The Rest of the Night Visions

Zechariah 3-6

            Zechariah 1:8-6:15 contains a series of visions that Zechariah saw, presumably on the same night (February 15, 519 BC; 1:7), hence, The Night Visions. I wrote briefly about the first three visions earlier this week. Now for visions four to eight!

            The fourth vision names Satan, standing beside Joshua, the high priest, accusing him, and the Lord rebuking Satan. Not incidentally, Joshua’s robes are filthy (a word which usually has to do with excrement…) Satan’s work has always been to accuse; that’s what the word satan means. It’s not a proper name at all. Sometimes it can simply be translated the prosecutor The accusation here is probably that Joshua, given his uncleanness, is not worthy to be the high priest, which explains the Lord’s response, “I have chosen Jerusalem.” It’s as if the Lord were saying, “Yes, it doesn’t look like much, but it’s what I have chosen.” Ultimately, of course, Jesus puts the great rebuke on Satan by saving humanity in the most ignominious way—dying on a cross. “Now,” as St. Paul says, “there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

            Vision five shows a lampstand and two olive trees sustaining it. The lampstand was one of the furnishings in the temple, so the rebuilding of the temple is most likely the subject. The two trees are Zerubbabel, the governor, and Joshua, the high priest. Verses 6 and 10 are the keys: the temple will be completed by the Lord’s Spirit, operating through these two men. No one should look at the humble beginnings and be filled with doubt about the Lord’s desires.

            The vision of the flying scroll seems to be a warning to the returned exiles that their ancestors had been exiled at least in part because of the injustice with which they filled the land. Relatedly, the vision of the woman in a basket is a representation of the wickedness of the people being carried away.

            The last vision takes us back to the first. Here Zechariah sees a vision of four chariots, as God’s messengers go out into the world, watching over and keeping tabs on the dangerous world in which the Lord’s small community dwells.

            The last bit of chapter 6 summarizes things well. The point of the visions is very similar to the point of Haggai’s prophecy: the temple will be built; Israel will be restored.