Zechariah 1-3: Messengers and Visions

There is a lot to swallow in these 3 chapters. There are messengers, horsemen, angels, some guy standing under a myrtle tree... what is all this about? While I'm sure there are lots of good explanations for all of the strangeness in Zechariah's visions, I would like to concentrate on what I believe to be the most important portion of each: the promises God makes to Israel.

Each of these visions end with a promise made to Israel. The first is this: My temple will be rebuilt. I will once again comfort the people of Zion, and I will choose Jerusalem as My home. (Zechariah 1:16-17)

This is a big promise. The temple originally built by Solomon had been destroyed 60 years earlier. Solomon built the temple with a promise from God: that He would dwell in the temple built for Him. Here, God reiterates this promise. The temple will be rebuilt. And God will once again dwell among his people.

In Zechariah's second vision, God promises to protect the Israelites from the enemies who sent them into exile (Zechariah 1:21).  In the third, He promises that many other nations will join with Israel as His people, reiterating the promise made to Abraham in Genesis 12 that all nations would be blessed through him.

Finally, in the fourth vision, we see God's grandest promise of all: in a single day, I will purge guilt from the land. And on that day I, the Eternal, Command of heavenly armies, promise everyone will invite one another to sit under the shade of his own vine and fig tree and be at peace. (Zechariah 3:8-10)

The picture God is painting through all of these visions is one of Restoration, of wrongs being made right, of the world returning to how it was meant to be. Israel would be returned to the promised land. God would dwell with them again. He would protect them from their enemies. He would bring other nations to join them as his people. And, finally, He would bring complete peace to the world.

This is the vision that motivated the workers as they rebuilt the temple. This is what kept them going as they were criticized and threatened (Ezra 5). They longed for restoration. The trusted that God would bring it.

What is interesting about this fourth vision, is that it includes a prerequisite. In the vision, Joshua (the current high priest of Israel) is shown. He is charged with the care of the temple and commanded to "Watch, because I am going to bring My servant, who is the Branch of David, to lead you." Other than taking care of the temple, the purpose of the priesthood was to watch for the coming servant of God who would lead them. It will be through him that all guilt will be purged from the land and peace will finally be restored to all.

In this vision it is Joshua who is crowned and given leadership over the temple. Interesting tidbit: the Greek form of the name Hebrew name Joshua is Jesus.