A VISION OF FOUR CHARIOTS A CROWN FOR JOSHUA ZECHARIAH 6:1-15

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1 1 Commentary by Charles Box Questions by John C. Sewell A VISION OF FOUR CHARIOTS A CROWN FOR JOSHUA ZECHARIAH 6:1-15

2 2 Text: Zechariah 6:1-15, A Vision of Four Chariots A Crown for Joshua Commentary By Charles Box 1. Once more I looked, and this time I saw four chariots emerging from between two mountains of bronze. 2. Harnessed to the first chariot were red horses, to the second black horses, 3. to the third white horses, and to the fourth spotted horses, all of them strong. 4. Then I asked the angelic messenger who was speaking with me, What are these, sir? 5. The messenger replied, These are the four spirits of heaven that have been presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth. 6. The chariot with the black horses is going to the north country and the white ones are going after them, but the spotted ones are going to the south country.

3 All these strong ones are scattering; they have sought permission to go and walk about over the earth. The Lord had said, Go! Walk about over the earth! So they are doing so. 8. Then he cried out to me, Look! The ones going to the northland have brought me peace about the northland. 9. The word of the Lord came to me as follows: 10. Choose some people from among the exiles, namely, Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, all of whom have come from Babylon, and when you have done so go to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. 11. Then take some silver and gold to make a crown and set it on the head of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12. Then say to him, The Lord who rules over all says, Look here is the man whose name is Branch, who will sprout up from his place and build the temple of the Lord. 13. Indeed, he will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed in splendor, sitting as king on his throne. Moreover, there will be a priest with him on his throne and they will see eye to eye on everything. 14. The crown will then be turned over to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple of the Lord. 15. Then those who are far away will come and build the temple of the Lord so that you may know that the Lord who rules over all has sent me to you. This will all come to pass if you completely obey the voice of the Lord your God. (NET)

4 4 Introduction: I. In the eighth vision Zechariah saw four chariots coming from between two mountains of bronze. A. There were different colored horses with each chariot. 1. The first chariot had red horses, the second chariot had black horses, the third chariot had white horses, and the fourth chariot had dappled horses. B. In the style of the previous visions, Zechariah asked the angel what the vision meant. 1. The angel said these horses and chariots represented four spirits of God or four winds (ASV) of heaven. a. They were described as going forth over the earth. b. This is a picture of God s judgment against the evil Gentile nations. 2. An example of similar language being used to describe God s judgment is in Jeremiah 49:36, And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven. I will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come. C. In Zechariah 1 men on different colored horses went forth to patrol the earth. 1. Now the report is back and it is time for judgment.

5 5 II. In Zechariah 6:9-15 crowns were made for the head of Joshua, the high priest. A. Zechariah 6:9-15, The word of the LORD came to me as follows: Choose some people from among the exiles, namely, Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, all of whom have come from Babylon, and when you have done so go to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. Then take some silver and gold to make a crown and set it on the head of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Then say to him, The LORD who rules over all says, Look here is the man whose name is Branch, who will sprout up from his place and build the temple of the LORD. Indeed, he will build the temple of the LORD, and he will be clothed in splendor, sitting as king on his throne. Moreover, there will be a priest with him on his throne and they will see eye to eye on everything. The crown will then be turned over to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple of the LORD. Then those who are far away will come and build the temple of the LORD so that you may know that the LORD who rules over all has sent me to you. This will all come to pass if you completely obey the voice of the LORD your God. (NET) B. There is no indication that this is a vision. 1. It seems to be an actual visual lesson for God s prophet and for the people. 2. The crowns were made of silver and gold. a. This was a picture of future glory.

6 6 C. God said, Behold the man whose name is the BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of this place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: Even he shall build the temple of the LORD: and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his thrown; and he shall be a priest upon his thrown: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. 1. We have been introduced to the BRANCH in Zechariah 3:8-9 where we learned that he would remove the sins of the people. a. Zechariah 3:8-9, Listen now, Joshua the high priest, both you and your colleagues who are sitting before you, all of you are a symbol that I am about to introduce my servant, the Branch. As for the stone I have set before Joshua on the one stone there are seven eyes. I am about to engrave an inscription on it, says the LORD who rules over all, to the effect that I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. (NET) b. This is a powerful reference to the Messiah. D. The Messiah would grow up as a BRANCH. 1. Isaiah wrote, For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground (Isaiah 53:2) a. He would build the Temple of the Lord. b. This Temple is the church, God s spiritual Temple. i. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, Do you not know that you are God s temple and that God s Spirit lives in you? If someone destroys God s temple,

