I. ACT I: A VISION OF FUTURE EVENTS (1:7-6:15)

1. (Imagine yourself sitting in a theater with three dimensional pictures appearing in rapid succession with riveting affect! In one night Zechariah saw 10 scenes that left him exhausted. The scenes were real and their meanings were forward looking affecting Israel and her future).

A. SCENE 1 -- (1:7-3:10)

1. The Horse & Rider (1:7-17)

Three months after Haggai had delivered his last messages, Zechariah presents his great apocalyptic message consisting of ten symbolic visions. The vision covers the time from his day, clear into the prophetic future at Christ’s second coming.

Zechariah plays a crucial role, like that of Daniel, in the interpretation of their prophetic books. The references to a coming Messiah was not to be understood in a political, historical sense, but rather in a futuristic sense. The Jews had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon but before any messianic blessings, God’s people had to turn to Him in full obedience and righteousness.

Verse 8: “During the night I had a vision--and there before me was a man riding a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, brown and white horses.”

The symbol of a “myrtle tree” in a “ravine” or at the bottom of a ravine pictures Israel's condition at this time. Myrtle bushes flourish particularly well in damp soils or by the side of a river, which sets the stage for Zachariah’s vision. The whole earth seems to be still and at rest. Security returned to the kingdom of Persia since Darius the Great had crushed all rebellion. However, Jerusalem still lay in ruins and its inhabitants were discouraged because their cherished messianic hopes were not being fulfilled.

But suddenly, powerful steeds appear in the shadows pulling on their rains as if to charge forward at a command. Why are they colored? Is it symbolic of peace, war, famine and death as Revelation 6:2-8 seem to indicate taking place during the tribulation period? Perhaps! But for now our focus is on the man on a red horse.

Who is the one riding a red horse and standing among the myrtle trees (v.8,10)? Vernon McGee believes the rider on the red horse is the Lord Jesus Himself which verse 11-12 indicate as “the Angel of the Lord.”(Through the Bible, p.908). The NIV states that someone is riding on a red horse and one is standing in the ravine. Others suggest the rider on the red horse, along with the other horsemen, are standing before the Angel of the Lord giving an account of their activities. The riders sent out by God apparently return and report that the whole world sits quiet and at rest except for Jerusalem (vs.10-11). In the Old Testament when God appeared to a person, He appeared as an Angel. This pre-incarnate appearance is called a christophany. So verse 12 finds Christ standing in this ravine interceding before Jehovah on behalf of Israel. Dr. McComiskey explains: “Here the angel symbolizes the divine presence, and the interplay between this angel and Yahweh (vs.12), between Yahweh and the angel (vs.13), and between the angel and the prophet (v.14) enhances this vision by establishing the Lord's direct involvement in and understanding the plight of his people” (The Minor Prophets, p.1038).

Almost ninety years had passed since Nebuchadnezzar had raised Jerusalem to the ground. Many returned when Cyrus gave them permission to rebuild the Temple but only the foundation was laid. Eighteen years later, they still got nowhere. The returning remnant are just sitting among the rubble with a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness. The Jews thought Messiah would come as soon as the temple was rebuilt. So the Angel of the Lord identifying with hurting Israel, cries out: “Lord Almighty, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah?” The reason His compassion is fired up for His people is the cruel treatment suffered under their captor’s rule. McComiskey concludes: “As a result of Yahweh’s compassion for his people, they will complete the temple and Jerusalem will continue to expand as the builders stretch their lines across rubble-strewn land, making out plots and measuring walls. Thus God will accomplish what the people so desperately desire: a temple and a secure city in which they can build their homes.” (The Minor Prophets, p.1043)

                                          THE MAN AMONG THE MYRTLE TREES

                                                                     Matthew 1:7-17

THE CURTAIN RISES WITH A START!

A RIDER ON A HORSE APPEARS

                AND STANDS AMONG SOME MYRTLE TREES

               WHERE OTHER COLORED STEEDS ARE SEEN

BUT WHO IS HE WHO STANDS ALONE?

AND WHY DO ANGEL RIDERS ROAM?

IT IS THE ANGEL OF THE LORD

           WHOSE WORD IS LIKE A PIERCING SWORD.

         THE SWEATING STEEDS HAD JUST RETURNED

PATROLLING EARTH’S REMOTEST END

         AND FOUND THE WORLD AT PEACE AND REST

         WHILE JUDAH STILL REMAINED OPPRESSED.

THEN IN THE VALLEY OF DESPAIR

A VOICE IS HEARD IN FERVENT PRAYER

   AS GOD THE SON STANDS IN THEIR PLACE

IMPLORING YAHWEH FOR HIS GRACE.

        THE LORD SPOKE KIND AND LOVING WORDS

WITH PROMISES THEY WOULD BE HEARD

HIS TEMPLE WILL AGAIN BE RAISED

          AS ISRAEL SHOUTS, “THE LORD BE PRAISED!”

                                                  THOUGHT QUESTIONS

1. The first thing Zechariah sees is a rider on a red horse standing in a ravine (v.8). Who is this rider (v.11) and what might “the ravine” suggest about where Israel found itself at this time?
   
   
   What is a “christophany” and why would He appear as an angel and not man as indicated in John 1:14?

3. Since we are not told the meaning of these colored steeds (v.8b) what do the colored horsed in Revelation 6:1-7 represent and might there be some parallel? Do you wonder if perhaps they are the same? Why? Or Why not?

4. Verse 12 pictures the Angel of the Lord praying to Yahweh on behalf of suffering Israel. We find a similar passage in John 17 between Jesus and His Father. How should this encourage us during our time of greatest need?