Zechariah 2 and 3
CHAPTER 2 outlined the purposes of God, in so far as this world is concerned, Jerusalem being the future seat of government, and the center to which all will look in the Millennium. The man with the measuring line, at the beginning of the second chapter is a token of God’s taking possession of the city, not yet literally, of course, for that would carry with it His sanction of what is allowed to go on there what has gone on there, since. It is for faith a declaration of what He will do, when the Lord Jesus returns to this earth, and Revelation 11:1515And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 11:15) shall be in fulfilment.
Verses 4 and 5 beautifully add to the promise of possession with the assurance of such a condition as Jerusalem has never known, though in the short time of Solomon’s reign there was a semblance of it. Never since the prophecy was given has there been anything at all approaching its fulfilment.
Verses 6-13: The exiles will be recalled to Zion (Jerusalem) from the land of the north—a reference to their first captivity from which a few, including Zechariah and Haggai, had returned. Israel as a whole has never returned to the land of promise, nor will until the Church has been removed to heavenly scenes, and God’s purposes for this world begin fulfilment. Instead of regathering, following the rejection to death of their Messiah, there has been a world-wide scattering of the Jews. “The daughter of Babylon” is a figure of Gentile supremacy, begun in Nebuchadnezzar, and to end only when the Lord returns and restores Israel.
“Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and after the glory receive me” (N. T.).
In the Millennial day “many nations” (verse 11) will be joined to Jehovah; this will not result from the preaching of the gospel now being preached, but a new work of God.
Chapter 3 fitly shows that the restoration of God’s earthly people to His favor must be accompanied by a moral cleansing. Here Joshua, the high priest of that day is seen clad, not in the priestly garments of his office, but in filthy clothing as representing the people before God. Satan, ever the adversary of the believer, stands ready to accuse, but God will not listen to him, for He purposes to act in grace. He will remove the sin, and spare the sinner, indeed He will clothe him in costly (or festival) robes, for “change of raiment” (verse 4) hardly expresses what is in the original language. Israel will then be a nation of priests (Isaiah 61:66But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. (Isaiah 61:6)).
Joshua, for the people, is put on probation, so to speak, (verse 7), but lasting blessing will only come when Christ as the Branch, or more exactly the Sprout, returns to the earth. (See Isaiah 4:22In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. (Isaiah 4:2); Jeremiah 23:5,5Behold, 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) and Luke 1:7878Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, (Luke 1:78) (margin).
ML 08/01/1937