7 7 Commentary: God will destroy him. For God s temple is holy, which is what you are. (NET) ii. Ephesians 2:19-22, So then you are no longer foreigners and noncitizens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God s household, because you have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (NET) 2. The Messiah would (1) sit upon His throne, (2) rule upon His throne, and (3) be a priest upon His throne. a. Jeremiah wrote, Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. (Jeremiah 23:5) b. These were promises concerning the Messiah and they were fulfilled in the days of Jesus. The Eighth Vision of Zechariah Zechariah 6:1-4, Once more I looked, and this time I saw four chariots emerging from between two mountains of bronze. Harnessed to the first chariot were red horses, to the second black horses, to the third white horses, and to the fourth spotted horses, all of them strong. Then I asked the angelic messenger who was speaking with me, What are these, sir? (NET)

8 8 I. The first vision involved horses and now the eighth vision also involves horses and chariots. A. "Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains. And the mountains were mountains of bronze. The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, the third white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses all of them strong. 1. These represent God s servants that go forth to do His work. 2. In this vision as in the others there was an angel or messenger that explained the vision. 3. The chariots came between two bronze or brass mountains. a. Likely it was early morning and the mountains had that golden brown color. 4. This is a vision of action as the idea of come forth and go was repeated several times. B. The activity of this vision had to do with God s restoring His people to their home land and with the unfolding of the scheme of redemption through the BRANCH who would sit, rule and be a priest on his throne. 1. The four chariots are sent forth to reclaim the obedient of the earth for God. 2. Only when people obey God can there be peace. Interpretation of the Vision of the Chariots Zechariah 6:5-8, The messenger replied, These are the four spirits of heaven that have been presenting themselves before the Lord of

9 9 all the earth. The chariot with the black horses is going to the north country and the white ones are going after them, but the spotted ones are going to the south country. All these strong ones are scattering; they have sought permission to go and walk about over the earth. The Lord had said, Go! Walk about over the earth! So they are doing so. Then he cried out to me, Look! The ones going to the northland have brought me peace about the northland. (NET) I. In reply to Zachariah s question as to the meaning of the vision the messenger said, These are going out to the four winds of heaven, after presenting themselves before the LORD of all the earth. The chariot with the black horses goes toward the north country, the white ones go after them, and the dappled ones go toward the south country. A. When the strong horses came out, they were impatient to go and patrol the earth. 1. And he said, Go, patrol the earth. So they patrolled the earth. Then he cried to me, Behold, those who go toward the north country have set my Spirit at rest in the north country. 2. Some translations use the term the four spirits of the heavens and other say the four winds of heaven. B. God rules over all the creation and everyone should bow before Him in order to have peace. 1. The message was that the divine purpose of God in bringing salvation would be accomplished and man could not prevent it. 2. God both executes His wrath upon the enemies of His people and shows His mercy upon His people.

10 10 a. God said, Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies. Isaiah 1:24) b. God s spirit was at rest because He had brought His people to Jerusalem to rebuild His Temple. c. He had great leaders, Joshua and Zerubbabel to help with the work. d. God had made it clear that evil must be removed from Jerusalem and that He was ruler even over Babylon. The Selection of the Priest Zechariah 6:9-11, The word of the LORD came to me as follows: Choose some people from among the exiles, namely, Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, all of whom have come from Babylon, and when you have done so go to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. Then take some silver and gold to make a crown and set it on the head of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. (NET) I. The peace that resulted from the actions of vision eight made it possible for Joshua to wear the crowns as high priest and for the people to now focus on the coming of the man called, BRANCH. A. We are now made to see that the events that are transpiring are not only acts of restoration, but even more they are acts of redemption. 1. Zechariah repeated the fact that this was the word of the Lord. a. He wrote, And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying (Zechariah 6:9)

11 11 B. Four men along with Zechariah were to make crowns for Joshua the high priest. 1. Once these crowns were completed, it would be clear to the Jews that God had sanctioned the Temple construction and endorsed the word of the prophet. a. This will cause people to come from distant places to help finish the work. C. The crowning of Joshua as high priest was a great time or glory, victory and hope. 1. The crowning of Joshua gave hope because it was a picture of the King-Priest (Messiah) who was to come. 2. When Aaron and his sons were appointed as priests Moses placed a mitre on Aaron s head. a. And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. And though shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be. And it shall be upon Aaron s forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD. (Exodus 28:36-38) The Importance of the Priest Zechariah 6:12-15, Then say to him, The LORD who rules over all says, Look here is the man whose name is Branch, who will sprout up from his place and build the temple of the LORD. Indeed, he will build the temple of the LORD, and he will be clothed in

