What Vengeance Means for Believers
Zechariah 1:18-2:13
September 18, 2016
Vengeance has been a common topic for us the last couple of weeks.
We’ve saw it in both sermons last week and again in both sermons this week.
• In Revelation it has been the opening of the 5th and 6th seals and how the martyrs below God’s altar cried out for vengeance and how God answered that.
• In Zechariah we have seen God patrolling the earth and finding that they were complacent regarding the well-being of His people and this angered Him.
Tonight (like this morning) we are allowed to see God’s promised vengeance poured on the world that has oppressed His people.
So we’ve seen a great deal of the concept of vengeance.
Now, while the topic of God’s vengeance is definitely a scary topic,
It need not be a scary topic for believers.
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.”
Romans 8:1 “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Not only is God’s vengeance not aimed at us,
But in fact it comes in our defense.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 “For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed — for our testimony to you was believed.”
So when we talk about the vengeance of God,
It is not something that should incite fear in a believer.
The Day of God’s vengeance is a day that is anticipated by believers.
That is clearly seen in all the prayers throughout the Psalms in which those in affliction cried out, “How Long?”
We even see the rejoicing in Revelation 19 where the Hallelujah Chorus is recorded revealing the utter joy that takes place in heaven when God’s vengeance ultimately shines forth.
So the vengeance of God is not something we dread,
IT IS SOMETHING WE ANTICIPATE.
Beyond that, we’ve recently learned that
A proper understanding of the vengeance of God
Actually helps us live this Christian life more effectively.
Romans 12:19 “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.”
A believer understands that the call
• To be meek and humble
• And to turn the other cheek
• And to return a curse with a blessing
• And to never seek our own revenge
Is a call that can only be obeyed when we understand that God is the One who comes to our aid.
So vengeance is important to our understanding
Of how to live this Christian life.
But that isn’t all God’s vengeance teaches us as believers.
There is another very valuable lesson that you and I should gain
From an understanding of God’s vengeance
AND THIS IS THE LESSON WE LEARN TONIGHT.
If you will pull your mind back into the context of the day.
• A remnant of God’s children have returned to Israel to rebuild God’s temple.
• They had some hiccups along the way, but they are now back on track.
• And currently a messenger has been sent by the local governing officials to ask Darius if he is ok with them continuing to build, but this answer has not yet come back.
We talked about a time of UNCERTAINTY and anxiety.
Beyond that, we learned last week that the world is TOTALLY UNCONCERNED about the plight of Israel.
• The Lord sent out angels to patrol the earth they came back with a message that the earth was “peaceful and quiet”, later described as “at ease”
• And the Lord was very angry about that.
In short, the setting could be described like this.
Israel is discouraged
The nations don’t care
God is angry about it
Last week we saw God promise that He was RETURNING to Jerusalem and would again choose them.
The rest of the world might not care about Israel, but God does,
And He’s coming back and will restore them.
But WE DIDN’T SEE what God was going to do
About those nations that He was so angry at.
Zechariah 1:15 “But I am very angry with the nations who are at ease; for while I was only a little angry, they furthered the disaster.”
We saw that God was angry,
But we never heard what God was going to do as a result of this anger.
THAT IS WHERE WE GET TO TONIGHT.
Tonight we see God’s vengeance.
But even more than that, we get some practical advice from God
Regarding how we should respond to God’s vengeance.
So let’s look at our text tonight.
I told you last week that in this night Zechariah received 8 night visions and they all dealt with God’s favor toward Israel.
We saw the first last week, which was “The Vision of the Angelic Patrol”
Tonight we are going to see the next two.
• “The Vision of the 4 Horns and 4 Craftsmen”
• “The Vision of the Surveyor”
I would like to break this text into 3 main points.
#1 A PROMISE OF VINDICATION
Zechariah 1:18-21
We begin here with the vision of the 4 horns and the 4 craftsman.
This vision is the answer to the question regarding what God is going to do
With the nations who have so angered Him.
(18-19) “Then I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, there were four horns. So I said to the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these?” And he answered me, “These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.”
In Scripture “horns” generally represent POWER.
You probably remember from our study of Daniel how Daniel typically saw the power of the nations in this way.
When Zechariah asked “What are these?” He was given the answer, “These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.”
