Sharper Iron — The Post-Exilic Prophets - Zechariah 6:1-15: Four Chariots and Two Crowns

In Zechariah’s eighth vision, he sees four chariots coming out from between two bronze mountains. The LORD who dwells in His holy temple is powerful and active in all the world for the sake of His people. As Zechariah’s visions come to an end, the LORD gives an action prophecy for Zechariah to perform. From the wealth brought back from Babylon, Zechariah is to make a crown for the high priest Joshua. Another crown is to be in the temple for the coming Branch; He will be both Priest and King. This proclaims the coming of Jesus, who has sacrificed Himself for the sins of all people and now reigns over all creation.

Rev. Christopher Gillespie, pastor at St. John Lutheran Church and School in Random Lake, WI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Zechariah 6:1-15.

“The Post-Exilic Prophets” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the books of Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Through the preaching of these faithful men, the LORD sent His Word to His people who returned home after their exile in Babylon. Not only did the LORD encourage His people in the work of rebuilding the temple, but even more than that, He pointed them forward to the fulfillment of all the Old Testament promises in the coming kingdom of our true King and great High Priest, Jesus Christ.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Zechariah 6:1-15

A Vision of Four Chariots

6 Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains. And the mountains were mountains of bronze. ²The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, ³the third white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses—all of them strong.^[a] ⁴Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” ⁵And the angel answered and said to me, “These are going out to the four winds of heaven, after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth. ⁶The chariot with the black horses goes toward the north country, the white ones go after them, and the dappled ones go toward the south country.” ⁷When the strong horses came out, they were impatient to go and patrol the earth. And he said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth. ⁸Then he cried to me, “Behold, those who go toward the north country have set my Spirit at rest in the north country.”

The Crown and the Temple

⁹And the word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁰“Take from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon, and go the same day to the house of Josiah, the son of Zephaniah. ¹¹Take from them silver and gold, and make a crown, and set it on the head of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. ¹²And say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. ¹³It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there^[b] shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”’ ¹⁴And the crown shall be in the temple of the Lord as a reminder to Helem,^[c] Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah.

¹⁵“And those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the Lord. And you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.”

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Footnotes

Zechariah 6:3 Or and the fourth chariot strong dappled horses
Zechariah 6:13 Or he
Zechariah 6:14 An alternate spelling of Heldai (verse 10)

Rev. Timothy Appel

Although a mathematics degree may not be incredibly helpful to (proudly born-and-raised Texan) Rev. Timothy Appel while hosting Sharper Iron, his love of CFW Walther and the season of Easter will come in handy. His Call is shepherding the flock at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, Illinois, and he’s also husband to wife Kristin and dad to their growing basketball team of children. When he’s not carrying out pastoral duties, you may find him reading “The Lord of the Rings,” snacking on Reese’s peanut butter cups, playing dominoes with his boys, or studying up on Texas history (including Sam Houston, of course).