VER. 19.] The destroying Horns 163 am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction. God is angry with His people, but yet remembers His mercy. He chastises, but in order to improve, not destroy us. In His most awful judgments is a purpose of mercy. If it be thus, Lord, let me be ever on the look-out for mercies, even in times of sorrow. Let me raise up to hopefulness those who are bowed down under great judgments. Let me beware of oppressing any soul. Sometimes I see nothing but terror and destruction in the face of the universe; Death seems to rule, the abyss to swallow up all that is precious. But faith looks further, and sees signs of coming good. 16. Therefore thus saith the Lord; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the Lord of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. 17. Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem. God's House and God's City should flourish again after their desolation. He had chosen Jerusalem in the old days to be His abiding place. This choice He will renew and confirm afresh. His abiding will be accompanied with all manner of gifts and blessings. So, Lord, when a heart has been laid waste by suffering, Thou dost renew Thy mercies to it, re-establishest Thy dwelling-place there, and dost set all things in order again. 18. Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns. 19. And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. This second vision, that of the four horns, expresses the might of fierce nations who have trodden down God's heritage. The Prophet sees them as four because they come from all quarters of the earth. When I read this passage I am reminded of the fierce monster that Daniel saw in vision (Daniel viii. 4), 'pushing westward, northward, southward, so that no beast could stand before him, neither could any deliver out of his hand' until the time came for another horned beast to attack and overthrow him. How can God's Saints, God's business, God's truth, live on amidst the fierce oppression and tumults of the world? Divine things are poorly armed against these monstrous invincible horns of iron. Nay, wait and see the end. 164 The four Smiths [ZEC. II. 20. And the Lord shewed me four carpenters. 21. Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head; but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it. These workmen come to break the horns and terrify the monsters. After all, God is Master; the oppressed have time to breathe again, to glorify God for delivering them. The history of the Christian's soul is not unlike this vision. However great and terrible be the forces of evil that assail her, she is able, with God's help, to endure, to scatter temptation, to pass on and be at peace. God has endued the believer's soul with strength to defy all enemies. I CHAPTER II LIFTED up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2. Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof. 3. And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, 4. And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein : This third vision shows to the Prophet the Holy City multiplying and expanding on every side. It has no more need of protecting and limiting walls, but is boundless, and yet secure. Certainly this is not the earthly Jerusalem, for that depended greatly on having literal walls and gates. When 'the walls were broken down and the gates burned with fire,' holy Nehemiah laboured to restore them, and did not feel secure till the work was complete. This city is Christ's Church, which has the power of pushing forth into new lands and new hearts. It is for ever extending. Even in our own day it becomes the mother of fresh nations. 5. For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her. Within the city God's glory shines in the Temple; without, a ram part of fire warns invaders off. What harm can happen to a city VER. 10.] Zion invited homewards 165 thus indwelt, thus girded around? The Holy Jerusalem, God's Church, has been often threatened, often rent asunder, often despised; but still she continues, preserving the same faith, the same praises. The assaults of her enemies were fierce, but could not destroy her. 6. Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the Lord: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the Lord. 7. Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon. Prophets and Apostles unite in this warning, ‘My people, flee from Babylon.' They bid us depart from that great and wicked city which is soon to fall under God's judgments. They bid us depart and flee, not by literal steps, but by quitting the ways and thoughts of Babel. Indeed, we have been scattered here and there, mixed up with the citizens and habitations of Babylon; but we are in heart citizens of Zion, God's Holy Church, and must bear in mind our heavenly calling. Let me quit great Babel's covetousness, vice, and idolatry, aud go out into the desert, if need be, to find my God there. 8. For thus saith the Lord of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. 9. For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me. 'Lord, keep me as the apple of an eye: hide me under the shadow of Thy wings.' But yet temporal plagues and losses come upon the godly as upon the ungodly; evils seem to overwhelm good and bad in common ruin. Nay, God's servants recognise that He is their protector. Even amidst present losses they are well content in the hope of eternal recompence. They cannot be robbed of their faith and patience. 10. Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. Jesus Christ, Who is sent by God, and yet One with God, promises that He will abide in us, will make us His temple and His house, will be present with us in a better way than in the days of His flesh. And the effect of this sacred presence is seen in the holy joy which He imparts. Gloom, therefore, slavish fear, or passionate sorrow, are not seemly for the dwelling of the Prince of Princes. If this God is our God, what lasting ill can befall us? 166 The High Priest accused and forlorn [ZEC. III. II. And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee. 12. And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. 13. Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation. Many nations have become one people. They own the true God and are owned of Him. His land is again holy and blessed, His Name venerable. Alas for me, if I, who am a citizen of Zion, live a life inconsistent with God's holiness. How can He bear me to abide in His presence, in His holy city, on His holy ground, if I show neither fear nor love? I am too well aware of the terrible inconsistency between my wild, unholy, profane thoughts and the worship which Saints and Angels pay to the Holy One. One day He will appear to drive out from His Temple all that in heart is not His. A CHAPTER III ND he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 2. And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? 3. Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. This is the Prophet's fourth vision. In it appears the High Priest, who is the spiritual head of God's people. But he is not now blessing, or offering, or proclaiming truth. No, he stands as a criminal at the bar of God's justice. Satan magnifies his faults, his personal or ceremonial transgressions, represents his unworthiness to make atonement for others. How can such a High Priest profit believers? Can the sacrifices of such a one prevail to take away guilt? Nay, he has been plucked out of the fire'; his preservation during the exile, his return to Jerusalem, these are signs of God's reviving mercy. God's Love for His people is so great that it overcomes all obstacles to their restoration; let them take comfort in seeing the High Priest again standing before God. Certainly, in this Jewish High Priest, frail and trembling, with signs of guilt upon him, with a mighty accuser ranged against him, VER. 8.] The High Priest vested and mitred 167 with no power to make worthy atonement, I see represented mankind in their own weakness, their own unworthiness. Glory be to that gracious High Priest Who stooped from heaven and clothed Himself with the likeness of our infirmity, to give us cleansing ! 4. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. 5. And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord stood by. This solemn investiture with the priestly robes and priestly mitre signifies that Joshua is re-integrated in his office, is Divinely blessed and accepted in the performance of his sacred duties. He ministers now, not by his own worthiness, but in virtue of God's gracious acceptance. When my Saviour hung on the Cross He was 'numbered amongst transgressors,' He 'bare our sins in His own Body on the tree'; but His Resurrection clothed Him again with glory, took from Him the frailties of mortality, restored Him to plead effectually for us in His Father's presence. I, who am most vile and foolish, yet find mercy for His sake. 6. And the angel of the Lord protested unto Joshua, saying, 7. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by. If the restored and accepted High Priest will observe God's ordinances and guard His courts, God will give him free access to His Throne, a place among angels who draw near thither without fear. He shall not merely approach God in His Holy Place, hastily and fearfully, on one day in the year, but be near Him in peace and confidence for ever. Christian priests have a greater charge, a higher privilege than those priests who ministered at Jewish altars. They join with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven. Indeed, they should be careful to keep Christ's new law, and guard His Table from unworthy partakers. They must themselves lead a spotless life befitting their dignity. 8. Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. This restored priesthood is a wonder. Wonderfully preserved and raised up again, wonderfully cleansed and forgiven, wonder |