Later in verse 21 we learn that not only did they scatter Israel, but also that “These are the horns which have scattered Judah so that no man lifts up his head;”
In short, they didn’t just scatter Israel, they totally defeated them.
They crushed their spirits.
They are also called in verse 21 “the horns of the nations who have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah in order to scatter it.”
It is a picture of those who had nothing but destruction
In their hearts toward God’s people.
Now to make sure we understand the issue at hand:
We know that the scattering of Israel was by God’s design.
Ezekiel 5:11-12 “So as I live,’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘surely, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable idols and with all your abominations, therefore I will also withdraw, and My eye will have no pity and I will not spare. ‘One third of you will die by plague or be consumed by famine among you, one third will fall by the sword around you, and one third I will scatter to every wind, and I will unsheathe a sword behind them.”
• Israel had sinned against Him, transgressed His covenant, and broken
His commandments.
• As punishment God decreed destruction upon them with foreign
nations.
This was a common occurrence.
(seen throughout the period of the Judges and the Monarchy)
The problem was what God spelled out last week:
Zechariah 1:15 “But I am very angry with the nations who are at ease; for while I was only a little angry, they furthered the disaster.”
The problem was that these nations either
• Enjoyed the destruction,
• Or tried to take it farther than God commanded,
• Or failed to show compassion,
• Or in some cases like Edom even volunteered to help in Israel’s destruction
even though God had not commissioned them.
Every year I sign the paper that says
The school can use corporal punishment on my children if they behave,
But obviously I’m not going to let a teacher beat break their arm.
THAT IS WHERE WE ARE HERE.
God is angry at these nations who did more than inflict His discipline.
• These nations obliterated Israel.
• These nations totally crushed their spirits.
• These nations beat them to a pulp.
And now God is going to deal with those nations.
Many have asked WHAT SPECIFIC NATIONS we are talking about here,
But that question is IMPOSSIBLE TO ANSWER.
The fact that the angel speaks of these nations in the past tense seems to indicate nations in the past, but none are specifically listed.
I actually find it better to keep the issue vague.
I think a case can be made for looking at the “four horns”
As representative of nations on all 4 sides of Israel.
I think we could be talking about way more than just 4 nations here.
Indeed that would fit the idea since God would act with vengeance on all the nations that have wronged His children, not just the 4 worst ones.
But we don’t know who they specifically are.
What we do know is that GOD ANSWERS these 4 nations with “four craftsmen”
(20-21) “Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen. I said, “What are these coming to do?” And he said, “These are the horns which have scattered Judah so that no man lifts up his head; but these craftsmen have come to terrify them, to throw down the horns of the nations who have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah in order to scatter it.”
And since we don’t know who the specific nations were,
We don’t know who the specific crafts men were either.
But again that’s not really the point.
THE POINT IS that for all those who oppressed Israel,
God raised up one to punish them.
These are those who have been assigned by God to “terrify them, to thrown down the horns of the nations”
GOD REPAYS THOSE WHO AFFLICT HIS CHILDREN.
He has vengeance on those who harm His elect.
And we saw several of those promises last week.
• You can read Isaiah and listen to God’s rebuke of Assyria.
• You can read Jeremiah and hear God’s rebuke of Babylon.
• You can read Nahum and hear God’s rebuke of Nineveh
• You can read Obadiah and hear God’s rebuke of Edom
God afflicts those who afflicts His children.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-8 “For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”
That is a fact and it is a just fact.
This world persecutes God’s people
And as a result God will pour judgment upon the world.
That is a consistent promise throughout the Bible
It is the Promise of Vindication.
#2 THE PROMISE OF OCCUPATION
Zechariah 2:1-5
Occupation here does not refer to a job, but rather that
The Lord promised to once again occupy Jerusalem.
Zechariah sees his 3rd vision.
(1-2) “Then I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a man with a measuring line in his hand. So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see how wide it is and how long it is.”
This man is surveying Jerusalem; why?
Surveying denotes ownership.
God is here marking what is His.
It also seems to indicate in this passage that the man is measuring Jerusalem for the purpose of BUILDING A WALL around it.
In those days a wall was vital to the safety of a city.
A good wall could keep an attacking army at bay for years.
Those in Jerusalem now were operating without the safety of a city wall,
And it almost seems like this man is going to measure
To see how big the wall needs to be.
However, he is interrupted with a special message.