12 12 splendor, sitting as king on his throne. Moreover, there will be a priest with him on his throne and they will see eye to eye on everything. The crown will then be turned over to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple of the LORD. Then those who are far away will come and build the temple of the LORD so that you may know that the LORD who rules over all has sent me to you. This will all come to pass if you completely obey the voice of the LORD your God. (NET) I. God gave a message through Zechariah specifically to Joshua. A. Joshua was not the BRANCH, but God told him about the BRANCH. 1. Joshua cannot fulfill the Branch prophecies; He is of the Levitical family while the Branch according to Jeremiah 23:5 and Jeremiah 33:15 is of the house of David. a. Jeremiah 23:5, I, the LORD, promise that a new time will certainly come when I will raise up for them a righteous branch, a descendant of David. He will rule over them with wisdom and understanding and will do what is just and right in the land. (NET) b. Jeremiah 33:15, In those days and at that time I will raise up for them a righteous descendant of David. He will do what is just and right in the land. (NET) 2. The BRANCH would sprout and build the Temple of the Lord. a. Isaiah 53:2, He sprouted up like a twig before God, like a root out of parched soil; he had no stately form or majesty that might catch our

13 13 attention, no special appearance that we should want to follow him. NET b. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, Do you not know that you are God s temple and that God s Spirit lives in you? If someone destroys God s temple, God will destroy him. For God s temple is holy, which is what you are. (NET) 3. The BRANCH would be the one who would bring salvation. a. Zechariah 3:9, As for the stone I have set before Joshua on the one stone there are seven eyes. I am about to engrave an inscription on it, says the LORD who rules over all, to the effect that I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. (NET) 4. The hope of recovering the glory of Israel was in the fact that the BRANCH or Messiah would descend from this people. a. From a low and humble beginning on earth Jesus would become the long awaited Redeemer, the BRANCH. 5. The Messiah would build a spiritual Temple for the Lord. a. Ephesians 2:19-22, So then you are no longer foreigners and noncitizens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God s household, because you have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built

14 14 together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (NET) 6. The glorious Messiah would make a once for all sacrifice of Himself for the sins of the world. 7. He would sit and rule on His throne. a. Acts 2:30, So then, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, (NET) b. Following His resurrection Jesus sat down on His throne and began to rule over His kingdom. 8. He is also priest on His throne. a. Hebrews 5:5-10 shows that Christ was high priest after the order of Melchizedek. i. Hebrews 5:5-10, So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming high priest, but the one who glorified him was God, who said to him, You are my Son! Today I have fathered you, as also in another place God says, You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. During his earthly life Christ offered both requests and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death and he was heard because of his devotion. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through the things he suffered. And by being perfected in this way, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, and he was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek. (NET)

15 It was prophesized that those that are far off would come and help build the Temple of the Lord (church.) a. This is a reference to the Gentiles being part of our Lord s spiritual kingdom. B. Zechariah 6 closes with the prophet saying ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. Conclusion: I. Zechariah 6 closes with the words, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God. A. Those that obey God are blessed and those that rebel are punished. B. Is it your desire to obey God and to be an honor to Him? C. If so, it is time to become a Christian now!

16 16 Questions By John C. Sewell Zechariah 6:1-15 (Questions based on NIV text) 1. looked up again and there before him were coming out from between. 2. The first chariot had horses, the second horses, the third horses and the fourth, all powerful animals. 3. What is represented by the mountains, the chariots and the four different colored horses? 4. In which direction did the red horses go? the black horses? the white horses? the dappled horses? 5. What did they seek to accomplish? Were they successful?

17 Who were Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah? What was taken from them? For what was this material used? 7. Who was Josiah? What was taken to him? What was he to do with the material? 8. The and were to be used to make a which was to be placed on the of son of. 9. Who was Joshua son of Jehozadak? 10. What did the Lord Almighty tell Joshua?

18 Who is the man whose name is the Branch? Give reasons for your answer. 12. What will the Branch do? 13. What offices will the Branch hold? 14. Who was Hen son of Zephaniah? What were he, Helai, Tobijah and Jedaiah to do? Why was this to be done? 15. What will happen only if the people diligently obey God?

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OUTLINE ZECHARIAH CHAPTER SIX

OUTLINE ZECHARIAH CHAPTER SIX ZECHARIAH S EIGHTH VISION (LAST) VISION OF THE FOUR CHARIOTS AND HORSES V. 1-8 ESTABLISHMENT OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT UNDER JOSHUA AND ZERUBBABEL RELATES MESSAGE OF FOURTH AND