Crowning the Unseen King: A Vision of Hope and Restoration

The Minor Prophets  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  41:46
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Zechariah 6:1–15

1. Chariots of Change

Zechariah 6:1-3
As we come to this eighth vision, the focus expands beyond Israel to the Gentile nations. Zechariah, without prompting, lifts is eyes to see a vision of four chariots coming forth from between two bronze mountains. There are groups of horses of various colors: red, black, white, and dappled. The order and colors are somewhat different than the horses of Zechariah’s first vision (1:7-17) but there is a similar emphasis on the fact that God controls history and subdues the nations that oppress Israel.
Chariots in this time can carry individuals of high social standing, but their primary use was as military transport and for battle. Examples:
Isaiah 66:15–16 NASB95
For behold, the Lord will come in fire And His chariots like the whirlwind, To render His anger with fury, And His rebuke with flames of fire. For the Lord will execute judgment by fire And by His sword on all flesh, And those slain by the Lord will be many.
Psalm 68:17 NASB95
The chariots of God are myriads, thousands upon thousands; The Lord is among them as at Sinai, in holiness.
Mountains were understood as the places where the gods dwelt; figuratively, these mountains picture the LORD’s abode (ex. Mount Sinai, the mountain of Yahweh). That they were bronze mountains figuratively speak both of strength (the major metal used for implements of war at this time) and of judgment (Think of the bronze altar and bronze laver of the tabernacle).
The color of the horses seem to have figurative significance as well. Dr. Unger, OT scholar suggests that the red horses signify war and bloodshed; the black signify famine and death; white signifying vengeance, victory and triumph, as in Rev. 19:11, 14.
Revelation 19:11 NASB95
And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.
Revelation 19:14 NASB95
And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.
The dappled then signified plagues and other judgments.
These symbolize God’s sovereign judgment across the earth. Even though chaos seems to reign, God’s judgment still stands as He guides history toward divine restoration. His plans and purposes are sourced in His righteousness; trust Him to make all things new.

2. Charisma of Calm

Zechariah 6:4-8
The intensity of the eighth vision continues as Zechariah seeks to understand the meaning of the vision. The angel responds to his question by telling Zechariah that these are the four spirits of heaven, going forth after standing before the Lord of all the earth. The Heb word translated in the NASB can also be translated as “wind,” though it seems more likely that these are specific angels for the task at hand, who stand before the Lord.
Psalm 104:4 NASB95
He makes the winds His messengers, Flaming fire His ministers.
Their destinations are stated in traveling to the north country or the south country.
Throughout history the two primary routes of invasion into the land of Israel was either from the north or the south. West was the Mediterranean Sea; eastward the Arabian Desert so those directions were effectively taken off the table for an invasion of the land.
The black horses are to go forth to the north country with the white horses following. The north country probably refers to Babylonia, where the ephod of the seventh vision was taken (the land of Shinar/Babylon).
The dappled horses will go forth to the south country, Egypt. It is assumed by many scholars that the red horses follows them, like the white horses followed the black ones. This is uncertain. What is certain is that all were eager to do the work assigned to each of them, yet they cannot leave until they are given permission by the LORD. Dr. Baldwin points out that “from first to last, the affairs of the nations are under God’s direction, not man’s. It is this certainty that makes prophecy possible.”
God then gives the command and they immediately obey, patrolling the whole earth.
The LORD then called out to Zechariah that the horses that had gone out into the north had appeased His wrath in the land of the north. This probably represents judgment on Babylon specifically, as representative of the total future destruction of all enemies of Israel.
Appeasement of God’s wrath brings peace and rest by the completion of the heavenly mandate by the four angelic messengers. God’s will always prevails, so by aligning our hearts with God’s will and mission we can experience His peace, even through the whirlwind of life, as we daily trust Him.

