The power of the Jews' foes shall be dissipated.
Verse 18. Behold, four horns. To a pastoral people like the Jews the horns of the strongest in the herd naturally suggested a symbol of power and pride of conscious strength: hence, "horns" represent the ruling powers of the world (Revelation 17:3; Revelation 17:12). The number four in Zechariah's time refers to the four cardinal points of the horizon. Wherever God's people turned there were foes to encounter (Nehemiah 4:7); the Assyrian, Chaldean, and Samaritan on the north; Egypt and Arabia on the south; Philistia on the west: Ammon and Moab on the east. But the Spirit in the prophet looked further-namely, to the four world-powers, the only ones which were, or are, to rise until the kingdom of Messiah, the fifth, overthrows and absorbs all others in its universal dominion. Babylon and Medo-Persia alone had as yet risen, but soon Graeco-Macedonia was to succeed (as Zechariah 9:13 foretells), and Rome, the fourth and last, under which we live, was to follow, (Daniel 2:1-49; Daniel 7:1-28.) The fact that the repairing of the evils caused to Judah and Israel by all four kingdoms is spoken of here, proves that the exhaustive fulfillment is yet future, and only the earnest of it gives in the overthrow of the two world-powers which, up to Zechariah's time, had "scattered" Judah. How significantly the retribution in kind upon the Babylonian world-power is marked in Jeremiah 51:2; as Babylon "scattered into all the winds" Israel, so "fanners" were sent against Babylon herself "round about," to "fan her, and empty her land" (Ezekiel 5:10; Ezekiel 5:12). That only two of the four had as yet risen, is an argument having no weight with us against the reference to the four great world-powers, as we believe God's Spirit in the prophets regards the future as present; we therefore are not to be led by rationalists, who, on such ground, deny the reference here and in Zechariah 6:1 to the four world-kingdoms.
Verse 19. These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. Though some of the ten tribes of Israel returned with Judah from Babylon, the full return of the former, as of the latter, is here foretold, and must be yet future.
Verse 20. And the Lord showed me four carpenters - or artificers. The several instrumentalities employed, or to be employed, in crushing the "Gentile" powers which "scattered" Judah are hereby referred to. For every one of the four horns there was a cleaving artificer to beat it down. For every enemy of God's people God has provided a counteracting power adequate to destroy it.
Verse 21. What come these to do? ... These are the horns which have scattered Judah - rather, Those, etc.-namely, the horns, being distinguished from the "carpenters" or destroying workmen ("men skillful to destroy," Exodus 21:31), intended in the "these" of the question.
So that no man did lift up his head - so depressed were they with a heavy weight of evils (Job 10:15).
But these are come to fray them - to strike terror into them (Ezekiel 30:9).
To cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it - in the haughtiness of conscious strength (Psalms 75:4-5) tyrannizing over Judah the (Ezekiel 34:21). While the world-powers "lifted up their horns" in the times of the Gentiles, no man in Judah "did lift up his head." But, when those "times of the Gentiles" shall have been "fulfilled," Jerusalem shall no longer "be trodden down of the Gentiles."
Remarks:
(1) When God has been sore "displeased" with us for sin, and has, therefore, chastened us, if we desire that He should "turn unto" us in mercy, we must "turn to Him" in penitence (Zechariah 1:3). God's dealings with past generations are designed for the instruction of our generation, and of ourselves (Zechariah 1:2). Since God is "the Lord of Hosts," His resources are as infinite now as ever for the punishment of backsliders, and for the encouragement, strengthening, and final recompensing of His obedient children. Let us therefore not walk as those of our fathers who refused to obey the voice of God by His ministers, beseeching them to "turn from their evil ways;" but let us be followers of those fathers "who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Hebrews 6:12). (2) Though former ministers, and the past generations to whom they ministered, are dead and gone, "the word of the Lord endureth forever" (1 Peter 1:25). The lesson to be derived from the punishment of those bygone Israelites who were "overthrown in the wilderness" (1 Corinthians 10:5) on account of their refractory spirit toward the Lord, and toward His servant Moses, is as fresh for our "admonition (1 Corinthians 10:11), upon whom the ends of the world are come," as for that of the several ages that have intervened (Zechariah 1:5-6). Also the example of those who, through God's chastisements, were led to "return" to God, and to acknowledge the justice of His dealings in punishing them, is as instructive to us now as ever.
(3) It is a solemn thought that, in the very same place where we now live, work, and on the Sabbath hear the preachers of the Gospel, not very long ago others lived, worked, and on the Sabbath heard the Word preached by ministers of God: and where now are both the ministers and their hearers? Their doom for eternity is now forever fixed, according to their use, or else abuse, of their spiritual privileges here. Though dead, their case speaks plainly, though silently, to us to "redeem the time" yet left to us: and though the voice of former ministers is no longer heard, He lives in whose name they spake: and to His living word let us give diligent heed while our day of salvation lasts.
(4) Though the spiritual Israel, the Church, is, to the eye of the "happy" and proud world, extremely lowly, like a grove of "myrtles" in a low-lying ground (Zechariah 1:8), yet the Lord "stands" in the midst of her, ready to appear for the immediate relief of His people with irresistible might. Then, too, he has angels of various functions to subserve His glory and the interests of His Church (Zechariah 1:8-10). While some of these are ministers of fiery vengeance to the Church's foes, others are ministers of joy and triumph to His people. However active Satan may be, "walking to and fro upon the earth," in order to injure the saints, the angels of the Lord "walk to and fro through the earth" to counteract his schemes and deliver the saints. Thus all things must work together for good to them that love God.
(5) The time when the enemies of the Church seem most triumphant, and "the each" is securely "at rest," is often the very time when God begins His work of judgment on the enemy, and of mercy to the Church. Messiah's goodness to His people is not restricted to His spiritual presence among them; He also intercedes for them with the Father, when they need His intercession most. His plea for Jerusalem and Judah is, that the time appointed by God for the continuance of His "indication against" His people is expired (Zechariah 1:12). God doth "not contend forever, neither is he always wroth," though his people's sins require temporary chastisement (Isaiah 57:16.) Let us in trial wait patiently for God's own time for the removal of it, and commit our cause to our Great High Priest, "who ever liveth to make intercession for us." Then will our Heavenly Father speak "good and comfortable words to our souls" (Zechariah 1:13).
(6) Yahweh espouses the cause of His people as His own. He is "jealous" for their honour, as involving His honour (Zechariah 1:14). Though he employs the ungodly to execute His purpose of chastising His people, He will deal sternly with the former for having exceeded their commission, and for having sought to extinguish utterly the latter. Whereas God was "but a little displeased" with His people, the enemy has afflicted them to the uttermost. Therefore God will be not mealy a little, but "very sore displeased" with the selfishness and malice of the enemy who is at "ease" while the Lord's people are in bitterness of soul (Zechariah 1:15). Let us pray for the time when the Lord will "return to Jerusalem with mercies" (Zechariah 1:16).
(7) The future "prosperity" and "the comforting" of Zion flow from the gratuitous love of God, whereby He chooses her as His, irrespectively of any merits in her to recommend her to His favour (Zechariah 1:17).
(8) As the four great world-powers, like four destroying horns lifted up on high, have "scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head" (Zechariah 1:21), so God provides counteracting powers, like the destroying "workmen, to fray and to cast out the horns of the Gentiles" which have so haughtily tyrannized "over Judah." As many soever as may be the foes of the Church, God has an infinity of instruments to foil their devices and counterwork all the evil which they from time to time work against her. If only we be true believers, whatever be our troubles, God will provide a complete and final deliverance out of them all. "God is in the midst of" His Church; "she shall not be moved; God shall help her, and that right early" (Psalms 46:5 ).