Page 112 - Divinity_F5

Divinity for Advanced Secondary Schools

describes the people that the prophet is vision of the measuring line is related
addressing. The people have a rebellious to the vision of the four horns and
ancestry. This generation is warned lest smiths. It has to do with the restoration
they perish in God’s anger like their of Jerusalem. The city of Jerusalem has
forefathers. This introductory section no walls. God will protect it. He will be
FOR ONLINE READING ONLY
ends in a manner which suggests that the her wall. “Jerusalem will be inhabited
people are repentant. as villages without walls because of the
multitude of men and cattle in them”
The visions (verse 4).
The first part of the book of Zechariah
(chapters 1-8) consists of eight visions. In the fourth vision, Satan accuses
These are the visions of the four Joshua the priest. Joshua’s filthy
horsemen (1:7-17), the vision of the garment is removed and replaced with
four horns and smiths (1:18-21), the rich clothing (3: 1-10). Some scholars
vision of the measuring line (2:1-13), believe that if this vision refers to a
the vision of the accusation of Joshua community controversy, replacing old
the high priest (3:1-10), the vision of the with new clothing points to God’s choice
golden lampstands (4:1-14), the vision and affirmation of Joshua. In the vision
of the flying scroll (5:1), the vision of of the golden lampstand, Zechariah
the woman in the ephah (5:5-11 ), and is shown a lampstand of gold (4:2),
the vision of the four chariots (6:1-8). which signified the might of Zerubbabel
drawn from the Spirit of God (4:6). The
In the first vision, the horsemen patrolled vision of the flying scroll represented
the Earth. After the patrol, they brought a the curse that went out to cut off those
report that there was peace. The anger of who steal and swear falsely. The ephah
the Lord was kindled against the nations and the woman who sat in it signified
that were at rest while his people, whom wickedness. The vision of the scroll
he was jealous of, suffered. God would (5:1) and the removal of the ephah from
comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem. the land (5:9-11) signified the curse on
This would, logically, be a suitable the thieves and those who swear falsely
environment for people to engage in and Judah’s spiritual restoration.
rebuilding the temple (1:16).
In the last vision, the four chariots aimed
The vision of the horns represents the at the four ‘winds of heaven’ suggest an
nations that have scattered Judah, Israel all-encompassing world assignment.
and Jerusalem. The smiths in the next The comment was given concerning the
vision refer to the punishment of the patrol, “Behold those who go toward
nations that scattered God’s people. The the north country have set my Spirit at

Form Five Student’s Book 103