Visions and fasting… (3 things)

• 1^st – The 8^th and final vision… vs. 1-8
  • 1^st – The 4 chariots / and 2 mountains… vs. 1-3
    • Zechariah turned and looked one final time – it had been a long night…
      • And he saw 4 chariots coming from between two bronze mountains…
      • Each chariot was pulled by horses of a different colors – red / black / white / and spots!
    • A different purpose from the first vision…
      • Zechariah 1 we were given the vision of the 4 horsemen – different colored horses…
      • But their purpose was to go ‘to and fro’ throughout the earth – reporting what they saw…
      • They were riders – scouts / but the chariots here have a different purpose…
      • Chariots speak of war – they were the tanks of the ancient world!
    • The bronze mountains speak of judgment…
      • In the Bible certain colors / metals are constantly used in a metaphoric way…
      • For example – in the construction of the Temple – there were 3 metals…
      • Gold – a picture of the Glory and Holiness of God – only used inside the Temple…
      • Silver – a picture of salvation – the grace of God – used inside and outside…
      • Bronze – a picture of judgment – only used on the outside of the Temple!
      • So the idea being these chariots came to wage war – bring judgment!
      • The world does not want to think about judgment – instead they hide in ignorance…
      • Or they might even flaunt their sin – almost daring God to judge them…
      • I am amazed that the symbol for the gay movement is the rainbow – Genesis 9:13
      • But it is foolish to mistake the longsuffering of God – for His acceptance…
      • One day He will send out His Chariots to make war and Judge the nations – Numbers 32:22
  • 2^nd – The interpretation… vs. 4-8
    • For seventh time Zechariah asks the question – what are these…
      • I love the fact that Zechariah is initially as confused by these visions as we are…
      • A great prophet of God / dynamic man of God – but he had no idea what was going on…
      • Too often people who have no idea – just fill in the blanks with best guesses…
      • But when it comes to interpreting the Bible – best guesses are outright dangerous…
      • I do not know is sometimes the best response – we do not get all the answers till heaven…
      • In the mean time we keep studying and asking – so we can keep learning and growing!
    • These are the 4 spirits of heaven (ruwach shamayim)…
      • They go out from their station before the Lord (Adonai) of all the earth…
      • Presumably angels who are sent out to fulfill the judgment of God upon the nations!
      • The black and white chariots both rode out to the North – Babylon / Persia…
      • The spotted chariot went to the south – perhaps towards the Egypt…
      • The strong steeds (red – only one not mentioned yet) roamed the earth!
      • And the angel told Zechariah – the chariots in the north had given rest to his Spirit!
      • Perhaps referring to the judgment of God already completed on a nation there…
      • Babylon had already fallen in 539 BC – there judgment had already come from the Lord!
      • One nation had already been judged – giving confidence the others would follow!
  • 3^rd – The 8 visions paint a picture…
    • So why did God give Zechariah these 8 visions – remember the context / times…
      • The Jews had only been back from captivity for a little over 15 years…
      • Here they were the people of God – living at the whim of pagan kings…
      • They were a rag tag group of refugees – adrift in a world filled with terrifying nations…
      • How could it not bring doubt into their minds – was God with them / was God even real!
    • In answer God gave them the prophet Zechariah – and 8 visions…
      • 1^st – Horsemen – GOD SAW the plight of His people – and He had not forgotten them…
      • 2^nd – Horns – God would judge the powerful nations that had scattered His people…
      • 3^rd – Measuring line – God would not only rebuild Jerusalem – it would overflow!
      • 4^th – Joshua – HOW – God would forgive / restore the priests to lead His people…
      • 5^th – Lampstand – He would make them a light – by the power of His Spirit!
      • 6^th – Scroll – the Word of God would return to the Land – judging sinners…
      • 7^th – Basket – sin would finally be removed the Land – setting them apart for God!
      • 8^th – Chariots – IF the people doubted – God had already started – Babylon was judged!
      • Like Israel – we often do not understand the circumstances we are going through…
      • Causing us to doubt if the Lord is with us / or even doubt if the Lord is real…
      • But just because we do not understand – does not mean God is not working…
      • We just have to be willing to have faith – trust God has not forgotten us…
      • He wants to overflow us – forgive us – pour His Spirit on us and make us a light…
      • If we doubt we only need to look at what He has already done – He gave us Jesus!

