The Pulpit Commentary — Zechariah — Section 21

Vers. 7-17.-Theforst t1ision: God's government of the world. "Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiali, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse," etc. About three months after the call of Zechariah to the prophetic office, he had no less than seven, or, as some count, eight visions in one night. And this night, we are told, was in the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, i.e. "the month Sebat, in the second yea.r of Darius." Exactly five months before this night the rebuilding of the temple would be resumed. Amongst the various manners in which God revealed himself to men of old, visions were perhaps the most frequent and impressive. He sometimes employed articulate sounds, sometimes the Urim and Thummim, sometimes the apparitions of the dead, sometimes internal suggestion. In some direct way he touched the springs of thought. But here in one night he appears to the prophet in many distinct visions. The visions were marked by these four characteristics. They were: 1. Menf,al,. Unlike all other creatures on the earth, so far as we know at present, man has an inner visual organ; he can see with his mind. This is seen in poets, such as Milton, Spenser, etc. ; allegorists, such as Bunyan, etc. 2. Symbolic. Strange and grotesque objects were seen. These objects were all symbolic; they had a spiritual significance. 3. Divine. All men, unless they are utterly destitute -Of the poetic sentiment, have visions sometimes, not only sleeping but waking visions. But seldom, perhaps, are ~hese visions Divine. 4. Pro- phetic. They point here to the future of God's moral kmgdom upon the earth. Men of lofty, s•nctified genius often in their visions have a glance of "things that are to come." This vision seems to give us a look into God's moral government of the world. It takes w; behind the veil of phenomena, and shows us principles and agencies that move, fashion, and control alL Three facts are suggested in relation to God's government in the world. I. IT IB CARRIED ON IN CONNECTION WITH MYBTElllOUB AGENCIES. What did the prophet see? "I Faw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom ; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white." It is idle to attach special ideas to each of these objects; the grand idea is that God bas ministers in his empire fully equipped for his work, and prompt to ob!'.y his behests. Who are these? Unfallen angels. 'l'hese by millions stand near his throne, ready to do his bidding. In relation to these agent6 two thoughts are suggested. 1. 'l.11at they are under tlte com/nuvnd_ of a trans- OH, I, 1-21.] THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH, 15