Evening, December 5
Go To Morning Reading
“And the Lord shewed me four carpenters.”
Zechariah 1:20
In the vision described in this chapter, the prophet saw four terrible
horns. They were pushing this way and that way, dashing down the strongest
and the mightiest; and the prophet asked, “What are these?” The answer was, “These are the horns which have scattered Israel.” He saw before him a representation of those powers which had oppressed
the church of God. There were four horns; for the church is attacked
from all quarters. Well might the prophet have felt dismayed; but
on a sudden there appeared before him four carpenters . He asked, “What shall these do?” These are the men whom God hath found to break those horns in pieces.
God will always find men for his work , and he will find them at the right time. The prophet did not see
the carpenters first , when there was nothing to do, but first the “horns,” and then the “carpenters.” Moreover, the Lord finds enough men . He did not find three carpenters, but four ; there were four horns, and there must be four workmen. God finds
the right men ; not four men with pens to write; not four architects to draw plans;
but four carpenters to do rough work. Rest assured, you who tremble
for the ark of God, that when the “horns” grow troublesome, the “carpenters” will be found. You need not fret concerning the weakness of the church
of God at any moment; there may be growing up in obscurity the valiant
reformer who will shake the nations: Chrysostoms may come forth from
our Ragged Schools, and Augustines from the thickest darkness of London’s poverty. The Lord knows where to find his servants. He hath in ambush
a multitude of mighty men, and at his word they shall start up to
the battle; “for the battle is the Lord's,” and he shall get to himself the victory. Let us abide faithful to
Christ, and he, in the right time, will raise up for us a defence,
whether it be in the day of our personal need, or in the season of
peril to his Church.