3. Crowning the Called

Zechariah 6:9-11
The symbolic act which follows these eight visions given to Zechariah was commanded by the LORD. In the fourth vision, the emphasis was the renewal of the high priest/ Israel’s priestly ministry and the fifth vision emphasized Israel’s testimony under Messiah as priest and king. Now those two are linked to the Messianic King-Priest. The prophetic order here is very common in the Scriptures: first, the judgments of the day of the Lord; then full kingdom blessing.
God commands Zechariah to take an offering from exiles recently of Babylon, who were bearing gifts, probably for the temple. They are being hosted by Josiah the son of Zephaniah while they are in Jerusalem. Zechariah is to meet them there and receive their gifts.
What follows in verse 11 is a symbolic coronation picture. Zechariah is told to make of the silver and gold a crown fit for royalty. The Hebrew word translated crown means “ornate, with many diadems.” Then he is to take the crown and set it on the head of Joshua, the high priest. This is a type emphasizing the consummation of prophecy symbolizing the crowning and reigning of the Messianic King-Priest, Psalm 110 4
Psalm 110:4 NASB95
The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews 7:1–3 NASB95
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.
This is unexpected, this crowning of Joshua, but points to God using unlikely vessels to fulfill His promises. Remember too that this event and the crown itself becomes a reminder of the future hope in Messiah.
Zechariah was open to God’s calling and became an active participant in God’s redemptive story; so too we must remain open to God’s calling, no matter how improbable it seems.

4. Christ, Our Chosen King

Zechariah 6:12-15
Joshua’s symbolic crowning is to be fulfilled literally in Messiah, called here a man whose name is Branch. The phrase “behold, a man” in verse 12 may be the source of a possible, intended allusion used by John in his gospel, John 19:5, as a double entendre:
John 19:5 NASB95
Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the Man!”
Cf also Rev. 19:12, speaking of the ornate crown He will wear:
Revelation 19:12 NASB95
His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.
He is Joshua’s antitype. There is first a word play emphasizing His humble and obscure origin, land and people. But it is He, not Joshua, who will rebuild the last temple, the messianic temple, not Zerubbabel’s. He will possess regal splendor and will sit and rule from His Davidic throne. He will be a priest on His throne.
Dr. Baldwin points out: “Nowhere else in the OT is it made so plain that the coming Davidic king will also be a priest.” A possible exception to this statement is in Psalm 110.
He will combine the two offices perfectly and peacefully.
The crown made for Joshua will now be placed in the temple as a reminder to keep the Messianic hope alive in Israel and as a memorial to the devotion of the exiles who brought such rich gifts for the temple. The Lord honors them by naming them individually and honors Josiah, their host, by calling him Hen, a name given to him by the LORD which means “gracious one.”
There is a coming day when those who are far off, i.e. the Gentiles will contribute to the building of the temple of the LORD. This is also predicted in Isaiah 60:5-7
Isaiah 60:5–7 NASB95
“Then you will see and be radiant, And your heart will thrill and rejoice; Because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you, The wealth of the nations will come to you. “A multitude of camels will cover you, The young camels of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba will come; They will bring gold and frankincense, And will bear good news of the praises of the Lord. “All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered together to you, The rams of Nebaioth will minister to you; They will go up with acceptance on My altar, And I shall glorify My glorious house.
They will know that the LORD of hosts has sent His messenger to them. It will certainly take place ...
The meaning in the last phrase of verse 15 is not that the coming and work of the Messiah depends on the people’s obedience, but that their share in it depends on their obedience. this conditional element relates then to the individual participation of each person, Deut 28:1-2
Deuteronomy 28:1–2 NASB95
“Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. “All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the Lord your God:
Deuteronomy 28:15 NASB95
“But it shall come about, if you do not obey the Lord your God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes with which I charge you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:
Cf. the New Covenant Jer. 31:33-34
Jeremiah 31:33–34 NASB95
“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. “They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”
Ezekiel 36:26–27 NASB95
“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
God personally guarantees that His people will ultimately obey; it is His Spirit that will enable them to do so. By that same Spirit, through our faith and our obedience we can engage in God’s work, plan and purpose. When He has done so much for us, can we do any less?
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