After the horses reported to the angel among the myrtle trees, the angel asked the Lord how long He would withhold mercy from Jeruslem? Seventy years had gone by and the Lord spoke kind and comforting words to the angel. Then the angel told Zechariah to proclaim God's word, that He was angry about the smugness of the nations who oppressed the Israelites. Jerusalem and the temple would be rebuilt.
During the second vision, the angel explained things to Zechariah. This time he saw four animal horns. The angel told him that the horns represented the nations that scattered the Lord's people. Then Zechariah saw four blacksmiths and the angel told him that the blacksmiths would crush those horns.
In the third vision, Zechariah saw a man with a measuring line. (The bible doesn't tell us if this was the same man Ezekiel saw in his vision of the measurement of the temple, starting with chapter 40.) The man told Zechariah he was going "To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is." (NIV Zechariah 2:2) As that angel left, another angel came and told him that Jerusalem wouldn't have walls because of the large population of people and livestock. The Lord told them He would be a wall of fire around the city, and its shining heart of light. Then the call came. Everyone was to leave the cities of the north and go to Zion, to Jerusalem. Everyone was to keep still and remember that God is in charge.
In the fourth vision, Zechariah saw Joshua and Satan. Satan was ready to accuse Joshua, but the Lord told Satan he was wrong. Joshua had been rescued like a burning stick from a fire and his clothes were dirty. So an angel told some people to remove Joshua's clothes. The angel told Joshua that it meant he was forgiven. The angel said Joshua would be dressed in priestly clothes and Zechariah spoke up and told them he needed a turban too. So Joshua was dressed. Then the angel told Joshua that the Lord promised that if he truly obeyed Him he would be put in charge of the temple. Then the Lord told them that He would bring back the Chosen King. The Lord promised to forgive all the sins of the land in a single day.
In the fifth vision, the angel asked Zephaniah what he saw. He described a solid gold oil lamp and two olive trees on each side. The angel told him that the lamp was the word of the Lord and the two trees were the two chosen leaders who stand beside the Lord.
In the sixth vision Zechariah saw a flying scroll about 30 feet long and 15 feet wide. The angel explained that the scroll put a curse on everyone who steals or tells lies. One side told how the liars would be destroyed and the other side told how the thiefs would be destroyed.
In the seventh vision the angel asked Zechariah what he saw, but he couldn't tell what it was. The angel told him it was a basket that showed what the people were thinking. The lead cover of the basket was opened and there was a woman inside. The angel told Zechariah that she represented evil. Then the angel shoved the woman inside the basket and closed the lid. Then two women with wings came and lifted the basket into the air and flew away with it. The angel explained that they were taking the basket to Babylon and would build a house for the basket.
In the eighth vison, Zechariah saw four chariots with red, black, white or spotted gray color horses. The angel explained that they were the four winds of heaven and will patrol the earth after presenting themselves to the Lord.
The Lord told Zechariah to get silver from some men and make a crown and put it on Joshua. They were to know that the Lord would send them someone to build a temple. The men who gave Zechariah the silver would take care of the crown.
Some men came to ask whether they should fast as usual. The Lord's word came to Zechariah asking the people whether they really fasted for God or themselves? What God wants is the same as ever: seek justice, be kind and merciful to one another, and be good to widows, orphans, foreigners, the poor, and stop making plans to hurt each other.
Tomorrow read Zechariah 8-13
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