Divine Concern

John G. Paton was a pioneer missionary in the New Hebrides Islands (now Vanuatu) of the South Pacific Ocean. One night, hostile natives surrounded his mission headquarters. The natives intended to set the building ablaze and to kill the Patons as they exited. Paton and his wife prayed all night for God’s protection.

When morning came, they were amazed to see none of the hostile tribesmen remained, and had no idea what led to their departure. Years later, the chief of the tribe became a follower of Jesus Christ. Paton was able to question the chief regarding that night. To his surprise, the chief replied, “Who were all those men you had with you there?” The missionary answered, “There were no men there; just my wife and I.”

The chief explained that he and the tribesmen saw hundreds of men in shining garments with drawn swords, who had surrounded the mission headquarters. The only conclusion was that God had sent his angels to protect and deliver the Patons [as told in Billy Graham, Angels: God’s Secret Agents (Dallas: Word, 1975; reprint, 1994) 7-8]. While one cannot say for certain what occurred that night, the Bible does teach that angels are “all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation” (Heb 1:14). Hospitality is a biblical virtue, and “by this some have entertained angels without knowing it” (13:2).

Miracles occurred rarely and only during four periods of biblical history: the times of Moses and Joshua; Elijah and Elisha; Daniel; and Christ and the early church. God may not regularly work the miraculous, yet He is always concerned for the welfare of His people. Zechariah 1—2 proves that truth. God expressed His concern for discouraged and oppressed people. Zechariah 1 begins with a call to repentance—which the people heeded—and continues with three visions, each communicating God’s concern for His people. Zechariah’s message is not only applicable to an ancient people, but also to present-day believers.

PROMISED INTERVENTION

(Zech 1) Zechariah served the Lord among the first group of returned exiles from Babylon. The group already responded to Haggai’s message and had resumed construction of the Temple. Zechariah means “the LORD remembers.” The meaning of his father’s name Berechiah is “Jehovah blesses.” His grandfather Iddo meant “His time.” The combined message would be “the Lord remembers and blesses according to His timing (vv. 1-3).

“The word of the LORD came to Zechariah the prophet” (v. 1), and it was a readily apparent message: “Return to Me” (v. 3). Zechariah’s message is reminiscent of James 4:8a (“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you”). Hebrews 11:6 declares, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” When the Lord seems distant, that experience is the result of not paying “closer attention” to His Word, so that one drifts from it (2:1).

Robert Robinson (1735-90) did not care for anything spiritual in his teenage years. Events in his life made him curious enough to hear Methodist preacher George Whitefield, who preached Matthew 3:7 (“You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”). Robert felt fearful, as if Whitefield spoke directly to him. Eventually, at the age of twenty, Robert experienced peace with God through faith and repentance. Two years later, he wrote the hymn “Come Thou Fount” to express the joy in his faith. The lyrics emphasize divine grace and are based upon 1 Samuel 7:12 (“Then Samuel took a stone … and named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the LORD has helped us.’”). Robert admitted the reality that the believer is “prone to wander” and desperately needs God to bind that wandering heart.

Years later, Robert drifted from God. Not realizing who he was, a woman, traveling in a stagecoach with Robert, quoted the hymn and remarked as to what an encouragement it had been. She asked if he knew the hymn, to which he confessed himself as the author and how he longed to experience his former joy. She encouraged Robert that “streams of mercy [are] never ceasing.” His fellowship with God was restored through the ministry of his own hymn.

God was displeased with the past and present ancestors of Zechariah’s generation. The people knew the Lord’s displeasure, as evident in the destruction of Jerusalem and the subsequent Babylonian captivity. God’s compassion, love, and patience would be received if the people would return to Him. The faith of previous generations would not be sufficient, nor would any traditions, as neither is capable of leading to truth. God’s Word is always the absolute authority and is eternally decisive. The message of Scripture is understood with authentic faith.

Zechariah’s message is one of encouragement in difficult times. Nevertheless, he knew the returned exiles were lacking in devotion to God, and Zechariah counseled them to repent and return to the Lord wholeheartedly (vv. 2-6). Sin results in judgment, while repentance leads to the appropriation and enjoyment of God’s promised blessings. The prophet encouraged the people to seek divine forgiveness and restoration, which they did as evident by their subsequent actions; namely, rebuilding the Temple (Ezra 6:15). The remainder of Zechariah’s prophecy is a message of blessing and encouragement for God’s people.

