And More Visions

Our passage today covers Zechariah 4-6, and there we find more visions. :)

We have A Vision of a Golden Lampstand in Chapter 4.
We have A Vision of a Flying Scroll in Ch. 5:1-4
We have A Vision of a Woman in a Basket in Ch. 5:5-11
We have A Vision of Four Chariots in Ch. 6:1-8 and
We have The Crown and the Temple in Ch. 6:9-15.

A vision of A golden lampstand involves Zerubbabel. According to Wikepedia, he was

the grandson of Jehoiachin, penultimate King of Judah. Zerubbabel led the first band of Jews, numbering 42,360, who returned from the Babylonian Captivity in the first year of Cyrus, King of Persia (Ezra). Zerubbabel is also noted for laying the foundation of the Second Temple in Jerusalem the next year. Outside these important events, little else is known about him.

His name means: "the one sown of Babylon" or "the winnowed of Babylon", or "Seed of Babylon". So basically he is partly assyrian in his origins.

The lampstands are a message to Zerubbabel so that he knows everything done is by the power of God. As the Lord of Hosts says "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit".

I have to admit, this is a good thing to remember. That it is not what we do, it is all what God does.

The vision of the Flying Scroll
Then Zechariah sees a sroll that is 20 x 10 cubits. He doesn't understand so he asks God to explain it. God's response is that it is a curse that goes out over all the land. This curse will cleanse the liar and the thief, and those who swear falsely by God's name.

Sounds to me like God is warning folks that he will be taking action against people soon. And how much he dislikes people using his name in vain. Good reminder to me to watch what I think and do with my time and abilities and words that come out of my mouth.

Next we have A Vision of a Woman in a Basket
There is then see a vision of a woman who is sitting in a basket. This woman is iniquity and wickedness. She is kept in the basket with a leaden cover over her. This basket is carried away by two winged women. It is taken to Shinar where a home will be built for it.

I have to admit...I don't get it. To me this just seems like a very strange vision for a fellow to be having. Why would God want to build a home for wickedness in Shinar. So just what is the land of Shinar? According to Answers.com Shinar is a "country on the lower courses of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers", it usually refers to Babylon. It is mentioned 8 times in the bible.

So is God saying the Babylon is the home of iniquity and wickedness?

Next we have A Vision of Four Chariots
Once again we meet another form of God's patrollers. Just as Satan roams over the earth, so does God. I don't know if the different colours of the horses mean anything, but I do know that I don't see it as a bad thing that God has servants that roam over the earth doing his bidding. Seems a good comfort in fact.

The end of this reading brings us to The Crown and the Temple
Zechariah is told to take silver and gold from various exiles and to make a crown. This Crown is to be set on the head of the high priest Joshua. And to Joshua is to be said

'Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD. 13It is he who shall build the temple of the LORD and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both."

The crown is to stay in the temple of the Lord as a reminder to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah. I tried to figure out how these people were but was unsuccessful in that endeavor.

I did find this passage helpful

15"And those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the LORD. And you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God."

The people of Israel will get a temple built IF they diligently obey the word of the Lord. The diligence of obedience results in having things happen that should happen. God helps the faithful.