THE RETURN FROM EXILE

Zechariah 5:1 – 6:8

Outline of Zechariah2

Part I (chs. 1-8) Introduction (1:1-6) A Series of Eight Visions in One Night (1:7-6:8) The Symbolic Crowning of Joshua the High Priest (6:9-15) The Problem of Fasting and the Promise of the Future (chs.

7-8) Part II (chs. 9-14)

Two Prophetic Oracles: The Great Messianic Future and the Full Realization of God's Kingdom (chs. 9-14)

Zechariah’s Visions3

1. Man among the myrtle trees (1:7-17)2. Four horns and four craftsmen (1:18-21)3. Man with measuring line (2:1-5)

- Exiles called home (2:6-13)4. Cleansing for the high priest (3:1-10)5. Gold lampstand and 2 olive trees (4:1-14)6. Flying scroll (5:1-4)7. Woman in a basket (5:5-11)8. Four chariots (6:1-8)

Fifth Vision (Zech. 4)4

4 And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “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.  3 And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”

Fifth Vision (Zech. 4)5

4 And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.”

Fifth Vision (Zech. 4)

6

6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. 7 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!’” 8 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it.

Fifth Vision (Zech. 4)7

Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. 10 For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. “These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range through the whole earth.” 

Fifth Vision (Zech. 4)8

11 Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?”12 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?” 13 He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 14 Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

Sixth Vision – Zech. 5: 1-4

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5 Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a flying scroll! 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a flying scroll. Its length is twenty cubits, and its width ten cubits.”  3 Then he said to me, “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole land. For everyone who steals shall be cleaned out according to what is on one side, and everyone who swears falsely shall be cleaned out according to what is on the other side. 4 I will send it out, declares the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter the house of the thief, and the house of him who swears falsely by my name. And it shall remain in his house and consume it, both timber and stones.”

Ten Commandments

Curses (Exodus 28: 20-24)10

20 “The LORD will send on you curses, confusion, and frustration in all that you undertake to do, until you are destroyed and perish quickly on account of the evil of your deeds, because you have forsaken me. 21 The LORD will make the pestilence stick to you until he has consumed you off the land …. 22 The LORD will strike you with wasting disease and with fever, inflammation and fiery heat, and with drought and with blight and with mildew….  23 And the heavens over your head shall be bronze, and the earth under you shall be iron. 24 The LORD will make the rain of your land powder. From heaven dust shall come down on you until you are destroyed.

Sixth Vision – Zech. 5: 1-4

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5 Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a flying scroll! 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a flying scroll. Its length is twenty cubits, and its width ten cubits.”  3 Then he said to me, “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole land. For everyone who steals shall be cleaned out according to what is on one side, and everyone who swears falsely shall be cleaned out according to what is on the other side. 4 I will send it out, declares the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter the house of the thief, and the house of him who swears falsely by my name. And it shall remain in his house and consume it, both timber and stones.”

BanishedCut offPurged awayExpelled

Seventh Vision – Zech. 5: 5-10

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5 Then the angel who talked with me came forward and said to me, “Lift your eyes and see what this is that is going out.” 6 And I said, “What is it?” He said, “This is the [ephah] basket that is going out.” And he said, “This is their iniquity in all the land.” 7 And behold, the leaden cover was lifted, and there was a woman sitting in the basket! 8 And he said, “This is Wickedness.” And he thrust her back into the basket, and thrust down the leaden weight on its opening.

Seventh Vision – Zech. 5: 5-10

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9 Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, two women coming forward! The wind was in their wings. They had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and heaven. 10 Then I said to the angel who talked with me, “Where are they taking the basket?” 11 He said to me, “To the land of Shinar, to build a house for it. And when this is prepared, they will set the basket down there on its base.”

Seventh Vision – Zech. 5: 5-10

14

Wickedness still present in and around Jerusalem

Difficult to keep under control (lead cover) “wind…in their wings”

“not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit” Only God can cleanse Israel from sin “Wickedness” returned to Babylon, where it is

set up as an idol.

Eighth Vision – Zech. 6: 1-8

15

6 I looked up again, and there before me were four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze. 2 The first chariot had red horses, the second black,3 the third white, and the fourth dappled—all of them powerful. 4 I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these, my lord?”5 The angel answered me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world. 6 The one with the black horses is going toward the north country, the one with the white horses toward the west [after it], and the one with the dappled horses toward the south.”

15 “For behold, the LORD will come in fire,    and his chariots like the whirlwind,to render his anger in fury,    and his rebuke with flames of fire.16 For by fire will the LORD enter into judgment,    and by his sword, with all flesh;    and those slain by the LORD shall be many.[Isaiah 66: 15-16]

“Chariots … symbolize both the swiftness and the decisive power of God in His intervention in human affairs.” [Baldwin 1972, p. 139]

Eighth Vision – Zech. 6: 1-816

7 When the powerful horses went out, they were straining to go throughout the earth. And he said, “Go throughout the earth!” So they went throughout the earth.8 Then he called to me, “Look, those going toward the north country have given my Spirit rest in the land of the north.”

Eighth Vision – Zech. 6: 1-8

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Chariots represent spirits (or winds) of heaven coming from presence of God.

Mountains must represent the habitation of God. “Bronze” represents strength, here of God’s

power over the whole world. Spirits impatient, but wait for God’s signal to go. “My spirit” set at rest; different from 1st vision

rest.

Zechariah’s Eight Visions18

1. Four horsemen patrolling the earth- God’s anger with the nations- “I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem”- “my house shall be built in it”

2. Four horns, four craftsmen- Nations that scattered Judah will be cast down

Zechariah’s Eight Visions19

3. Man with measuring line- Jerusalem will prosper with God’s protection- God will dwell in the midst of Zion- “In that day” many nations will join the Lord

4. Joshua the High Priest cleansed, charged- Priests a sign: “I will bring my servant the Branch”- “In that day” Judah will live in peace

Zechariah’s Eight Visions20

5. Golden Lampstand- Represents God’s spirit dwelling in Zion- God’s promise that Zerubbabel will complete temple “by my spirit”- 2 branches = 2 anointed ones (Zerub & Joshua)- Ultimately joined in The Branch- 7 eyes of the Lord ranging throughout earth

Zechariah’s Eight Visions21

6. Flying Scroll- Curses on covenant breakers

7. Woman in a Basket- Removal of iniquity from Zion

8. Four Chariots- God’s sovereignty spread out over the whole world

Big Ideas / Applications22

God has protected his people in exile, and has initiated their return through “his servants” Cyrus and Darius.

God provides for the building of the temple, the place where his people will worship him.

God provides for the governing of the nation and their worship of him through the king surrogate Zerubbabel and the high priest Joshua.

Big Ideas / Applications23

God cannot tolerate wickedness/sin. God provides cleansing from sin for those who

are obedient. God brings judgment (“curse”) on those who

reject his offer of cleansing/salvation. God’s dealing with Israel prefigures ultimate

fulfillment in Jesus Christ. God is sovereign over the whole world.

Next Week24

Zechariah 6:9-15 (Crowning of Joshua as High

Priest)

Bob O’Neill