This prophecy is suitable to all, as the scope is to reprove
for sin, and threaten God's judgments against the impenitent,
and to encourage those that feared God, with assurances of the
mercy God had in store for his church, and especially of the
coming of the Messiah, and the setting up his kingdom in the
world.
n exhortation to repentance. (1-6) A vision of the ministry
of angels. (7-17) The security of the Jews and the destruction
of their enemies. (18-21)
Verses 1-6: God's almighty power and sovereign dominion, should engage
and encourage sinners to repent and turn to Him. It is very
desirable to have the Lord of hosts for our friend, and very
dreadful to have him for our enemy. Review what is past, and
observe the message God sent by his servants, the prophets, to
your fathers. Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your
evil doings. Be persuaded to leave your sins, as the only way to
prevent approaching ruin. What is become of our fathers, and of
the prophets that preached to them? They are all dead and gone.
Here they were, in the towns and countries where we live,
passing and repassing in the same streets, dwelling in the same
houses, trading in the same shops and exchanges, worshipping God
in the same places. But where are they? When they died, there
was not an end of them; they are in eternity, in the world of
spirits, the unchangeable world to which we hasten apace. Where
are they? Those of them who lived and died in sin, are in
torment. Those who lived and died in Christ, are in heaven; and
if we live and die as they did, we shall be with them shortly
and eternally. If they minded not their own souls, is that a
reason why their posterity should ruin theirs also? The prophets
are gone. Christ is a Prophet that lives for ever, but all other
prophets have a period put to their office. Oh that this
consideration had its due weight; that dying ministers are
dealing with dying people about their never-dying souls, and an
awful eternity, upon the brink of which both are standing! In
another world, both we and our prophets shall live for ever: to
prepare for that world ought to be our great care in this. The
preachers died, and the hearers died, but the word of God died
not; not one jot or title of it fell to the ground; for he is
righteous.
Verses 7-17: The prophet saw a dark, shady grove, hidden by hills. This
represented the low, melancholy condition of the Jewish church.
A man like a warrior sat on a red horse, in the midst of this
shady myrtle-grove. Though the church was in a low condition,
Christ was present in the midst, ready to appear for the relief
of his people. Behind him were angels ready to be employed by
him, some in acts of judgment, others of mercy, others in mixed
events. Would we know something of the mysteries of the kingdom
of heaven, we must apply, not to angels, for they are themselves
learners, but to Christ himself. He is ready to teach those
humbly desirous to learn the things of God. The nations near
Judea enjoyed peace at that time, but the state of the Jews was
unsettled, which gave rise to the pleading that followed; but
mercy must only be hoped for through Christ. His intercession
for his church prevails. The Lord answered the Angel, this Angel
of the covenant, with promises of mercy and deliverance. All the
good words and comfortable words of the gospel we receive from
Jesus Christ, as he received them from the Father, in answer to
the prayer of his blood; and his ministers are to preach them to
all the world. The earth sat still, and was at rest. It is not
uncommon for the enemies of God to be at rest in sin, while his
people are enduring correction, harassed by temptation,
disquieted by fears of wrath, or groaning under oppression and
persecution. Here are predictions which had reference to the
revival of the Jews after the captivity, but those events were
shadows of what shall take place in the church, after the
oppression of the New Testament Babylon is ended.
Verses 18-21: The enemies of the church threaten to cut off the name of
Israel. They are horns, emblems of power, strength, and
violence. The prophet saw them so formidable that he began to
despair of the safety of every good man, and the success of
every good work; but the Lord showed him four workmen empowered
to cut off these horns. With an eye of sense we see the power of
the enemies of the church; look which way we will, the world
shows us that; but it is only with an eye of faith that we see
it safe. The Lord shows us that. When God has work to do, he
will raise up some to do it, and others to defend it, and to
protect those employed in doing it. What cause there is to look
up in love and praise to the holy and eternal Spirit, who has
the same care over the present and eternal interests of
believers, by the holy word bringing the church to know the
wonderful things of salvation!
n exhortation to repentance. (1-6) A vision of the ministry
of angels. (7-17) The security of the Jews and the destruction
of their enemies. (18-21)