When Life Lies in Ruin
Zechariah 1:7–21
📖 Scripture
7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo.
8 During the night I had a vision, and there before me was a man mounted on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, brown and white horses.
9 I asked, “What are these, my lord?” The angel who was talking with me answered, “I will show you what they are.”
10 Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the Lord has sent to go throughout the earth.”
11 And they reported to the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have gone throughout the earth and found the whole world at rest and in peace.”
12 Then the angel of the Lord said, “Lord Almighty, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah, which you have been angry with these seventy years?”
13 So the Lord spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.
14 Then the angel who was speaking to me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion,
15 and I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they went too far with the punishment.’
16 “Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem,’ declares the Lord Almighty.
17 “Proclaim further: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘My towns will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.’”
18 Then I looked up, and there before me were four horns.
19 I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these?” He answered me, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.”
20 Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen.
21 I asked, “What are these coming to do?” He answered, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise their head, but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter its people.”
💡 Scripture Summary
Zechariah receives a vision during the night. A man on a red horse stands among myrtle trees in a ravine, with other horses behind him. An angel explains the vision. The angel laments God’s anger toward His people and the Lord answers with kind, comforting words. He promises to show mercy to Jerusalem and rebuild His house.
🔎 Reflection
Seeing Beyond the Ruins (1:7–17)
God’s people, newly restored to their land, are living among the ruins of what was, at one time, the holy city of Jerusalem. The progress of rebuilding is painfully slow. It is, to say the least, a time when God appears distant, a time when faith is tested. Meanwhile, the nations around them are enjoying a time of peace and prosperity. But in spite of how things appear, God promises His blessings will once again be poured out upon His people. God’s words to Zechariah also speak to believers today whose lives lie in seemingly hopeless ruins. We may feel as if God is no longer present or at work, but He sends His word to remind us that He has not forgotten His chosen ones.
What situation do you feel weary or hopeless about? Remind your soul that God sees what you are going through and He has not forgotten you.
The Test of Time (1:18–21)
Zechariah’s second vision builds upon the first. God’s people are desperately trying to rebuild their lives while surrounded by hostile nations living in peace and prosperity, with immense power, as symbolized by the four horns. This raises an age-old question: How can God allow the wicked to live at ease while the righteous suffer? The answer given to the prophet is one that we see throughout history as mighty empires ultimately are shown to be like sandcastles by the seashore, washed away by the seas of time. God alone is eternal. Those who, by faith, build upon the firm foundation that He is will endure, while those who do not will be swept away.
Be honest with God about your own struggles with the success of those who oppress His people. Ask Him to remind you of what He has promised to do.
📜 Memory Verse
“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.”
– Zechariah 1:3
💬 Today’s Inspiration
“The word of our God certainly has endured. It has survived centuries of manual transcription, of persecution, of ever-changing philosophies, of all kinds of critics, of neglect both in the pulpit and in the pew, of doubt and disbelief—and still, the word of our God stands forever.”
– David Guzik
🙏 Prayer
Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to see my life and world through the eyes of faith. In a world of turmoil and strife, may I see beyond the circumstances of today and recognize the eternal nature of Your kingdom. In Your name, amen.
🖋 Essay
God’s Justice
Have you ever been tempted to take matters into your own hands when it comes to justice? When you feel wronged, overlooked, slighted, or unfairly treated, it is easy to start thinking that you need to take action in order to defend yourself or right the wrongs that have been committed against you. But this is not even close to what the Lord calls us to do. God instructs us to not retaliate, but instead, to do the exact opposite—forgive and bless those who have mistreated us.
The Bible makes it clear that it is God’s role, not ours, to bring about justice. But what about the times when it seems like those who hurt us are getting away with it? Even when we can’t see God acting on our behalf, He is always working out His perfect plans for our good. Make no mistake, justice is extremely important to God. In fact, Psalm 89:14 tells us that righteousness and justice are the very foundation of His throne.
It is an act of trust and obedience to put our faith in God’s will instead of going forward with our own plans to “make things right.” When we try to fix our circumstances in our own power, without God’s guidance, they usually end up worse than before. But when we put our trust in God’s perfect timing and infinite wisdom, we can be sure that He will avenge and restore, returning to us everything that has been taken.
Written by Natasha Spiers