Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

“And look, the lead cover was lifted and a woman was sitting inside the basket. And he said, “This is Wickedness!” And he thrust her back down into the basket, and threw the lead cover on top of it.” (Zechariah 5:7-8)

Zechariah was written around 520 and 470 B.C. He started two months after Haggai started and both of them were in Jerusalem with the Jews who had returned from captivity in Babylon. Sadly, his life didn’t end in joy. Jesus told us in Matthew 23:35 and Luke 11:51 that it was this very Zechariah who was slain by the Jews between the temple and the altar – making him the last prophet to be killed unjustly. Zechariah’s message was for them to turn from wickedness and what will happen when they did. It’s a good message for ALL people at ALL times. These particular people (and anyone with a bible) had no excuse because they were the descendants of those who had sinned and experienced God’s anger toward that sin. [The judgment on Sin was paid for by Jesus, so we don’t experience judgment. We experience correction – pretty firm correction when we don’t listen.]. They KNEW what happened when sin wasn’t dealt with. They KNEW what happened when they disobeyed God. As a nation they had just spent SEVENTY YEARS in captivity because of it. They had no excuse. Because of their example, WE have no exercise either. He called out to the people: REPENT. Stay with God! Seek Him! Don’t go back to old ways! Don’t be like your fathers! And the people? They humbled themselves and received the message (Zechariah 1:6).

Three and a half months later, a vision came to Zechariah. There was a man with a red horse and with him were other red horses, speckled horses, white horses. They were observers, going throughout the earth and reporting that it was at peace. The Angel of the Lord (believed to be either pre-incarnate Jesus, which I favour, or Michael the Archangel, because of a statement he makes in Zechariah 3:2 which he also used in Joel 1:9) asked Adonai (the Father) how much longer would it be until He had mercy on Jerusalem now that the seventy years were over? Adonai declared that He was zealous for Jerusalem and He would comfort and choose Jerusalem again. Zechariah saw four horns and four craftsmen. Gentile kings and the forces that would terrify them and make them flee. The kings scattered Judah, but God would cast out the horns because they took up their role as punishers with evil intent.

The next thing Zechariah saw was a man with a measuring line in his hand. He went throughout Jerusalem, measuring it. Symbolising what would be the length and breadth of it. Another angel ran up declaring that this would happen quickly when it happened. In fact, the city would build up quickly and expand beyond its walls (the natural protection and security of ANY ancient city). The Lord declared HE would be the protection and security of Jerusalem, ringing it with His fire. The Lord called for the people to FLEE the nations in which they had been scattered and return to Jerusalem. He would shake the nations and they would be spoil for His children, the apple of His eye. Many nations would come and dwell there, being joined to the Jews. God would live in their midst and they would KNOW Him as God. He would take possession of Judah and restore it – everyone would be at a loss for words because of this.

Then Zechariah was shown Joshua the high priest. Joshua was wearing filthy rags and the devil declared him unfit to be a priest. He was rebuked by the Lord in the authority of the Lord by the Angel of the Lord. The Lord clothed Joshua in clean garments and a clean tunic. He removed the reproach. He told Joshua that if He obeyed Adonai, walking in His Way, keeping His commands, he would be a judge and have charge over the Temple and always have a place to walk among the people. They were told that they were a sign that the Lord was bringing forth His Servant the BRANCH (John 15:5), Messiah Jesus. The iniquity of the Land would be removed in one day (John 19:30). The Land would again see peace and prosperity.

Zechariah was wakened by the Angel of the Lord and asked what he saw. Zechariah saw a large menorah flanked by two olive trees. He asked what they were and was told that it was not by might, but by the Lord’s Spirit that things happen. As surely as Zerubbabel laid the foundation of the Temple, he would place the capstone and complete it – Zerubbabel was the grandson of King Jehoiakim and the one who had been leading the reconstruction efforts. The eyes of the Lord were seeing everything. All would come to pass as the Lord had spoken (words matter).

“I looked up again, and I saw, and look!—a flying scroll! And he asked me, “What are you seeing?” And I said, “I am seeing a flying scroll twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide.” And he said to me, “This is the curse going out over the surface of the whole earth. For everyone who steals has gone unpunished according to it, and likewise everyone who swears falsely has gone unpunished according to it.” (Zechariah 5:1-3)

Zechariah saw a flying scroll (nine metres by four and a half metres) which was the curse over the earth. The curse enters the house of the thief and the liar and remains in the house – the curse is permanent without divine intervention (Jesus). It would consume the house. The Angel of the Lord asked Zechariah to lift his eyes and see what was coming. He saw a lead disc being lifted up and a basket and a woman in the basket. The Angel declared it to be wickedness (the woman was symbolizing wickedness) and slammed the disc over the basket to keep it contained. Then two women with the wings of a stork (showing ability to travel great distance) came and took it away toward Babylon where it would be set up and established. Wickedness may have a temporary place to set up shop, but we are to slam the lid on it when it touches our lives and keep it apart from us. We aren’t to indulge in it. Jesus walked among the wicked, but He did NOT permit it to touch Him. Ever (Matthew 16:23). We should do the same.

Summary

Key Players: God, Zechariah, the Angel of the Lord

Key Verse(s): Zechariah 1:2-6, 18-21; 2:1-5; 3:1-9; 4:6-10; 5:2-8