(3-5) “And behold, the angel who was speaking with me was going out, and another angel was coming out to meet him, and said to him, “Run, speak to that young man, saying, ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited without walls because of the multitude of men and cattle within it. ‘For I,’ declares the LORD, ‘will be a wall of fire around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.'”
The immediate answer is that a wall will not be necessary,
FOR I WILL BE HER PROTECTION.
Certainly we know that later Nehemiah will be
Commissioned by God to rebuild the actual city wall,
But the point here is that:
Wall or no wall God is coming back and He will be their protection.
Ezekiel 39:21-29 “And I will set My glory among the nations; and all the nations will see My judgment which I have executed and My hand which I have laid on them. “And the house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God from that day onward. “The nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile for their iniquity because they acted treacherously against Me, and I hid My face from them; so I gave them into the hand of their adversaries, and all of them fell by the sword. “According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions I dealt with them, and I hid My face from them.”‘” Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name. “They will forget their disgrace and all their treachery which they perpetrated against Me, when they live securely on their own land with no one to make them afraid. “When I bring them back from the peoples and gather them from the lands of their enemies, then I shall be sanctified through them in the sight of the many nations. “Then they will know that I am the LORD their God because I made them go into exile among the nations, and then gathered them again to their own land; and I will leave none of them there any longer. “I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I will have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,” declares the Lord GOD.”
Ezekiel is speaking of the end times
And I think that much of what Zechariah is seeing is also fulfilled there.
But in the immediate, this is a tremendous comfort to those refugees who have returned to Jerusalem to rebuild this temple.
• They’ve been threatened by those dwelling in the land.
• They are now being reported by the local government.
• They’ve got no defense
• They’ve got no army
• They are exposed
And to them God promises that they should not worry
For He will be with them to protect them.
Beyond that, He will so prosper the city that the walls they would build couldn’t hold all the men and cattle which would live in it.
It is a very comforting reality for Israel to grasp.
So if you want to sum it up so far, here it is.
• I am angry at the nations for how they treated you.
• I am going to throw down every nation that has afflicted you.
• I am going to make you safer here in Jerusalem.
That is the message of God’s vengeance.
I’ll get even with them, but spare you.
Let me read the verse again:
1 Thessalonians 5:4-10 “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.”
Obviously we recognize the promise that we are not destined for wrath,
But it is important that you grasp
The first part of that passage as well.
Paul reminded the Thessalonians that they were not of night
And so they should not act like those who are in the darkness.
Why?
Because God’s wrath is going to fall on those who walk in the darkness.
Let me give you another passage:
Colossians 3:5-6 “Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience,”
In other words, God isn’t interested in pouring out wrath on you,
So make sure you aren’t caught in one of those places
Where God will pour out His wrath.
Make sense?
So now let’s look at the third point
And see what it is we should learn as a result of God’s vengeance.
#3 A PLEA FOR SEPARATION
Zechariah 2:6-13
Now I told you when we studied this passage that there is
Only a handful of Jews who have left Babylon and returned to Jerusalem.
Ezra 2:64 “The whole assembly numbered 42,360,”
That is all that returned of the entire nation of Israel.
Most stayed in Babylon.
• In fact I told you that the story of Esther that is so popular, that won’t occur for another 47 years.
• Nehemiah isn’t going to come back to rebuild that wall for another 75 years.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Israel got comfortable in Babylon.
For most of them, Babylon was the only home they’d ever known.
• Oh sure, they’d heard stories about the Promised Land.
• Sure, they’d read about Jerusalem and knew their history.
• But the fact remained that they were comfortable where they are.
Most of the Jews, despite the promises of God,
Were content to stay in Babylon
Because there they were comfortable and there they felt secure.
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THAT?
• We just studied 9 verses that made a very clear distinction.
• We just saw 2 visions that made a very real point.
Between Israel and Babylon which nation was actually in danger?
Babylon
Between Israel and Babylon which nation was actually safe?
Israel
I know it didn’t appear that way,
But according to the revelation of God that is the way it was.
You feel safe in Babylon but you aren’t. Why?
Because God’s wrath abides on that place, He is about to enact vengeance on them.
You don’t feel safe in Israel but you are. Why?
Because God’s favor rests on that place and He is about to return there to protect it.
So THE MESSAGE to God’s people
In view of His promised vengeance IS CLEAR.
