Wickedness Contained

The chapters of Zechariah we will read today wrap up the last visions God gives to the prophet Zechariah for Jerusalem. Remember the state of Jerusalem. The city was burned and scraped to nothing by their enemies before the exile. People return to a city of rubble with very little to start over. Discouragement and hopelessness hover thick in the air. Those that survived the exile might pick up a piece of rubble asking themselves, what now? Oh, do not worry. God has a plan tucked inside the eight visions. However, will the people listen to Zechariah? Does Jerusalem believe their God, Yahweh, is trustworthy to keep his promises?

Before we unpack the final three visions, I am going to quickly recap the other visions. I wonder if you see how they build on each other like I do. The first vision answers the question, “Where is God?” He is back to dwell in Jerusalem with his people. In the second vision God assures Jerusalem they will be safe back home. No more threats from the enemy. The third vision gives a peak at the long-term plan God has in the works. Jerusalem might be asking, “Is it worth rebuilding for a few of us?” God hopes the people are encouraged when he promises “Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it.” Today, you are small Jerusalem, but growth is coming for you. And the visions we looked at last time answer the questions, “who is going to lead us?” and “do we know someone with rebuild experience?” God answers with two men the people know and trust, Joshua and Zerubbabel. I read each vision as a way for God to defuse doubts. Maybe the people in Jerusalem had stronger faith, but I wrestle with doubting God. The strongest doubts come, for me, during times where my limited humanity cannot see a way through. How is this good? When will it be better? The final three visions make promises that defuse doubt for all of eternity, so get excited and be ready to be amazed by God!

Zechariah 5 opens with the vision of the flying scroll where God is communicating that wickedness will be judged. Wickedness is defined specifically as the one that steals and swears falsely by the name of Yahweh. To build onto the vision of the flying scroll is the next vision of a woman in a basket that is filled and uprooted to a new place. The visions of wickedness seem random after Zechariah 4 concludes with rebuilding the temple. However, I see purpose in their placement as visions six and seven. I will share how the dots connect for me, and I pray you will read through it and ask God how the dots connect for you. My very limited knowledge of the Bible and history of God’s people remind me of two things. First, God is holy which means he cannot dwell with sin and God created us to only worship him. Second, after the Fall in Genesis 3 the people of God rebel against God to worship pagan gods and idols for generations. God’s people lather themselves in the worship of gods like Asherah. My study Bible suggests the woman in the basket is meant to represent a female deity like Asherah. There are times where extreme wickedness turns the people of God away from God. The new temple in Jerusalem that is to be built under Zerubbabel’s leadership is meant to be holy for Yahweh. The visions of wickedness could be a warning and comfort for Jerusalem. As a people, they are removing wickedness from their hearts as they start over in Jerusalem. Also, to protect the new temple of God as holy and undefiled, God uproots wickedness and moves it to Shinar located in Babylon. The basket is filled with “their iniquity in all the land” (Zechariah 5:6) and by the power of God, is contained in Shinar, north of Jerusalem. Wickedness is not running rampant anymore. Defilement and rebellion are not the end of the story for Jerusalem. This is good news! This is encouragement for a hopeless city.

Finally, the eight vision concludes in Zechariah 6:1-8 to proclaim God’s sovereignty in the north and south. Why does God send his chariots specifically to the north and south? The enemies of God live there. Israel and Judah were exiled to their enemies in the north and south. Babylon is to the north and Egypt is to the south. The statement at the end of verse 8 that says, “my Spirit is at rest,” means God has the final victory over his enemies. This is huge! God is gracious to remind Jerusalem that their God, Yahweh, is more powerful, sovereign, and holy than their enemies. No power is greater than God. No nation is greater than God. This should give Jerusalem peace in their God, Yahweh. He has a plan. He is gracious to reveal his plan in the eight visions to Zechariah to share with Jerusalem. The visions are a way to defuse doubt. The visions are shared to encourage a hopeless people that Yahweh is trustworthy to keep his promises. God’s people are staring at rubble, but their story is not over. It is time to trust and follow in obedience to God. 

This is true for you and me too. For those who love and trust Jesus, I want Jerusalem’s story to encourage you. The same God in Zechariah 6:8 has victory over your life too. God has claimed you as his own (Isaiah 43:1-4). Therefore, God is more powerful than your current enemies. God is sovereign over the daunting areas of your life that feel like hopeless rubble. So, the challenge for us today is to choose to trust and obey our holy God with limited sight because we can be confident God has the final victory.

Q: God is sovereign over his people before the exile to Babylon, during exile, and when they return home. What area of your life is it hard to believe the sovereignty of God? Will you commit to pray specifically for God to show up in that area of your life? Will you trust God has a plan?