My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the reason why God scattered all the people was because people’s sin started increasing.

The word that God spoke to Zechariah in Zechariah 1: 3, 4 - Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts.

“Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets preached, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Turn now from your evil ways and your evil deeds.”’ But they did not hear nor heed Me,” says the Lord.

Zechariah got these words in the eighth month of the second year of reign of Darius.

After that, in the eleventh month the word of the Lord came to the prophet.

In the same day he saw, a man riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees in the hollow; and behind him were horses: red, sorrel, and white.

The man who stood among the myrtle trees is Our Lord Jesus Christ. He says that those behind him are the ones whom the Lord has sent to walk to and fro throughout the earth.

Zechariah 1: 11 says - So they answered the Angel of the Lord, who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, “We have walked to and fro throughout the earth, and behold, all the earth is resting quietly.”

The angel of the Lord who spoke to Zechariah said “Proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “I am zealous for Jerusalem And for Zion with great zeal.

Zechariah 1: 15, 16 says - I am exceedingly angry with the nations at ease; For I was a little angry, And they helped—but with evil intent.”

‘Therefore thus says the Lord: “I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy; My house shall be built in it,” says the Lord of hosts, “And a surveyor’s line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.”’

Our Lord Jesus Christ is Jerusalem. And he is saying this to show us that the temple of Jerusalem will be built.

That is why in Zechariah 3: 1 – 5 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.

And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?”

Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and was standing before the Angel.

Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.”

And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.”  So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by.

For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.

For the perfected Son to manifest as a sign when Joshua was being clothed, the Angel of the Lord stood by.

Zechariah 3: 6 – 9 says - Then the Angel of the Lord admonished Joshua, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘If you will walk in My ways, And if you will keep My command, Then you shall also judge My house, And likewise have charge of My courts; I will give you places to walk Among these who stand here.

‘Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, You and your companions who sit before you, for they are a wondrous sign; For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH.

For behold, the stone That I have laid before Joshua: Upon the stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave its inscription,’ Says the Lord of hosts, ‘And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

This is being said as a sign that Our Lord Jesus Christ is coming.

In order to explain that Christ is the vine plant –

Zechariah 3: 10 - In that day,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘Everyone will invite his neighbor Under his vine and under his fig tree.’ ”

Let us pray. May the Lord bless you all.

-      To be continued