5. The Third Vision Pt 2
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Theme of Zechariah - His name - God Remembers
Third Vision Part 1
Vs 1-2: Zechariah sees a man with a measuring cord going to measure Jerusalem
In the post-exile prophecies God is calling his people to build the Temple and the City - frustrating and difficult task
Faced opposition of the nations
Faced apathy in their own hearts
Faced distractions of the riches and comfort
Haggai 2:9 - Haggai promises that the latter glory of the Temple - which is connected to the city - will exceed that of the glory days of David and Solomon
Vs 3-4: Measuring man goes out and reports to another angel who then orders the measuring man to bring a message to Zechariah - Jerusalem will have no walls - too many men and cattle to contain
No walls?
Ezek 38 prophecies of a future day when the nations will gather against Jerusalem to attack it because it has no walls and they will be crushed by the LORD
Isaiah 54:1-2 - Prophecy of once barren Jerusalem having so many offspring that the city will need to expand and enlarge
Same prophecy as the one containing the victory of the Crafstmen over any weapon formed against Israel
Men and Cattle
Duet 28:4 - God will multiply offspring of men and beast - Old Covenant blessing for Obedience
Ezek 36:11 - Promise to multiply man and beast
Ezekiel 36 is the prophecy of the New Covenant - promise to give them an ew heart and the Holy Spirit
Vs 5 - Angel declares, I YHWH will be a wall of fire and glory in her midst
I will be, Declares YHWH
Same word Pattern as I AM that I AM
Wall of fire
Reference to Israel at the Red Sea where the Angel of the Lord was a wall of fire between Israel and Pharaoh’s Army
Glory in her midst
Reference to God dwelling with Israel at Sinai, and in the Tabernacle
Bottom Line: In this city they have yet to build, God is promising a future where He will dwell with His people intimately, on an even greater level than He did with Moses. He is promising to protect them on a greater level than He did with Israel at the Red Sea. He is promising to bless them on a greater level than they experienced in the Old Covenant.
Call To Escape 2:6-9
Call To Escape 2:6-9
Woe Woe vs 6-7
Woe Woe vs 6-7
“Woe, Woe! Flee from the land of the north,” declares Yahweh, “for I have dispersed you as the four winds of the heavens,” declares Yahweh. 7 “Woe, Zion! Escape, you who are living with the daughter of Babylon.”
Woe, Woe
Most Severe warning - listen to what I am about to say or you will die
Isaiah 55:1 “Woe! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat.” Come to my waters and drink - or else you die
Flee from the land of the north
Israel most vulnerable to attack from the north - Assyria and Babylon both attacked from the north - bad things come from there
Exiled to the land of the north - to Babylon
only a few thousand Israelites left in the first return from Babylon
Most Israelites had become prosperous and comfortable in Babylon
Isaiah 48:20 “Go out from Babylon, flee from Chaldea, declare this with a shout of joy, proclaim it, send it out to the end of the earth; say, “The Lord has redeemed his servant Jacob!””
Calls them to flea with a shout of joy because God has redeemed His people - New Exodus
Coming home is the first step of enjoying this intimate relationship with God - can’t experience thsee blessings from the land of the North!
Demonstrates a commitment to siding with God over the gods and pleasures of Babylon
I have dispersed you
Run away from the North because I dispersed you - exiled you
Four winds - scattered Israel throughout all creation
Also reference back to the four horns - scattered Israel to the nations who oppressed God’s people
This land you must flee from is the land of curse - why would you want to stay there? Flee from there! Come home and experience blessing!
This is not a land of comfort - it is the land of our cursing - Run away!
Escape living with the daughter of Babylon
Daughter of Babylon
Jeremiah 51:33 “For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor at the time when it is trodden; yet a little while and the time of her harvest will come.””
Daughter of Babylon will be crushed like grain on a threshing floor
In same prophecy God calls His people to, Jeremiah 51:45 ““Go out of the midst of her (the Daughter of Babylon), my people! Let every one save his life from the fierce anger of the Lord!”
