Slices
Prepare
Who would you want to represent God’s rule over your world? Who would you want to represent you before God?
Bible passage
Four chariots
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 towards the north country, the one with the white horses towards the west, and the one with the dappled horses towards the south.’
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 towards the north country have given my Spirit rest in the land of the north.’
A crown for Joshua
9 The word of the Lord came to me: 10 ‘Take silver and gold from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon. Go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. 11 Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jozadak. 12 Tell him this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord. 13 It is he who will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.” 14 The crown will be given to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple of the Lord. 15 Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the Lord, and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the Lord your God.’
Explore
In this eighth and final vision, we again see coloured horses, this time pulling chariots, heading out to the four winds, bringing judgment against the nations. The focus on the north is probably of particular concern to the post-exilic Jews, who well remembered how their enemies from Babylon had attacked from that direction.
Then in verse 9, there is a change of focus. Returning exiles from Babylon start an urgent chain of events leading to the crowning of high priest Joshua (v 11). This might seem strange. There seems to be a confusion of roles – surely it is the prince or governor who should be crowned? Not in this vision. The focus looks beyond this Joshua to another, whose name is the Branch (see Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15) – the coming Messiah. He will build the Temple of God and unite the two offices of priest and king in one person (vs 12,13).
In verse 15, we see that people from far away will be participants in this great divine project. This may remain in the future to us, but notice that Paul used the same language to describe the building of the body of Christ in Ephesians 2:11–22 by those who ‘were once far away’.
Respond
We don’t need to figure out every detail to feel the force of this chapter. God will judge the nations; we should look toward the Priest-King Jesus who will fulfil God’s purposes in this world!
Deeper Bible study
‘O Jesus … my Prophet, Priest, and King … accept the praise I bring.’1
In Zechariah’s first vision,2 horses are linked with a report that the nations that had oppressed God’s people were at peace. Now, in his eighth and last vision, horses and chariots of war execute God’s promised judgement on those nations (verse 8 conveys the idea of God’s wrath against them being appeased, giving his Spirit rest). Next comes the unprecedented coronation of a high priest, Joshua, as king to oversee the completion of the Temple. Zechariah thus gives the returnees renewed assurance that their oppressors will get their comeuppance and their reconstruction work will have a successful conclusion. But something much greater is indicated in Zechariah’s vision!
No priest had been crowned king before, nor had a king become a priest, except Melchizedek3 (King Uzziah had been punished for trying to burn incense).4 One only would be able to legitimately fulfil both functions. He is called Jesus (the Greek form of Joshua/Jeshua) and is foreshadowed here by the high priest of the same name. Joshua’s designation as ‘the Branch’ in verse 12 anticipates his greater namesake.5 It is the Priest and King – Jesus – who is building the Temple of the Lord which the Spirit of God indwells.6 That Temple is being built not only with Jewish but also with Gentile followers of Jesus (‘Those who are far away’, v 15).7
In Zechariah’s final nocturnal vision we thus have a glorious picture of the Messiah. As a priest, Jesus Christ offered himself as a sacrifice for our sins on the cross. As David’s greatest son and God’s only Son, his royal lineage is beyond compare. One day, every knee shall bow at his name and every tongue confess that he is Lord. Why not do that right now?
Christians, as ‘a royal priesthood’,8 have free access to heaven’s throne room. Our prayers rise like incense before God.9 Give thanks for this amazing privilege!
1 J Newton, 1725–1807, ‘How sweet the name’ 2 Zech 1 3 Gen 14:13 4 2 Chr 26:16–19 5 Isa 11:1,10; Jer 23:5,6 6 1 Cor 3:16 7 Acts 2:39; Eph 2:13 8 1 Pet 2:9 9 Rev 8:4
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Judges 21; Mark 7
Pray for Scripture Union
Please pray for Jill Warren, Content Assistant, and Tanya Pencheva, Development Hub Assistant, as they work to support the content creation work of the Development Hub. Thank God for their gifts and skills in organisation and creativity.