(6-9) “Ho there! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the LORD, “for I have dispersed you as the four winds of the heavens,” declares the LORD. “Ho, Zion! Escape, you who are living with the daughter of Babylon.” For thus says the LORD of hosts, “After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye. “For behold, I will wave My hand over them so that they will be plunder for their slaves. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me.”
If what God said to Zechariah is true than this makes perfect sense doesn’t it?
• If God really is going to deal out retribution on the enemies of Israel for what they did, then it would sure seem like a foolish thing to continue living there.
In fact God says, “Flee from the land of the north,” and “Escape, you who are living with the daughter of Babylon.”
• I don’t care how comfortable you are…
• I don’t care what sort of house you’ve built for yourself…
• I’m about to level that place.
This message is very reminiscent of the angel who told Lot to flee from Sodom before fire and brimstone rained down on that place.
Get out of here!
This whole place is going to blow!
BUT THAT’S NOT ALL.
Not only should you flee, but you should be happy as you go!
(10-12) “Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion; for behold I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” declares the LORD. “Many nations will join themselves to the LORD in that day and will become My people. Then I will dwell in your midst, and you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. “The LORD will possess Judah as His portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.”
You could almost hear the weeping and wailing can’t you?
“Oh, woe is me, God is making me leave Babylon, oh boo hoo hoo”
And God says, that’s the wrong attitude
You ought to be singing and rejoicing!
Why?
• Because you’re going to a city where God promises to dwell.
• You’re going to a city that will soon be the envy of all the earth.
• God said, “Many nations will join themselves to the Lord in that
day…”
• You’re going to a city that the Lord will call His very own
possession.
Why would you be sad about that?
Don’t be Lot’s wife, who just needed one more look at Sodom.
God has called you out of a city of destruction
So that you could inherit a city of blessing.
YOU’RE NOT GETTING THE SHORT END OF THE STICK HERE,
YOU’RE GETTING A GOOD DEAL.
Imagine the anticipation of Abraham as he packed up and left Ur, looking for the city whose architect and builder was God.
Imagine that treasure hunter as he goes and gladly sells everything he has because he knows he will soon be able to purchase the field with the great treasure in it.
This is a good day!
This is good news!
God has chosen to bless you and spare you from the coming wrath
NOW, REGARDING THE NATIONS
God has a message for them too.
(13) “Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord; for He is aroused from His holy habitation.”
• They were peaceful and quiet before…
• They were at ease before…
• They were complacent before…
And God’s message is just stay that way.
Just stay right there content in your own little world,
I’ll be there in a moment to unleash My fury.
Matthew 24:37-39 “For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. “For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
Just stay calm and comfortable until judgment springs upon you.
Now, DO YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE in how God is dealing with His people verses how He is dealing with the world?
• He told the world, wake up! Get out! Run! Flee! Judgment is on its way.
• He told the world, settle down, go back to sleep, don’t worry about what’s
coming.
Who do you think is blessed there?
What do you think those in Babylon should do?
What kind of idiot would stay attached to a place
That they know will be destroyed
Instead of running to a place that they know will be blessed?
Well, let me read you another passage:
1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”
Is that not the same message?
The world is going down like a sinking ship, don’t attach yourself to her.
• Don’t love her
• Don’t cling to her
• She won’t last!
Jesus said it like this:
Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Or
Luke 17:28-33 “It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. “It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. “On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back. “Remember Lot’s wife. “Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.”
Don’t stick to the place that is promised to be destroyed.
That is what Paul was saying to the Thessalonians as well:
1 Thessalonians 5:4-10 “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.”
It is not God’s intent that you be a partaker of the wrath that He will pour out on the world…SO GET OUT OF THE WORLD!
That means to not be entangled by the world’s lusts and pleasures.
Seek first the kingdom of God.
Seek first the love of God.
Why would you stay attached to the place
that God has promised to destroy?
2 Peter 3:10-13 “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”
Since God has promised that He will destroy this earth, “what sort of people ought you to be..?”
That is the same message delivered during the days of Zechariah.
• All those presently in Jerusalem building that temple had nothing to fear, God was with them, God was for them, and God would protect them.
• But those Jews who were seeking to remain in Babylon had better be concerned because Babylon was not a safe place. It was a place which had been marked for destruction.
God’s vengeance teaches us to flee from the things He promises to destroy and to cling to the things He promises to bless.
