Zechariah, God’s chosen prophet to the exiles returning from Babylon, was given a series of visions in the night laying out God’s plans for the eternal future of Judah and Jerusalem, as well as the coming kingdom of Heaven.
Zechariah’s first vision was of a man riding a red horse, followed by other horses. The vision is a bit mysterious and its interpretations vary, but it seems to be a status report given by the reconnaissance angels to the Lord God, or Adonai in Hebrew, regarding the status of the earth at the end of the seventy-year exile period. Reading from the first chapter in the book of Zechariah:
8 “In the night I saw, and behold, a man riding upon a red horse was standing among the myrtle trees that were in the ravine. Behind him were red, sorrel and white horses.
9 Then I asked, ‘What are these, my lord?’
Now the angel speaking with me said to me, ‘I will show you what these are.’
10 Then the man standing among the myrtle trees answered and said, ‘These are the ones Adonai has sent to walk back and forth throughout the earth.’
11 They answered the angel of Adonai who stood among the myrtle trees saying, ‘We have walked throughout the earth, and behold, all the earth sits quietly and is still.’ ” Zechariah 1:8-11 (TLV)
Typically, a red horse is interpreted to indicate war, and a white horse peace and holiness. The meaning of the sorrel horse and the significance of the group of horses being in a group of myrtle trees, is not entirely clear. Merriam-Webster’s dictionary describes a sorrel horse as being a light reddish brown, with a cream mane and tail.
The myrtle tree may be a reference to Judah, which at this point, remained in a state of destruction, seventy years after the invasion of King Nebuchadnezzar. The exiles had begun to return to the land, but any reconstruction beyond a laying the foundation of the temple had not yet begun. That would occur later, after Persian King Artaxerxes’ decree, given to and recorded by Nehemiah.
The term “angel of the Lord” is believed by some much more than an angel, but rather, a reference to the Lord, the pre-incarnate Christ, and future King of the fifth and final kingdom to come. Just as Jesus does today on our behalf, He was interceding with the Father, the Lord of Hosts, Adonai-Tzva’ot in Hebrew, on behalf of ruined Judah.
12 Then the angel of Adonai answered and said, ‘Adonai-Tzva’ot, how long will You withhold compassion on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah with whom You have been angry for 70 years?’ 13 Adonai answered the angel who was speaking to me with pleasant, comforting words.
14 Then the angel speaking to me said, ‘Cry out saying, thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, “I am exceedingly zealous for Jerusalem and for Zion 15 and I am infuriated with the haughty nations. I was a little angry with them, but they furthered their own calamity.” Zechariah 1:12-15 (TLV)
For a rare moment in human history, under the Medo-Persian empire, the angels reported that there was peace on the earth. Yet in God’s eyes, the fact that Jerusalem, His chosen city, still lay in a state of destruction, with the surrounding nations not offering to help to rebuild it, was not acceptable in His eyes. God will deal with the great human empires of history through the lens of how they treated and respected His chosen nation, its people, and through them, how they thus respected Him, the Creator of all things. Countries were allowed to oppress God’s people for a season, but only in His time and for His chosen purposes, such as removing their idolatrous ways. But there was a clear limit to what God would permit, and these limits were exceeded.
The Lord would confirm that nothing had changed in the long term, despite the season of exile. He had eternally established Jerusalem as His own home on earth, and He would rebuild His temple and the city there.
16 “Therefore,” thus says Adonai, “I will return to Jerusalem with compassion. My House will be built there,” declares Adonai-Tzva’ot (the Lord of Hosts) “and a measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.” 17 Again cry out, saying, thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, “My cities will again overflow with prosperity and Adonai will again comfort Zion and will again choose Jerusalem.’” Zechariah 1:16 (TLV)
Despite the failings of His people to live the way the Lord wishes us to, He still loves us. He has made a way to atone for all of our sins and shortcomings – the sacrificial death on the cross and resurrection from the dead of the Lord Jesus Christ. One day, Jesus will return to earth to reign over the fifth and final kingdom – the eternal kingdom of God. Though it may enter on the red horse of war, Jesus will reign over it forever on the white horse of peace, among the myrtle trees of Israel.
Reflection
No matter where we may find ourselves on this planet, be it a jail or a barroom or a hospital, Christ is even now intervening on our behalf with the Father, to call and draw us closer to Him for our own eternal salvation, blessing, freedom, and healing. Nothing else on earth can compare to the wonder, might, and goodness of God!
Lord, we call upon You for mercy and grace. Forgive us for all of our sins and shortcomings, and for the many times we have turned our back on You to shamefully chase after worthless things. Teach us to number our days and to invest our precious time in things of eternal value, the things of God. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.
Bonus reading from Psalm 107:
(Note: Adonai is a name for the Lord, Elyon means God Most High)
1 Praise Adonai, for He is good,
for His lovingkindness endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of Adonai say so—
whom He redeemed from the hand of the foe,
3 whom He gathered out of the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the sea.
4 Some wandered in a desert, a wasteland.
They found no way to an inhabited city.
5 Hungry and thirsty,
their souls ebbed away.
6 So they cried out to Adonai in their distress,
and He delivered them out of their troubles.
7 Then He led them by a straight way
to go to a city where they could live.
8 Let them praise Adonai for His mercy
and His wonders for the children of men,
9 for He satisfies the thirsty soul
and fills the hungry soul with goodness.
10 Some sat in darkness and deep gloom,
prisoners in misery and iron chains,
11 for they had defied God’s words,
and spurned the counsel of Elyon.
12 So He humbled their heart with trouble.
They stumbled, and no one was helping.
13 So they cried out to Adonai in their distress,
and He delivered them out of their troubles.
14 He brought them out of darkness
and deep gloom, breaking their chains. Psalm 107:1-14 (TLV)
Have a blessed and beautiful day in the Lord today.
Daily Meditations from the Genealogy of Jesus 