Verse 7 introduces the first of eight night visions. The vision of the horses and rider emphasizes God’s concern for His people, and promises the nation its restoration (vv. 7-10). God is present with His people in their suffering.

“The devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet 5:8b). Satan roams the earth for evil (cf. Job 1:7; 2:2), yet God has His representatives “sent to patrol the earth” (Zech 1:10). God’s patrol keeps Him informed with regard to everything pertaining to the kingdoms of the world. God is always examining the work of His people (and truly every person in particular).

One of the more notable aspects of Zechariah’s vision is “a man … riding on a red horse” (v. 8), which context seemingly indicates to be “the angel of the LORD” (v. 11). The horseman was located among the myrtle trees, which is a humble tree as opposed to the mighty Lebanon cedar. Myrtle tree blossoms emit a complex sweet, spicy fragrance when their leaves are crushed. The fragrant quality illustrates the crucible of grace (i.e., the transformative dynamic in difficult circumstances). Infinite in His grace and lovingkindness, God will chasten the believer to authentic repentance, resulting in a life of conviction in all aspects. Human extremity is God’s opportunity, and often when He accomplishes the remarkable for His people.

The patrol reported that the world was “peaceful and quiet” (v. 11), though not in a good manner since God’s people suffered (v. 12). God intervened and promised to bring restoration (vv. 13-17). The second vision of the four horns and four craftsmen expands the promised comfort in the first vision (vv. 18-21). God promised “to throw down” the power of those who used it contrary to His people.

Jesus promised, “the gates of Hades will not overpower” His church (Matt 16:18). Calvinist theologian Theodore Beza famously remarked how “the church is an anvil that has outworn many a hammer.” Just as the craftsman will prevail over a powerful horn, so will God be victorious for His people.

PROMISED BLESSING

(Zech 2) The third vision is a prophecy with a near fulfillment in the rebuilding of Jerusalem, and the blessing of that work in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. The ultimate fulfillment extends beyond the time of restoration to permanent victory in the messianic kingdom (Zech 2:1-13). God brought “comfort” in the sending of His Servant, the Messiah, who came “to bring good news to the afflicted … to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD and the day of vengeance of our God” (Isa 61:1-2; cf. Luke 4:18-19).

In the years since Jesus’ time (and even prior), Israel has been “trampled under foot by the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24). Zechariah’s prophecy extends beyond his generation to the glorious day when Messiah appears, who will restore what is fallen “and rebuild it as in the days of old” (Amos 9:11b; cf. Acts 15:15-18). God is “exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and Zion” (Zech 1:14) against the nations that trample her. He was angry with Jerusalem and used the Gentile nations in disciplining His people. Nevertheless, the consummation of God’s sovereign purposes will bring those Gentile powers to a much-deserved judgment. Prior to Israel’s restoration is the interadvent age of the church. This was not revealed in the Old Testament, and is the period during which God has chosen “among the Gentiles a people for His name” (Acts 15:14). A glorious future is anticipated when “A Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob” (Isa 59:20; cf. Rom 11:26).

Zechariah’s message certainly had specific relevance for his generation, who were exhorted to make the return to their land (Zech 2:6-7). Yet it also extends beyond to the final regathering of Israel and the worldwide blessing of the messianic age. The certainty of fulfillment should not result in passivity. For instance, Daniel “observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years” (Dan 9:2). His response was to give “attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes” (v. 3). The prophetic Word urges the believer to be active in the fulfillment.

In the prophet’s time, many were comfortable to settle for less than God’s best. The call to flee Babylon was both figurative and literal (Zech 2:6-7). A willingness to accept mediocrity arises from a lack of faith instead of what God has truly provided. Various promises and teachings encourage believers with God’s care for them (vv. 8-9; cf. Matt 6:26; 1 Pet 5:7). God’s promise of ultimate blessing is reason to “sing for joy and be glad” (Zech 2:10). He gives promise of well-being in the present life and beyond. Be encouraged by God’s care for His people, and pursue success in every direction He guides.