Zechariah 1:7-11 On the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius… As the Jewish people are usually regarded by the prophet in their theocratic character, as the form in which the Church then existed, the general doctrines of these visions are applicable to the Church in every form in which she exists. Some of the doctrines as set forth in this vision are — 1. The Church is externally an humble and lowly thing, neglected, often despised by the gay and wicked world, a grove of myrtles, rather than the cedars of Lebanon (ver. 8). 2. She has, however, an unseen glory that the world knows not of; for Christ dwells in her midst, full of love, invested with all power, sending His angel messengers to do His work, and preparing everything for her final triumph (vers. 8, 9). 3. The hour of darkest desolation to the Church, and of haughtiest triumph to her enemies, is often the very hour when God begins His work of judgment on the one and returning mercy on the other (ver. 11). 4. Christ intercedes for His people when they need it most, and His intercession is always prevalent (vers. 12, 13). 5. God will have all our hearts, for He is jealous of sharing His glory with another (ver. 14). 6. God often uses instruments to chastise His people, which, when He has done with them, He breaks and casts into the fire (ver. 15). 7. The Church of God shall yet triumph over every obstacle and vanquish every foe (ver. 16). 8. The promises and threatenings of God, though slow, are sure. They have eternity for the range of their fulfilment (ver. 17). 9. The head of the Church is at once human and Divine. He is called here "a man" (ver. 8), and the "Angel of Jehovah" (ver. 12). But the Angel of Jehovah is a Divine Person — even Gesenius admits this, and the Babylonish Talmud declares that "this man is no other than the Holy One." But if Divine and human, He must be God and man in one person. (T. V. Moore, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, |
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