Your High Priest

Zechariah 1:12-21
 
Zechariah 1:12 Then the angel of the Lord said, “Lord Almighty, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah, which you have been angry with these seventy years?”
 
Here Jesus, the angel of the Lord, intercedes for Israel. Jesus is our Great High Priest, who intercedes for us. This is one of our faith’s great comforts. He didn’t begin interceding for his people after his ascension. He has always done so. He prays to the Father, the Lord Almighty, “How long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah?” This can be stated as, “Come quickly to save your people.” The Son knows the Father will restore Israel to be God’s people. He knows his role in that redemptive plan. Thus, the question is not one of wondering desperation but one of sure promise. The Son of God revealed to his prophet and his people the Father’s intention to forgive and restore them as his people.
 
Zechariah 1:14-15 Then the angel who was speaking to me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, 15 but I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they added to the calamity.’”
 
God is a Father protecting his family. He is “jealous” to protect them from other nations’ evil. God is angry with the nations he used to judge Israel. They overstepped God’s purpose. Their wickedness raised God’s wrath to judge them. Only the Father will determine his people’s discipline and redemption.
   This indicates God allows a free will in our hearts and minds to do as we desire. He grants us permission to disobey. But we are without excuse. His laws are plain, and his commands are for our obedience.
 
Zechariah 1:18-19 Then I looked up – and there before me were four horns! 19 I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these?” He answered me, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.” 
 
The animal horns represent Assyria, Egypt, Babylon and Medo-Persia. These empires warred against Israel and even destroyed the Northern Kingdom permanently.
 
Zechariah 1:20-21 Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen. 21 I asked, “What are these coming to do?” He answered, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise his head, but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter its people.”
 
“Craftsmen” is another image for the “four horns” in succession as world powers. This vision is a “Revelation-type” vision to promise that God will judge and defeat all his enemies. This is one of Scripture’s great promises.
 
Stop and Know: Psalms 2:5 Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying…9 You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”