, for praise becomes His righteous ones!
With harps and songs raise grateful words, and let new songs of praise be sung!

Joyfully shout! His Word is true; He does His work in faithfulness.
His love prevails the whole world through; the Lord loves truth and righteousness.

Read and meditate on Zechariah 6.1-8.

Preparation
1. What did Zechariah see?

2. What were the chariots doing?

Meditation
As in the vision of the four horses (Zech. 1.7-11), this vision reminds us that events and conditions in the material world are ultimately dependent on spiritual realities which have their marching orders from God. Here, four chariots issue forth from between two bronze mountains (v. 1). These mountains are mysterious, but they may symbolize the “feet” of God (cf. Rev. 1.15, though brass, rather than bronze, is indicated here), set firm to rule the world. Again, as in the first vision, we do not know exactly what the chariots represent (vv. 2, 3). John will be more forthcoming on this in Revelation 6, but for those who heard Zechariah’s vision, all they needed to know was that God was sending these chariots out to patrol “all the earth” (v. 5). John saw a similar vision of “spirits” or angels ruling the four winds of the earth (Rev. 7.1).

Before the Branch would come to take away Israel’s sins and bring them into God’s peace, momentous world events would occur. The Medes and Persians had already overthrown the Babylonians. Alexander the Great and his combined Greek armies would do the same to them, before breaking apart into four empires and being overcome by Rome. Daniel saw all this about the time Zechariah was giving this prophecy, though he did not understand all that he saw (cf. Dan. 10, 11). The “rest” that had been realized in “the north country” perhaps refers to the destruction of Babylon and the release of the Jews under Cyrus the Mede.

God wanted those who had returned to see the larger picture of what He was doing, so they would be more earnestly motivated to finish His temple and serve Him faithfully. We must not lose the larger vantage point of the works of God, or we will become captive to events, trends, philosophies, enthusiasms, and fears of the moment.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
J. R. R. Tolkien was an amazingly talented writer, with his cute Hobbit and Middle-earth business, and all the whatnots of his written creations. We will not quibble about that. But for good storytelling, God outdoes the best.

Here He has presented us with two bronze mountains, through which four chariots pulled by black, white, red, and dappled horses—strong steeds—are going to and fro throughout all the earth to give rest to God’s people. Not only is this a vivid story, but it all means something important to God. This is not mere fantasy; it is a prophecy.

Bronze, the alloy He employed, is used many times in Scripture:

In Daniel 2.39 it was used to describe the image’s belly and sides seen by Nebuchadnezzar. In Daniel’s interpretation it represented “a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth.” Bronze torso.

And for Jeremiah, not unlike Zechariah’s encounters with God, he was asked, “What do you see?” And he saw a boiling pot that God was using for the story prop. But then God said to him, “‘For behold, I have made you this day a fortified city and an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you’, says the LORD, ‘to deliver you’” (Jer. 1.18, 19). Bronze walls.

Then, in Numbers 21.8, 9, God prescribed a bronze serpent as the antidote for snakebite: “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” Bronze serpent.

And Christ was the New Testament version of this bronze artifact: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (Jn. 3.14, 15). Bronze Savior.

God, in His great generosity and kind Spirit, is imparting His truths to us in as many ways as He can. When we listen, we will hear the greatest story ever told, of His saving plan for the Creation and those who dwell therein (Genesis 1-Revelation 22).  The whole world—not just the middle of it.

For reflection
1. Again, Zechariah reminded the people that God was sovereign, whatever they may have been experiencing around them. How should knowing this encourage us?

2. Why are strong metals like bronze and brass often associated with God?

3. How should Zechariah’s vision of the chariots encourage us?

All the events which take place in the world spring from the unchangeable counsels of the Lord, which are formed in unerring wisdom, perfect justice, truth, and goodness; and from history it is found that events happened about the period when this vision was sent to the prophet, which seem referred to therein.. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Zechariah 6.1-8

Pray Psalm 33.6-17.
Praise God for His sovereign and wise rule of all the nations. Call on Him to guide you throughout this day as you seek to follow His plan and counsel in working your Personal Mission Field

Sing Psalm 33.6-17
(Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
God spoke and heaven came to be, and all its hosts His Spirit wrought.
He heaps the waters of the sea; the deeps their dwelling place are taught.

Let all below now fear the Lord; let all in awe of Him abide!
The worlds exist by Jesus’ Word; let all on earth in Him confide.

He nullifies the nations’ plans; forever stands His sov’reign Word.
All they are blessed who with Him stand—the chosen people of the Lord.

God from His throne looks down on men; He knows our works and made our hearts.
Let not Your Church, let none depend on strength or skill or human arts.

T. M. and Susie Moore

Two books can help us understand our own captivity and lead us to seek revival and renewal in the Lord. The Church Captive asks us to consider the ways the Church today has become captive to the world. And Revived! can help us find the way to renewal. Learn more and order your free copies by clicking here and here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available free by clicking here.