Isaiah 47:1-3 “Come down and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground without a throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans! For you shall no more be called tender and delicate. Take the millstones and grind flour, put off your veil, strip off your robe, uncover your legs, pass through the rivers. Your nakedness shall be uncovered, and your disgrace shall be seen. I will take vengeance, and I will spare no one.”
As we just saw, in Isaiah 48 - God calls Israel to flee from Babylon
Historically speaking - Babylon has been defeated already - Daughter of Babylon is a reference to the offspring of Babylon
Neb’s dream - Babylon is the head - Everyone else comes after but is still connected back to the figure head
This is why Babylon continues to show up - i.e. 1 Peter, Revelation
Escape! Why? Don’t stay in the land of your judgement because if you stay in that land, you will experience the full anger of the Lord
Come to Zion - the city of God - the place where the Ultimate King will rule on the Throne - the place of blessing, and intimacy, and protection
Spoilers to Spoiled - vs 8-9
Spoilers to Spoiled - vs 8-9
8 For thus says Yahweh of hosts, “After glory He has sent me against the nations which have taken you as spoil, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye. 9 For behold, I will wave My hand over them so that they will be spoil for their slaves. Then you will know that Yahweh of hosts has sent Me.
For He has sent me
This is ultimately why you must flee and escape the Land of Babylon
Who is the Me?
Zechariah - me most recently referred to Zechariah in 2:2 and 3
Zechariah has power to wave his hand over the world to judge them?
Zechariah sent after glory?
Angel of the Lord?
Thus says YHWH - Remember that the Angel of the Lord is speaking for YHWH here
He has sent me - He is referring to YHWH, and the angel of the LORD is YHWH talking like YHWH
The “Me” in reference to YHWH is significant in book of Isaiah - Zechariah has already referenced Isaiah 47, and Isaiah 48, what comes in Isaiah 49? The Second Servant Song.
Isaiah 49:1-3 “Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name. He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”
After glory - in pursuit of YHWH’s glory - “in whom I will be glorified”
He has been sent against the nations who have enslaved His people
Reference to the judgement coming upon the daughter of Babylon
They have touched the apple of God’s eye - term of endearment - reference back to the Song of Moses
Deut 32:10 “He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; he encircled him, he cared for him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.”
In that song, Moses prophecies of Israel’s idolatry and of their eventual exile, as well as God’s judgement upon the nations who enslaved and oppressed His people
Deut 32:35-36 “Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.’ For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants, when he sees that their power is gone and there is none remaining, bond or free.”
Waves His hand
Isaiah 11:15-16 “And the Lord will utterly destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt, and will wave his hand over the River with his scorching breath, and strike it into seven channels, and he will lead people across in sandals. And there will be a highway from Assyria for the remnant that remains of his people, as there was for Israel when they came up from the land of Egypt.”
God will destroy Egypt and the Nile River and create a way for His people to come home, as He will do in the north from the land of Assyria
The Servant is making the way for the New Exodus that YHWH is calling for
Isaiah 19:16 “In that day the Egyptians will be like women, and tremble with fear before the hand that the Lord of hosts shakes over them.”
God will decimate the Egyptians but this wrathful judgment also carries with it a promise of their redemption
Isaiah 19:21-23 “And the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day and worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows to the Lord and perform them. And the Lord will strike Egypt, striking and healing, and they will return to the Lord, and he will listen to their pleas for mercy and heal them. In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and Assyria will come into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians.”
The nations will return to YHWH and the highway for Israel’s New Exodus will be open to the gentiles!
They will be spoil
During the siege of Jerusalem by Babylon, not only the people, but the treasures of Israel became the plunder of Babylon
The Servant will reverse this and He will turn the plunderers into Israel’s plunder
Isaiah 60:5-6 “Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.”
In Israel’s restoration, the wealth of the nations shall come to Zion
Call to Joy 2:10-13
Call to Joy 2:10-13
Sing for Joy! - vs 10
Sing for Joy! - vs 10
“10 Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion; for behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” declares Yahweh.”
Direct reference to Zephaniah
Zeph’s name means: the Hidden Treasure of YHWH
Zeph shows that through judgement of Israel, the nation is becoming refined
Sing for joy, daughter of Zion
Zephaniah 3:14, “Sing for joy, O daughter of Zion! Make a loud shout, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!”
