Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction - vs 7

“On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of Yahweh came to Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, saying,”

Significant Date

Dueling Prophets - Haggai 2:10- 24th day of 9th month (end of November)

receives a prophecy after the laying of the foundation of the Temple

Hag 2:21-23 “21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth, 22 and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms.

I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders.

And the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his brother.

23 On that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the Lord, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts.””

Zerubbabel - governor of Judah - descendant of David, Grandson of last Davidic King

YHWH about to shake heavens - overthrow kingdoms and armies

Make Zerubbabel signet ring - symbol of royal honor and authority

Davidic Dynasty still alive

Culmination of God’s plan to shake the heavens in the Son of David

Date comes in early BC 519 - a time of relative peace in the Persian Empire

Vision: The Man Under the Myrtles - vs 8-12

I Saw a Man - vs 8

8 I saw at night, and behold, a man was riding on a red horse, and he was standing among the myrtle trees which were in the ravine, with red, sorrel, and white horses behind him.

Excursus: Who is this man?

Vs 9 - Zech asks for interpretation, the angel volunteers

Vs 10 - then man under myrtle trees gives interpretation

vs 11 - angel of the YHWH also under myrtle trees

Man = angel = angel of YHWH

Exposition

Riding a red horse

Red symbolizes wrath and judgement - Is 63

Among the myrtle trees

Myrtle trees are used to construct tents to celebrate the feast of Booths

Celebrates the End of Exodus and Presence of God in the Tabernacle

horses behind him

Red - likely wrath and judgment

Sorrel - brown

White - likely victory

Not just these three - entire army of horses

The Global Patrol - vs 9-11

9 Then I said, “My lord, what are these?”

And the angel who was speaking with me said to me, “I will show you what these are.” 10 And the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered and said, “These are those whom Yahweh has sent to patrol the earth.”

11 So they answered the angel of Yahweh who was standing among the myrtle trees and said, “We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth is sitting still and quiet.”

Excursus: Who is this Angel?

Seen in Daniel

Daniel 7:15-16 “15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me.

16 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this.

So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things.”

Explains that the Son of Man will have power and victory

Daniel 10:4-5 “4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris) 5 I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.”

Vision of man clothed in linen (tempted to think of Son of Man dressed similarly in Dan 7)

Daniel 12:7 “7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever...

Angel in linen swears by Him who lives forever - not by His own authority or name

He is a messenger and interpreter who points to the Message

Meet him in Ezekiel

Ezek 40:3 “3 When he brought me there, behold, there was a man whose appearance was like bronze, with a linen cord and a measuring reed in his hand.

And he was standing in the gateway.”

Man in linen - standing in the gateway - YHWH?

Vision of temple being measured with measuring rode

Ezek 43:4-6 “4 As the glory of the Lord entered the temple by the gate facing east, 5 the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple.

6 While the man was standing beside me, I heard one speaking to me out of the temple,”

YHWH speaking out of temple

Man in linen standing beside Ezek

Seen in the future in Revelation

Rev 22:8-9 “8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things.

And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9 but he said to me, “You must not do that!

I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book.

Worship God.””

He is just a pointer to the Messiah

Exposition

Zech calls the man “my lord”

Like Daniel did

Angel volunteers, Man under the myrtles speaks

Angel = man under the myrtles

Horses report to Angel of YWHW standing under the Myrtle trees

Excursus: Is this Angel of YHWH Jesus?

If preincarnate Christ, why must He ask YHWH questions?

In OT Angel of YHWH who is Christ proactively claims to be and speaks as if He is YHWH

Gen 22:12 “12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.””

Identifies with YHWH

Gen 22:16 “16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,”

Angel of YHWH swears by himself

If not Jesus, who is he?

He is the man in Zechariah’s vision who commands the patrol of Horses - Heavenly General

He is the interpreting angel in Daniel and Ezekiel - Messenger pointing to Messiah

Exposition Round 2

Report: Earth is still and quiet - what’s the problem?

What’s wrong with peace on earth?

Daniel 11 &12 - Kingdoms overthrow each other followed by time of distress never seen before

Visions comes right after this angel in Zech comes on the scene in Dan 10

Ezek 38-39 - Battle of Gog and Magog

Right before this angel in Zech comes on the scene in Ezek 40

Peace on earth brings these visions into question

Restoration of Israel comes in Day of the Lord after these things

How Long, O YHWH? - vs 12

12 Then the angel of Yahweh answered and said, “O Yahweh of hosts, how long will You have no compassion for Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which You have been indignant these seventy years?”

Exposition

Angel of YHWH - lament to YHWH -

He answers the question of how long in Daniel Daniel 12:6

But he asks it here after getting the report of peace

Lament of God’s judgement and anger on Israel - Ps 80:4, 89:46

No compassion

Daniel 9:9 “9 To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him”

Daniel prays for God to have compassion

Indignant 70 years?