UNROLL
First light seen from Jerusalem's ridge: four dusty roads running out of the valley below toward the far horizons, the hills gray and quiet under a calm pale sky.

Eight night visions

Zechariah 6

Who is really in charge of the world you woke up in?

15 verses≈ 3 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

  1. 1:1–6Return to MeA call to turn, in Darius’s second year
  2. 1:7–6:8Eight night visionsHorses, horns, a lampstand, a scroll, a basket, chariotsChapter 6
  3. 6:9–15The Branch crownedA crown for Joshua, and the Branch who builds
  4. 7–8Fasts to feastsJustice and mercy, and joy in Zion
  5. 9–11Your King comesThe King on a donkey, and the Shepherd rejected
  6. 12–14On that dayThe pierced One, the fountain, the LORD King

The Vision of the Four Chariots

Zechariah
At dawn, four light war chariots drawn by red, black, white and dappled horses come at speed one behind another out of a narrow pass between two great rock mountains glowing bronze in the first light.

And again I lifted up my eyes and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze. The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, the third white horses, and the fourth dappled horses—all of them strong.

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Zechariah

So I inquired of the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?”

The angel

And the angel told me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going forth from their station before the Lord of all the earth. The one with the black horses is going toward the land of the north, the one with the white horses toward the west, and the one with the dappled horses toward the south.”

Zechariah
Zechariah

As the strong horses went out, they were eager to go and patrol the earth; and the LORD said, “Go and patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth.

God

Then the LORD summoned me and said, “Behold, those going to the land of the north have given rest to My Spirit in the land of the north.”

Question

Quick question

Count back through chapters 1 to 6 before you answer.

How many visions did Zechariah see that night?

Eight visions, one night

begins and endsHorses patrol1:7–17: the earth atrestHorns throwndown1:18–21: fourcraftsmenJerusalemmeasured2: a wall of fireJoshua madeclean3: the Branch iscomingBy My Spirit4: lampstand and olivetreesSin carriedaway5: scroll and basketChariots go out6:1–8: the Spirit atrest

Whiteboard

The night opens and closes with horses sent through the earth. At its heart, a priest made clean and a lamp that burns by the Spirit.

The Crown and the Temple

God

The word of the LORD also came to me, saying, “Take an offering from the exiles—from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon—and go that same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah.

God
God

Take silver and gold, make an ornate crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak.

God

And you are to tell him that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Here is a man whose name is the Branch, and He will branch out from His place and build the temple of the LORD.

Zechariah 6:12

God

Yes, He will build the temple of the LORD; He will be clothed in splendor and will sit on His throne and rule. And He will be a priest on His throne, and there will be peaceful counsel between the two.’

God

The crown will reside in the temple of the LORD as a memorial to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and the gracious son of Zephaniah.

God
Dawn seen from high above a valley: long lines of small travelers on several roads converging on the little hill of Jerusalem, some leading donkeys loaded with timber and tools.

Even those far away will come and build the temple of the LORD, and you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me to you.

0:12

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

God

This will happen if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.”

Pray

Pray

Lord of all the earth, nothing in the world is outside Your patrol. Thank You for the Branch, our King and our Priest. Make me diligent to obey Your voice. Amen.

You’ve experienced

Zechariah 6

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A verse to carry with you

And you are to tell him that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Here is a man whose name is the Branch, and He will branch out from His place and build the temple of the LORD.

Zechariah 6:12

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