• 2^nd – Priest and King… vs. 9-15
  • 1^st – The crown of Joshua… vs. 9-13
    • The Word of the Lord came – presumably after the night of visions…
      • Zechariah was to take H from 3 Jews who returned from the captivity…
      • Heldai (robust) / Tobijah (God is good) / and Jedaiah (God knows)…
      • He was to take the gold and silver into the house of Joshua the High Priest…
      • Then make an elaborate crown and place it on the head of Joshua!
    • This does not seem too odd to us because we are not Jews…
      • But this would have been a baffling command – because crowns were ONLY for Kings…
      • Priest could only come from the tribe of Levi – High Priests from the line of Aaron…
      • Kings could only come from the tribe of Judah – from the line of David…
      • Joshua was qualified to be the High Priest – but he COULD NOT be King!
      • God had divided the responsibilities of ministering to His people…
      • The King was to protect and provide for the people practically…
      • The Priests were to act as guides to lead the people spiritually…
      • That way the people would never learn to depend on ‘one man’!
      • Because men would much rather look to someone they can touch and see…
      • Therefore they are much more inclined to trust in a man than God…
      • The problem is we are limited – and cannot always help those who look to us!
  • 2^nd – The Branch…vs. 12-13
    • The Lord of Hosts says – BEHOLD THE MAN whose name is BRANCH…
      • Because He would branch out and build the Temple of the Lord…
      • And He will receive Glory as He sits on His throne as King – a Priest on the throne…
      • And He will bring peace between the two – a perfect Priest and King!
    • Obviously this is not referring to Joshua…
      • First of all Joshua did not build the Temple – Zerubbabel did…
      • And Joshua – or anyone else – could not be King – they were under the rule of Persia…
      • But Joshua was a symbol for the MAN / BRANCH who would one day come…
      • Another Joshua (Jesus) who would be both King and Priest!
      • Jesus was from the tribe of Judah – from the line of King David – Matthew 1:17
      • He was also a High Priest – after the order of Melchizedek – Hebrews 7:1
      • He is the one who will one day build an EVERLASTING Temple…
      • Where He will sit down on the throne at the right hand of the father FOREVER!
  • 3^rd – The memorial… vs. 14-15
    • The crown was to memorial…
      • As a reminder the people of Israel that THE Priest / King was still coming…
      • As a reminder to those who would come from far away to help build THE Temple…
      • Speaking of the Gentiles – the living stones – who would become THE Temple!
      • A Temple the Jews would also be apart of if they obeyed the voice of the Lord!
    • When God builds a house He does not use wood and concrete….
      • I Peter 2:5 – “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house…”
      • God uses something far more precious – He uses us to build His house!
      • And God has a purpose and plan for each of us in His house!
    • We are all carefully joined together as the house of God…
      • I Kings 6:7 – “The temple, when it was being built, was built with stone finished at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel [or] any iron tool was heard in the temple.”
      • All the stones were finished in the quarry – then just assembled at the site…
      • Each stone was a perfect fit – they did not even need mortar between the stones…
      • Did you ever wonder why God did not take us right to heaven when we got saved…
      • Why leave us here on earth where we got through trials and temptations…
      • The reason is because we have a lot of ‘rough edges’ that need to be polished off…
      • We are not going to be ‘chiseled’ and ‘shaped’ in heaven – the work takes place here
      • God put us through trials to mold/shape us into the men He wants us to be…
      • So that when we arrive in Heaven – we will already be a perfect fit!

• 3^rd – Question about fasting… vs. 1-14
  • 1^st – Fasting for the Temple… vs. 1-6
    • In the 4^th year of King Darius – in the month of Chislev (November / December)
      • 2 Years after the work on the Temple had begun – 18 months after the visions…
      • The people sent 16 to Beth-el…
      • The names of the men suggest they may not have been devout followers of God…
      • Beth-el – the house of God – just refers to the place where the Altar was (no Temple yet)…
      • They came to ‘pray’ and ask the priest / prophets about THE FAST…
      • The people would always fast in the 5^th month – the month the Temple was destroyed…
      • A fast that they thought they could stop because the Temple was being rebuilt…
      • But as it turns out the 9^th of Av (5^th month) is still a solemn fast in Israel to this day…
      • Because it was not just the day the 1^st Temple was destroyed – but also the 2^nd Temple! 
