O what a Night!

 Read Zechariah 1

In a single night, the LORD gave the prophet Zechariah eight visions of the future.  The purpose of these revelations met two very important needs.  First, the Jews needed hope.  For seventy years Judah lived in Babylonian exile.  Would they ever see their beloved promised land again?  Would God be faithful to the promises He made to Abraham?  The answers were all "Yes!"  And, as with many of the Old Testament prophecies, the more immediate events and the long-range future happenings are told as one.  Still today, we are living in between the fulfillment of many of things foretold in this book. 

Second, the people needed to get back to work on the Temple and complete the project.  Some 50,000 had been allowed to return to Jerusalem when the Medes and Persians conquered Babylon.  The reason was not to reestablish their kingdom but to rebuild the Temple.  Because of opposition the work stalled and the people became busy with their own lives.  After about sixteen years, God raised up Haggai and Zechariah to motivate the people.  While Haggai preached priorities, Zechariah spoke of the future, especially as it relates to the coming Messiah.

But no encouragement about God's work or His future plans would be of any benefit to them personally unless their hearts were right with Him.  So, before anything else, God issued a call for repentance.

God's anger and discipline of the nation was due to their sin.  "'Return to me', says the LORD of hosts, 'and I will return to you', says the LORD of hosts." (v.3).  Repentance is not only feeling sorry for one's sin and turning to God.  The same action must include a turning from "your evil ways and your evil deeds" (v.4a).  As mentioned in these opening verses, history proves the veracity of God's word.  His anger at their sin and the ensuing discipline were the responses of a loving LORD who desired to bless them.

There is no need to be confused as to the meaning of these visions.  Each is explained in the context.  This is "word of the LORD" (v.7).
Vision #1-A man on a red horse. (vv.7-17)
The omniscient God and His angels are on patrol throughout the entire earth.  With the seventy years of exile at an end and the Persian Empire experiencing peace, it provided a good opportunity for the Jews to go back home.  With that came God's "gracious and comforting words" (v.13).  The LORD was angry with those nations who had mistreated His people and at the same time had multiple blessings in store for the Jews.

Vision #2-Four horns and four craftsmen. (vv.18-21)
Specifically, God's anger was focused on the four Gentile powers that scattered Israel, exiled Judah, and destroyed Jerusalem (v.19). 

For today, we need not be discouraged by the evil in this world.  God sees, knows, controls what is happening.  His love, His word, and His plans for our lives are eternally secure in Christ.