Through a vision, Zechariah tries to encourage the people of Israel about their future. For God plans to gather them again and grow their population. And he wants to bless them in the following areas:
- More people (v8)
- More livestock (v8)
- Divine protection (v9)
- Deliverance from enemies (v9)
- Conversions from other ethnic groups (v11)
- The return of God's favor upon his people (v12)
Leaders know that encouragement is like oxygen for the soul. From the text, we can see that Zechariah's encouragement had the following qualities:
- It was specific.
- It was personal.
- It was public.
- It was detailed.
- It was hopeful.
- It was sincere.
- It was centered on results that only God can bring about.
Leaders who speak encouragement can expect more from their people than those who don't.
Zechariah 1:20-2:9
20 And the LORD shewed me four carpenters.
21 Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.
The Third Vision: The Man with the Measuring Line
2:1 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.
2 Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.
3 And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,
4 And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:
5 For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
Flight and New Joy
6 Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.
7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.
8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
9 For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.
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