The Pulpit Commentary — Zechariah — Section 19

Ver. 11.-The wonder of indijferenoe. "' At re~t;' i.e. secure, proud, and licentious, as if there were no God in heaven" (Wordsworth). May be ta.ken to illustrate a common state of mind as to religion. Indifference seems wonderful when we consider- I. Tm;; VA~T n,TERESTB AT STAKE. \Vhat questions so deep and urgent as those that concern God and truth and immortality? II. THE BRIEF TIME FOR DEOISION. Life is short. Delay, and youth is gone; delay, and manhood is pnst; delay, and all is lost. Besides, what uncertainty and what constant interruptions and claims of other things! "The world is too much with us," III. THE GREAT IMPORTANCE OF EARl\'ESTNESS. See how men act in other matters. Firm and decided. "The children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light." IV. Tm: CEASELESS A0TIVITY OF THE POWERS OF EVIL, (1 Pet, V. 8.) V. THE URGENT APPEALS oF Gon. How much of Holy Scripture is taken up with calls, &nd pleadings, and remonstrances, and beseechings I Then, how often does the voice of God in providence give the deeper force and significance to the warnings of his Word! Surely what lies so near the heart of God should be the chief thing for us. Surely what movad the eternal Son to come to earth should be the supreme interest with us. His mind should be our mind, and our highest blessedness should be to consecrate ourselves, like him, to the service of God and of humanity.-F. Ver. 15.-The wrath of God and the wroth of man. I. Gon's WRATH IS THE HIGHEST REASON. It is not a mood or passion; not the outburst of arbitrary power; but the calm expression of the Eternal Mind. He who does wrong identifies himself with the wrong, and so far must be an object of indignation. God feels towards things as they are. How different the wrath of man (cf. Jas. iv. 1) I II. Gon's WRATH IS THE PUREST JUSTICE. Law must stand. Government and order must be maintained. Else anarchy. But nothing will be done beyond what is necessary for the ends of justice. God's wrath is just, iu measure and duration. How different with the wrath of man! Often carried beyond the bounds of right, and becomes oppression. Often continued beyond the limits of justice, and becomes revenge (Isa. xlvii. 6). III. Gon's WRATH IS THE HOLIEST LOVE. There is much in the ways of God that we cannot understand, but we should never forget what he himself has taught us as to his Spirit and purpose (cf. Ezek. :u:xiii. 11). God's wrath is consistent with pity for the sufferer, mercy for the penitent, and deliverance for the oppressed. In his hand pains are disciplinary, trials are remedial, chastisements are benedictions i~ ~isguise. "The end of the Lord is merciful." But with men how often is wrath p1t1less and cruel, working evil instead of good, rejoicing in destruction instead of delive1·ance ! '' Father and Lover of onr sonls I Though darkly ronnd thine anger rolls, Thy su11Bbine smiles beneath the gloom, Thou eeek'st to warn us, not oonfoUI1d, Thy showers would pierce the hardened ground And win it to give out it.a brightness and perfume." (Keble.) F. Vera. 18-21.-The dark and tM bright side of things. Prophet depressed. Heart failing for fear. Roused. Vision twofold. . Like the 1!1ystic pillar of_ the wilderne9!', it is dark and lowering towards God's enemies, but bnght and cheermg towards his friend~. I. THE POWERS OF EVIL. Beasts dimly seen. "Horses" indicate the strength and malice of the world-powers. The results are terrible, The unity of Israel is broke~. Stren(J'th dissipated in party conflicts. Gored and tossed and sore oppressed by their enem~s. Dispirited, "so that no man did !~ft up his he~~-" But_ man's ext~em\ty is God's opportunity. Let us feel and confeBB lll tr~e hum1ht)'. our sm, and the Justice of our sufferinas, and cry mi"htily to God; then deliverance will surely come. 11. 'l'HE ;owEus OF Go7'n. (Vers. 20, 21.),, Cf. Elisha _and his servant (~ ~iug~ vi. 17). So here. "Carpenter~;" "workmen. 1. Equal in number. FQur ind1catca .OH, I, 1-21.] THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH.