1991 Issue 9 - Sermons on Zechariah: The Four Craftsmen - Counsel of Chalcedon
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Transcript of 1991 Issue 9 - Sermons on Zechariah: The Four Craftsmen - Counsel of Chalcedon
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8/12/2019 1991 Issue 9 - Sermons on Zechariah: The Four Craftsmen - Counsel of Chalcedon
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Kenneth
L
Gentry
Jr
S RMONS
ON ZECHARIAH
I
THE FOUR
CRAFTSMEN
Zechariah 1:18-21;
Acts
4:23-33
Olien it
is
the case
that
revelation
comes to man
through
vision experi
ences,
rather than through
verbal com
munication.
The
visions God
granted to
Hisprophets
dramatically
opened
to
their
mind's
eye
what their
physical eye
could
not see. It
effectively
raised them above
the
blur and
confusion caused by the
strife
and uncertainty
ofbistory. It did
so
by offering
to
them a
fuller glimpse
of
rea\ity--area\itythatincludedthespiritual
realm.Suchaviewwouldimpanapeace
that
passes
all understanding,
for
then
would they
see
things
as
God
saw
them.
In the Sclipture
text before
us
we
come
upon
Zechariah's
second
vision.
His
first vision
of
the
angelic
horsemen
was
designed
to
instill in him a
sense of
comfon due to the overwhehning pres
enceofGodinbehalfofHispeopleIsrael.
The
multitudinous
angelic
horsemen
were sent
as agents of
God to control the
ebb and
flow ofhistOlY,
ll for the
glory
of
His Name
and
the benefit of His
people.
In this second
vision
we have a con
tinuation and
carrying
forward
of
the
promise
of comfon and hope
provided
in the first
vision. The
previous
vision
opened Zechariah's
eyes
to the
resources
available to
Judah.
In
the present
vision,
which
is
composed
of two
pans (v.
18,
v. 20) we
move
a step funher. It
shows
Judah
the means
as
to
how
God's will
would
be accomplished. n
met, this
vision
expands
on
what
God said
in
Zechariah 1:15.
And though granted
originally
for
andentjudah'ssituation, it
provides us comfon by extension and
application, as
well.
l.etustum,now,toaconsiderationof
the Vision of the
Four
Craftsmen. As we
begin,
we
will
notice
again the
backdrop
regarding:
1.
The Opposition
to
God's People
More
often
than not,
we experience
difficulty in comprehending prophetic
visions. his is
largely
due
to our distant
separation
from the life
and culture
of the
day,
which
makes
the
figures involved
unfumiliar. But if
we
would
strive to
put
ourselves back into the environment of
ancient
Israel,
we would grasp the
sig
nificance
a
little more
easily.
In
the
first
ponion
of
the
vision we are
confrontedwith fourhorns. Nowhorns
had a spedal
significance
for
andent,
pastoral israeL
These are
not horns that
are
blown
as
a trumpet for
giving
a battle
call. Rather these
horns
are those
on
an
ox
or bull.
As
such
they
represent the
great
strength
of the wild
oxorthe
raging
bull, whose power lay
in
their
stronghorns.
These were animals the
ancientjewswere quite fumiliarwithand
constantly ran up
against. In mct,
there
was
even
a special
law
governing the
ownership
of
dangerous
oxen,
because
they were so
strong (Prov. 14:4) and
could ldll a man so
easily (Exo.
21:28,
29).
But even
today we sense something
ofthe impressiveness of the bull's horns
when we see the advertisement for
Mertill-Lynch,
which proclaims they
are
bullish on America. In those
commericals
we
have ponrayed for us a
majesticscene ofstampeding bulls. This
impressive
sight
is
designed to impan a
sense of the strength of that company's
stock
transactions.
The
horns, then, represented strength
to Israel. In
Amos 6: 13
we have a clear
picture of horns
as
a symbol of strength.
Almost always
the symbol
of
horns had
to
do with the political power of nations
through the
exercise
of military might.
The
horns
generally
carried with them
the
connotation of power that could
relentlessly
push back or
move
a people
from
theirterritory, Deut. 33: 17
( wild
ox, NASB),
e.
34:21.
n
one place
horns
are
even crafted out of iron to
emphasize
their unbreakable power, 1
Kgs.22:11.
So
then, horns represent awesome
political
and military strength, a power
with which to be reckoned. Now we
must
ask,
What did these horns
do
and
why are
there four of them?
It
is clear from
the context that these
horns
were
employed in the scattering of
judah,
Israel,
andjerusalem(w. 19,21).
Consequently, they represented military
and political power brought
to
bear
against
God's
Old Testament people.
Somehave
suggested
that
these might
represent
the four
successive imperial
kingdoms signified in Daniel's visions in
Daniel 2 and
7.
Those kingdoms -
Babylon, Persia,
Greece, and Rome -
were ponrayed there
as
destined for
destruction to
make way for
the king
dom of
Christ.
But this
does
not seem
to
December, 1991 f TIlE COUNSEL
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be
the
proper interpretation here. This
is
so for at least
two reasons.
Here
the
four horns
seem
to point to
past
scattering
acts
by political
entities,
notto future
ones
suchas the
Grecianand
Roman
empires several hundred years
away,
Zech.l :19,21. inaddition, neither
the
Persian
nor
Greek empires did
any
thing to
"scatter" or
harm Israel. In
fact,
the
Persian Empire
allowed
Israel
to re
turn to the land and
rebuild the
temple.
There is evidence
in
Zechariah
for a
better understanding
of the
meaning of
there
being
four horns. These four
seem
to represent the
four
points of the com
pass,
that
is,
the
foumess represents "all
directions."
Just a
few
verses
earlier
inZechariah
1:10,
the
first vision
indi
cated the
angelic horsemen
had
traveled
"to and
fro" in
the
earth,
cettainlyindicat
ingtheywent in
"alldirections."
Justa
few
verses later in Zechariah 2:6,
the
"four
winds" are
mentioned
in conjunction
With the ''land of
the
north"
and in
such
a
way as to
suggest the
actual four points
of
the compass.
Furthermore, the
imagerywe
suggest
would fit well With the notionof "scatter
ing" that
is
prominent in the shottvision,
beingmentionedthreetimesinfourverses.
Israel was
scattered
in
"all directions," as
it
were.
This, then,
would speak not only of
Israel's
most
recent, massive deportation
to Babylon
in
the
north.
It
would also
suggestherbeingsurroundedonallsides
by enemies that constantly taunted and
plagued her: Egypt to the
South,
the
Philistines to
the
West, Samaria to the
North, and the Moabites and
Ammo
nites in the
East.
This idea
is
also
hinted
atin
Zechariah
2:5,
where God promises
protection
on
all sides. Judah was well
aware
of her
precarious
situation among
these
mortal enemies. And God
was
aware, too She had been scattered and
shewas still taunted. In fact,
many
ofher
peoplewerestiUin
Babylon,
despite their
being allowed
to
leave.
But also
by application
the enemies
that lay all aroundJudah arerepresenta
tive
of
all the
enemies of
all
God's
people
inall times.
This
is
hinted at in the terms
of
the
vision:
though Zechariah minis
tered to
Judah, he speaks of "Judah,
Israel, andJerusalem." Thisindicateshis
concem for all people of
God.
We may say this
involves
us
todayin
that we
are God's people
and
are
a
con
tinuation
of Israel,
being
called
the
"children
ofAbraham" (Gal. 3:29), "the
drcumcision"(phil3:3),'jewsinwarclly"
(Rom.
2:29),
"the temple
ofGod" (2 Cor.
6:
16), etc.
Furthermore,
Paul teachesus
that the
things
that happened
to
Israel
happenedforourexample(ICor.lO:11).
As
Israel
was
surrounded
With
enemies,
so shall
we be. And
all
of
this
issues
forth
from
the
fact
thatinEden
Godforewamed
Adam and Eve that there would be a
struggle in
history between
Satan's
seed
and
the woman's seed, between the
unrighteous and the righteous.
Christians, we are surrounded
on
all
sides byenemies. Theycontrol themajor
entertainment and news media, filtering
most of our information
on
the world
and life through an anti-Christian
framework.
They control much of the
educational
and
political realm, which
are bent
on expanding anti-Christian
culture. Weareengaged,asPaulsays, in
"spiritual warfare"
all around
us
(2 Cor.
10:5). And
being
aware ofthewar
is
half
the
battle
becauseof"Satan'swiles" (Eph.
6: 13)and"subtlety"
(2 Cor. 11:3).
Christ
said
the world,
as such,
would
hate
us
Golm 7:7; 15:18; 1 John
3:13).
The four horns
that
would smash
and
scatterusarealiveandwellonplanetearth.
Consequently,
wemust
'besober, bevigi
Iant; because [our adversary the devil, as a
roaringlion, walkethabout,seekingwhom
he may devour"
(1
Pet.
5:8).
2.
The Consternation in God's people
Because
of
the
scattering and torment
ofits
pagan neighbors,
Israel was ingreat
consternation.
This is indicated by
the
3
TIlE COUNSEL
of
Chalcedon December 1991
statement,
"These are the
horns
which
havescatteredJudah,so that
no man
did
liftuphishead, Zech. 1:21. Aswehave
noted
before,
the unity and securiry of
Israel in the Promised landwas a major
featureofGod'scovenantaiblessingupon
them(Deut.28:1-i4). hen
this
ended
it was a sure indicator of the
chastening
wrath
of God (Dent. 28:
15ft).
And
their
scattering andcaptivity for seventy
years
was still in their
memory
as
they
tried to
rebuild their
broken dties.
But Israel ceased the
work
of the very
temple
God
intended for them to build,
when
He
released
them
from their
Babylonian
bondage. Theyallowed
resis
tancefromtheSamaritansandtheAmorite
(Ezra4:8;Neh.4:7-8).
Inotherwords,in
the
very midst of blessing (freedom
from
captivity)
they
failed
again
They
allowed
theirheads to bang low in despair.
The spiritual and
political
history of
pre-exilic Israel
is
one of unfaithfulness,
compromise, confusion, division,
and
decline.
Israel's
unfaithful kings engaged
themselves
in
leagues With pagan powers
that fmally pulled
herdown.
She did
not
believe
God's
prophets
who wamed her,
nor
did she
trust in
the
God
that had
brought her
out of the house
of
bondage
Withamightyupliftedann.
She
trusted
in
horses
and
chariots,
but
not in God (Psa.
20:7).
But the
annofflesh did not deliver.
How
disappointing
it
is
today
to see
the Christian
Church
in retreat
in
so
marly areas.
Whole
denominations are
now
electing
women elders, encourag
ing the increase of the welfare
state,
and
supportingcommunist liberationmove
ments and despising God's Law. Chris-
ti nity
Today amajor evangelical maga
zine,
has bowed to
pro-abonion mental
ity,
women's liberation advocates,
and
so-called Chrisrian
sodalism.
Even his
torically conservative Reformed
Theo
logical
Seminary
has
recently brought a
new
theology
teacher on
that endorses
women's ordination and
denies
infant
baptism.
Too
few Christians
are
willing
to stand up for biblical truths, such
as
a
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8/12/2019 1991 Issue 9 - Sermons on Zechariah: The Four Craftsmen - Counsel of Chalcedon
3/4
six day creation, the application ofbib i
cal law,
pro-life
advocacy,
and
such.
How often is
it that we ourselves
are
ashamed of the
gospel
of
Christ? How
often do
we
turn our faces
when
the
Name of
Christ
is blasphemed? Or
Scripture is
mocked?
Or wickedness is
praised? Are we numberedamong those
who dare not
to lift
their heads? Are
we
afraid of
the numbers andthe wealth and
prestige of
the
secular
world? Are
we
embarrassed by the truths
of
Scripture?
Despitelsrael'shistoricallysmallnum
bers (Dent. 7:7)
andherpresentreduction
throughwarandscattering,
God
willsend
help to overcome the opposition.
ls the opposition
from
all
sides? Are
there symbolicallyfouropponents round
about?
Then
God will
send four smiths
against them. Whatever number there
may be, from whatever direction they
may
come, GodhasinHisplan the
forces
thatwill thwart the enemy.
Hence,
there
are
foursmithsto counterthe
four
horns.
51:20
says to
Cyrus of
Persia: Thou art
my battle
axe
and
weapons
ofwar forwith
thee will
T
break
in
pieces the nations, and
withtheewillTdestroykingdoms. Thesame
would be
true
of any future foes of God s
faithful people. God will
raise up
an
opponent against them.
We learn
from
this that though horns
ofopposition mightarise, God
will cause
smiths
of defense
to arise,
as
well.
Even
though the Church
faces
enemies
from
all corners, conflict does not imply de-
3.
The Retribution for
God s People
But the point of he
vision
is
to
instill
hope in the people,
not to impress them with the
strength
of the
opposition.
Just
as
the
eye
of revelation
and
faith saw
the
angelic
hosts
of
God
in
the first
vision, now
in the second visionitseesthe
smiths
who are
ready to wear
down the enemies. Though
the
terrifYing
and
powerful
horns of opposition
are ll
around, God has determined
We
must not unfaithfully
hang our
heads as Christians. We should
lift
them
high, for i
the
Lord
be
for
us,
who can
be against
us? Are we not
ambassadors for Christ,
the
King of
kings nd Lord
of lords,
in
whom are
feat. The heathen may rage
and imagine and vain thing
and set themselves against the
Lordand His
anointed, butHe
thatsitteth in the heavens shall
laugh when He puts them in
derision (Psa. 2:1-3).
We must trust in the pro
tective providence ofGod. He
causes all things
to
work to
gether
for
our good (Rom.
8:28). As the physical temple
would be rebuilt of old,
so
shall
God s spiritual temple,
hidden all the
treasures
o wisdom
nd
knowledge?
Is
not our faith that
which overcomes the world?
which is
His Church, be built
today l Cor. 3:16; 6:19; 2
to
send
His
smiths or craftsmen
(ac
cording to
newer
versions) against
those
horns, Zechariah 1:20.
This
word in
cludes
ll
who work with tools, particu
larly iron
workers,
but
also carpenters.
The
main point ofthe
vision is clear:
God will overcome the opposition to
His
people,
Zechariah 1:21. One would
think that
little
Israel
would have been
utterly doomed through the horrible
scattering byBabylon. But the prophetis
given
divine
insight inexplanation ofher
continuance and of her future.
This
prophecy
is
primarily directed
to
the particular
circumstances
of the
day:
Judah s difficulties encountered in
the buildingofJerusalemandthetemple.
As Hesaidbefore (1:16-17), these would
definitely
be rebuilt. Now He notes it
will
be despite anyandall opposition that has
or will arise against it.
God is
not ournumbered.
He
controls
worldwide power in all directions. He
will
supply the adequate
resources.
These four smiths
represent the his
torical forces that
will be employed
for
wearing down the opposition. The
idea
of
their being smiths
seems
to be that
they come
with files, hammers, and
saws
to wear away, beatdown,andcutupthe
antagonists. There
is some
debate
as to
whether the word translated fray in the
qV means frighten or rub down
as
with a file or other tool. Probably the
latter
is
true.
Despite
the
strength of the
horns, there
are
tools
available for
their
destruction.
Again we
are reminded that God has
His will
in the annies
of heaven
and
earth. Did
Babylon afflict Israel
and
Judah? Then
God
sent
Cyrus
ofPersia
to
destroy
them
(lsa.
44-45). Jeremiah
Cor.
6:16;
Eph.
2:21; 1
Pet.
2:5, 9).
Christ has promised that the Gates ofhell
will
not
prevail
against the Church
(Matt.
16:18).
That
is
true forus, whichwas true for
lsrael. lsaiah
54: 17 promised then and
promises today: Noweapon thatis
ormed
against thee shall prosper; and every tongue
that shall rise against
thee in
udgment thou
shalt condemn. This is the heritage of
the
servants of
the
LORD, and their righteous-
ness is ofme,saith UleLORD. Isaiah 59: 19
promises: Soshall
they earthe name
of
he
LORD
from
th
west,
and
his
glory
from
the
risingofthesun.
When the enemyshall come
inlikeajlood, theSpiritoftheLORD shall
lift
up a
standard against him.
We must not unfaithfully hang our
heads
as Christians. We should lift them
high, for if he Lord be forus, who can be
(CONCLUDED ON PAGE 28)
December, 1991 TIlE COUNSEL
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unjust judge will grant the persistent
requests of a petitioner, will not our
heavenly Father do
likewise,
who is,
without question, concerned about our
justice.
Perseverance in prayer
does
not ne-
gate fuith as some might
think;
it
actually
demonstrates the preciousness of that
faith. Persistence
is faithin
action. Persis
tence indicates a continual
recognition
that our
heavenly
Father is the
source
of
all
blessings. To persist in
prayer
really
glOrifies God because we are constantly
recognizing Him as out sustainer and
redeemer.
Remember, we shouldn t
be
praying
for
that which doesn't have His
glory
in mind. Thus, whenwe persist in
prayer,
we
are continually
pleading
with
God to do that which
He already desires.
What could be more
pleasing
to Him?
We must learn that persistence in
prayer means that God doesn't always
immediately give us what
we
desire.
When thereis adelay, Godhas a particu-
lar purpose for doing so. For one, God
knows the best tinting to bting to pass
whatwe pray
for.
God knows bestwhen
our soul is ripened
to
receive with most
joy what we
have prayed.
God wants to
build patience in our
lives. He
wants us
to
learn
that
God's timetable is
what is
most
glorifying
to
Him.
It
is
through
persevering, confident, and praising
prayer that oursouls
grow
intofull union
with ourLord. Throughdelay, Godactu-
allystrengthens thealreadypresent faith.
The longer
we
wait,
fuith
has an oppor-
tunity to reaffirm what it knows is
right.
Faith
knows
it will succeed. In persis
tence,
faith
moves us
to
continue in
praise and
thanksgiving.
Each
believing
prayeris
one
stepcloser to the realization
ofourpetitions.
God
doesn t
delay
longer
than necessary; we must rerrtain stead-
fust to the end so that we
can
reap the
haIvest of our prayers.
What prevents us
from persevering
in prayer? For one, it is because we are
spiJ;itual
sluggards. Persistence inprayer
requires effon, andwe usuallyoptfor the
easy
way out. Second, there is the ele
ment
of unbelief. We give
up
because
our faith had no abiding
quality.
We
asswne
our
request
was invalid. Ifwe are
in communion with
God, we
have no
right
to
give
up;
for,
our prayer
should
have
been in accordance
with
God's
will
in the first place.
Oh, Christian, pleaseseekyour
Lord's
fuce continually.
Please have the
fuith
which
can lay hold of God's immense
promises. Please
persevere
with
your
prayeroffaith.
Thedominionoftheearth
is at stake
(GEN1RY,
CONTINUED FROM
P GE
31)
against us?
Are we
not ambassadors
for
Christ, the King of kings and Lord of
lords, in
Whom
is hidden all the trea
sures
of
wisdom and knowledge?
Is
not
ourfaiththatwhichovercomestheworld?
illtimately thework of the Church
is
spiritually
to fray or the
wear
down the
oppositionbythe graceofGod,
bymeans
of
the spiritoal
presence ofChrist, 2 Cor.
10:4,5. Christ is
on
the throne waiting
for all His enemies to
become
the foot
stool for
His feet.
It is interesting that Christ was a
carpenter,
aworker with
tools
for wear
ing
down
and
splitting wood.
The
pro
pbetic word is a powerful word that
overcomes the opposition, like tools
overcome
wood and iron
resistance.
ill-
timately it is
God's
Word that controls
the
forces
of history. Hosea
6:4-5:
Therefore
have I
hewed
them by the
prophets; I have slain them by the words o
my mouth: nd
thy judgments are
s
the
light
thai
goeth forth
Let us serve
the Lord
without fear,
knowing
that our
labor is
not in
vain
in
the Lord, 1
Cor.
15:58.0
Rev. Ken Gentry.is Pastor ofReedy
River
Presbyterian Church (PCA) in
Mauldin,
Sc.
This series of sermons
onthe book of Zechariah were deliv
ered beginning in December 1989.
28
TIl
COUNSELof Chalcedon December 1991