SUMMARY
Zechariah receives eight night visions that are symmetrical and tell the story of God still active in the midst of the reconstituted community
ANALYSIS
A sort of rhymed set of visions announces God’s perspective on the Israelite community.
1 – 1:8-17 – Horsemen on patrol – The world is still and quiet
2 – 1:18-21 – Four horns/four engravers – Scattering and punishment
3 – 2:1-13 – Jerusalem measured – Preparing for Israelites, Gentiles, and God
4 – 3:1-10 – Joshua’s new clothes – Preparing to take away guilt
5 – 4:1-14 – Lampstand and two olive trees – Temples & messiahs
6 – 5:1-4 – Flying Scroll – Cleansing the land of sin
7 – 5:5-11 – Basket of Wickedness to Shinar – Punishment and scattering
8 – 6:1-8 – Four chariots on patrol – God’s Spirit is at peace in the north
The first and eighth visions concern God’s ever-present watchfulness around the world and cognizance of international affairs. The second and seventh visions address how God will punish those who hurt God’s people. The third and sixth visions describe how God will prepare Jerusalem to be a perpetually holyHoly is a term that originally meant set apart for the worship or service of God. While the term may refer to people, objects, time, or places, holiness in Judaism and Christianity primarily denotes the realm of the divine city in which God dwells with all people. The fourth and fifth visions – the focus of this literary device – describe God’s anointed leaders and the role they will play in a reconstituted Holy People. These visions are meant to work together to paint a picture of God’s ongoing involvement and care not just for the people returning to Jerusalem, but for the whole world.
