A Vision Of A Horseman (Zechariah 1:7-17, 2 Corinthians 1:3-7)
Rev. William L. Barron, January 15, 2023Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Judah went into exile in around 597 BC. Zechariah wrote his prophecy in about 520 BC, at the time of the return. The exiles journeyed back to Judah under the leadership of Sheshbazzar, who was a son of deposed King Jehoiachin in the lineage of King David, as was Zerubbabel. The return was authorized by the Persian king Cyrus, who gave back all of the temple furnishings. Zerubbabel returned to organize, followed by Ezra, Nehemiah and Zechariah, 42,000 people in all. Zechariah received seven visions from the Lord. The first concerned a red horse ridden by a person of renown. He was seen in a glen along with horses of other colors. Myrtle trees were present in the glen. These trees were commonly used by the worshipers during the feast of tabernacles to construct their tents. The purpose was to remind the people of the time they spent in the wilderness. Isaiah 55 described how the thorns would become cypress and the briars would become myrtles. Nehemiah brought in palms, olives and myrtle trees for use in the resumption of the feast. The angel patrolled the earth and reported the earth to be at rest. Yet the angel and the people did not want to be at rest. Darius had become king, and God's people wanted their freedom. The angel prayed a model prayer to God asking for freedom, and God answered that He still loved Jerusalem and would bring her discipline to an end, bringing judgment on those whom he had chosen to judge. Babylon, Medea and Persia would pay the price. God has returned to the people's presence with mercy. They no longer would be discouraged, and God sent Ezra and Nehemiah to encourage the people in the restoration of Jerusalem. God brought comfort. Today, we see evil everywhere, yet God is in control. Angels are still reporting and praying for God's people. We need God's comfort, and we are to comfort and correct one another. We must love one another, knowing that it is a privilege be a blessing to one another as God cares for His people.
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Zechariah 1:7–17 (Listen)
7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying, 8 “I saw in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. 9 Then I said, ‘What are these, my lord?’ The angel who talked with me said to me, ‘I will show you what they are.’ 10 So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, ‘These are they whom the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.’ 11 And they answered the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees, and said, ‘We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth remains at rest.’ 12 Then the angel of the LORD said, ‘O LORD of hosts, how long will you have no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which you have been angry these seventy years?’ 13 And the LORD answered gracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me. 14 So the angel who talked with me said to me, ‘Cry out, Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion. 15 And I am exceedingly angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was angry but a little, they furthered the disaster. 16 Therefore, thus says the LORD, I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built in it, declares the LORD of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. 17 Cry out again, Thus says the LORD of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.’”
(ESV)
2 Corinthians 1:3–7 (Listen)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
(ESV)