    • The Lord answered their questions with a question…
      • When they fasted in the fifth and seventh months (memorial for Gedeliah) for the 70 years…
      • Did they do it for the Lord – or for themselves – the implied answer is it was for them…
      • Meaning they were not fasting to focus on the Lord – they fasted to be noticed…
      • Just like when they eat and drink – they did it only thinking of their needs!
      • Matthew 6:16 – “When you fast, do not make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, who try to look pale and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting.”
      • The Pharisees would paint their faces white and frown so you knew they were fasting…
      • Their motivation for fasting was not denying their flesh – it was to look spiritual to others!
      • Fasting is giving up something we need (or want) for the purpose of denying ourselves…
      • We take the time we would have devoted to – eating / TV – and spend it with the Father…
      • Fasting can be a wonderful way to deny us and focus on the things of the Spirit!
  • 2^nd – The desire of the Lord… vs. 7-10
    • What the people should have done was obey the Word of the Lord…
      • If they had back when Israel was prosperous – when the Land was filled…
      • They would not have ended up in captivity – the Temple would not have been destroyed…
      • So the Word of the Lord came again to Zechariah – here is what God still wants…
      • Execute justice / show mercy and compassion to others – your brothers…
      • Do not oppress the widow / orphan / stranger / or the poor – James 1:27
      • Do not plot evil plans in your heart against your brother!
    • 1 – He has no respect for it…
      • Isaiah 58:3 – “‘We have fasted before you!’ they say. ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have done much penance, and you don’t even notice it!’ “I will tell you why! It’s because you are living for yourselves even while you are fasting. You keep right on oppressing…”
      • Jesus would eat with prostitutes and sinners – but to the religious leaders He would say…
      • Woe to you scribes and Pharisees HYPOCRITES – Matthew 23:15
      • Many Christians today think as long as they look good – then God is good with them…
      • But plastic Christianity is only skin deep – it has not power to change the heart!
      • God does not care how many time a week we go to church / or how large a Bible we carry…
      • The question He asks is what is the fruit that is coming from our lives…
      • Are we living a hypocritically fake life – or an abundant fruitful one…
      • God does not want us to play Christian – He wants us to live transformed lives!
  • 3^rd – The heart of rebellion… vs. 11-14
    • Instead of listening – the people of Israel had shrugged their shoulders…
      • Meaning they did not think that it was important enough to listen to the prophets…
      • Or they plugged their ear – so the Word could not convict them…
      • It made their hearts like flint (diamond) – HARD – refusing to hear what the Spirit said!
      • There are many people who still shrug their shoulders today – the Bible is not relevant…
      • It was written 2000 years ago – and has nothing to offer to us today…
      • People who still plug their ears – they kick the Bible out of schools and public life…
      • Trying their best to keep anyone from mentioning the name of Jesus!
      • And it makes their heart like flint / rock – ignoring the work of the Spirit in their lives!
      • As a result they rather the blessings of God – they experience His wrath!
    • Great wrath that came from the Lord of Hosts…
      • They refused to listen to the Lord – so the Lord refused to listen to them…
      • And He scattered them among the nations – leaving the Land a desolate!
      • Too often we are like Israel – we doubt the Lord – is He even there…
      • We miss out on what He has already done – absorbed in our current trials…
      • Missing out on what God wants to do in our lives – He has great plans for us…
      • He wants us to be a part of His Temple – He wants to be our Priest and King!
      • Lets not get caught up in false spirituality – just playing church on Sundays…
      • Lets live a life that shows the fruit of our faith – justice / mercy / compassion…
      • So we can hear from the Lord – so we are not desolate…
      • So we can live an abundant life in Jesus – till the day we get to see Him face to face!

Zechariah 1:3 – “Return to me, and I will return to you”