August 20, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Zechariah? Here’s today’s reading:
Zechariah 6 (NIV)
Four Chariots
1 I looked up again, and there before me were four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze. 2 The first chariot had red horses, the second black, 3 the third white, and the fourth dappled—all of them powerful. 4 I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these, my lord?”..…..Continue Reading
In chapter 6 Zechariah is given a vision of four descriptions of horses that go throughout the world as divine judgement. They are red horses , black horses. white horses, and grisled and bay horses. In the second part of this chapter Joshua is to be given crowns of silver and gold which apply to him but mostly it is looking forward to the ends times. For it refers to the BRANCH [ Jesus ] who will build the temple and be High Priest. But also so much more as we know. The chariots of four horses are four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth. [ verse 6 ] In the end times people will come afar to build the temple. The temple being built in Zerubbabel`s time is by the Jewish people and not by people coming from far away to build the temple or the walls. Although the foreign kings did provide money and supplies it was very different than was mentioned in this chapter. I am not sure about the different colored horses but in Revelation 6;2–8 there is a list of a white horse, a red horse, a black horse, and a pale horse which all have to do with judgement at the end times. God is faithful to His Word and will bring about all of this in His time. God help us to look to Him as these days approach.
Zechariah 6
Zech 6: Dennis, you have a better understanding than I. I do not track where went the red chariot, or why the grisled and bay chariot vs 3, is “broken-up” in verse 6.
What I get, is verse 8, the black hosed chariot, to the north, quieted the spirit, I would say, brought a good report back to God.
Really confused regarding the BRANCH. Previously believed it was Christ. A bit confused now. Great job keeping us on point, Dennis! -gy
These chariots pulled by different colored horses are going from the throne of God to the four corners of the earth. It is more likely they are bringing something from God to the world whether that be revelation, presence, instruction, oversight, judgment and the like.
The vision of the crown for Joshua shows God’s favor upon him and affirming him as high priest. It appears that the branch in this context speaks of him and the work that he will do on the temple. Many will come to help build the temple but success will come from obeying God diligently.
I am sure it was strange for Joshua to receive the crown and not Zerubbabel as priests were priests and kings were kings back then but it does seem more reflective of the coming of Jesus, the Messiah that is both priest and king. We have also heard the Branch mentioned before in reference to the coming of Jesus.
Zechariah 6
Difficult visions to discern. Thanks for the commentary, helpful.
Zechariah 6
It is interesting how God tells us what He is going to do in advance.
“Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH!
From His place He shall branch out,
And He shall build the temple of the Lord;
13 Yes, He shall build the temple of the Lord.
He shall bear the glory,
And shall sit and rule on His throne;
So He shall be a priest on His throne,
And the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” ’
This reminded me of Hebrews 7 and Jesus being both king and priest.
Zechariah 7
The text of this book is much like Daniel and Revelation. I need to read my study notes and the commentary to more fully understand what is going on.
God tells us future events so that when they happen we know that he is the Lord. This is one of the elements that makes God and his Word so believable, and it increases our faith in him.