Zechariah 5
GOD would not be God if He slighted sin, and in this chapter evil in His earthly people is exposed, and its judgment pronounced, together with the promise of the removal of sin from the land of Israel.
What is sin? What gives offense to God? His written word answers these questions, for Israel the book of the law. This it is which the prophet now sees; flying, that all in the land may observe; and great in size that its importance may be realized by everyone. It carries a curse, for “the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4).
Only two offenses are mentioned, but they are evidently chosen as examples of the two classes dealt with in the law—against man, and against God; the thief denies the rights of his fellow man, and the swearer denies God His place. Mercy is not in question, but judgment, which will be unsparing, in the day of judgment.
Not only, however, were there such sins as these practiced among the earthly people of God; there was idolatry, to which the prophet’s attention is next directed (verses 5-11). It is an ephah that he sees, the ordinary measure, roughly corresponding to a bushel, used by the Israelites; but not here serving for the measurement of an article of trade, such as flour or grain. Was idolatry then to this people closely linked with their everyday life? It is evident that it had been, though when the remnant returned from Babylon, the lesson had by that generation been learned; they were wearied front idols.
Idolatry will, however, return after the “many days” of Hosea 3:4, which are no yet entirely past. This is set forth in Matthew 12:43-45; Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15; Daniel 11:38; Revelation 13:14, 15.
The weight of lead cast on the mouth of the ephah seems to refer to the present suppression of idolatry among the Jews. The worship of idols had its great center, if not also its beginning, in the land of Shinar (Babylonia), and it will meet its destruction in the judgment of the future Babylon, the last days’ oppressor of the Jews. This form of iniquity will be taken entirely away from Israel’s land at the Lord’s appearing.
ML 08/15/1937