I will Dwell in your midst
Zeph 3:15, “15 Yahweh has taken away His judgments against you; He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, Yahweh, is in your midst; You will fear evil no more.”
Pressumes that there is a city and Temple in which YHWH will dwell
Why should they sing for joy - the Hidden treasure
Zeph 3:16-17 In that day it will be said to Jerusalem: “Do not fear, O Zion; Do not let your hands fall limp. 17 Yahweh your God is in your midst, A mighty one who will save. He will be joyful over you with gladness; He will be quiet in His love; He will rejoice over you with joyful singing
Only time in all the Bible where God is said to be singing
I am coming - this moment is imminent! This moment is near and on the horizon!
Israel should rejoice and sing, ultimately, because they have been restored on such a level to God that He will sing over them.
Zecharaiah’s point - YHWH remembers the promised song
Why should you flee the daughter of Babylon? So that you can be a part of the daughter of Zion!
Many Nations will become My People - vs 11
Many Nations will become My People - vs 11
11 “And many nations will join themselves to Yahweh in that day and will become My people. Then I will dwell in your midst, and you will know that Yahweh of hosts has sent Me to you.”
Many Nations
Isaiah 52:15 “so shall he sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand.”
Introduction to the Song of the Suffering Servant - He will sprinkle - cleanse the many nations
Isaiah 53:11-12 “Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.”
Remember the second - the Servant will glorify the name of YHWH - He does so by turning the nations into spoil as He restores and vindicates Israel. But He also does so by becoming a light to the nations…
Isaiah 49:5-6 “And now the Lord says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him— for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength— he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.””
Join themselves
Gen 29:34 “And she conceived again and bore a son and said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore he was named Levi.”
Leah, the unloved wife, desired to have a deep intimate relationship with Jacob and thought that the birth of 3 sons would cause this
The nations will join themselves not against YHWH but with YHWH in an intimate relationship
Isaiah 56:3 “Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely separate me from his people”
Why should they not fear?
Zechariah: In that Day they will become My people!
Reference to the promise of the salvation of the nations from Hosea
Hosea 1:10 “Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it shall be said to them, “Children of the living God.””
Hosea 2:23 “and I will sow her for myself in the land. And I will have mercy on No Mercy, and I will say to Not My People, ‘You are my people’; and he shall say, ‘You are my God.’ ””
Then I will dwell in your midst
This rich relationship, this blessing, this protection, this joy and singing isn’t just for Israel, its for God’s people!
Supposes a temple and a city! Your obedience now has a worldwide effect!
Then you will know that YHWH has sent Me
When Israel sees all of this they will know the Servant…foreshadowing for later
YHWH will choose Jerusalem - vs 12
YHWH will choose Jerusalem - vs 12
“12 Then Yahweh will inherit Judah as His portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem.”
Inherit Judah as His Portion - choose Jerusalem
They will be His prized position
Again a reference to the Song of Moses
Deut 32:7-9 “Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you. When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. But the Lord’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage.”
Just as God chose Israel to be His nation, just as He chose the Fathers to be His - He will again choose Jerusalem
Exclusive choice for an intimate relationship with His people - complete restoration of the relationship that seemed to be broken off
Inheritance of the Servant
Isaiah 53:12 “Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.”
Be Silent - vs 13
Be Silent - vs 13
13 “Be silent, all flesh, before Yahweh; for He is aroused from His holy habitation.”
Be silent
Zeph 1:7 “Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is near; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests.”
Hab 2:20 “But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.””
God is about to act and about to judge
Remember the first vision - the report of patrol - Zech 1:11 “We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth remains at rest.’”
the visions began with their being all the earth being still and quiet - a bad thing - appeared God wasn’t active
God’s message: be silent before Me because I am about to Act - He has left His habitation to carry out judgement
Application
Application
Peter calls us exiles and sojourners - According to Zechariah - how should we look at the land of our exile and all of its pleasures?
Read 1 Peter 2:11 “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.”
What should be our response to the future work of Christ on behalf of Israel?
How does our passage change your understanding of John 3:16?