Observation: Zechariah is shown a series of visions, which relate to the end of the exile and re-establishment of the Jews in Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem. As the first part of the vision, Zechariah is shown horses that patrol the earth, and this is their report and resulting conversation: First, that all the earth is under an unnatural calm; Second, a question about when Judah will be re-established.
In other words, a calm and quiet world is a sign the Jews are in exile and oppressed, and that calm will soon end with the return of the Jews.
The turmoil of the world is absolutely spiritual. It involves the evil one hating God so much that he does everything he can to attack that which God loves ... his chosen people. When the Jews were oppressed, satan had no target, and as a result the world itself - within the spiritual realm where these envisioned horses patrol - was calm. The angels knew that that would change with the Jews were restored to favor.
Application: There is comfort to be found in the absolute turmoil of the current world. We are in a time of total havoc, chaos, anger, and strife. From economic stress to deteriorating mental health, "calm and quiet" would be the absolutely last words to describe the condition of the earth. The comfort found in this fact is this ... satan is in full panic mode and pulling out all the stops because he is afraid of God, Jesus, and his people.
If God were at all defeated, there would be no fight taking place. Instead, that fight is everywhere, on every front. It is overwhelming in its breadth and scope. It is preemptive against a formative generation, violent against the general populace, destructive against the vulnerable, and deadly against both the oldest and the youngest. Evil is attacking everywhere. And it is by that very fact we know that the good news of Jesus - the fact that anyone can have the favor of God and eternal life through simple faith in Messiah - is not just right, but it is winning. It is in fact victorious, a settled matter, despite these most desperate acts to overcome the truth.
To those of us in the Church today, this all feels very hard, just like 70 years of exile was hard for the Jews. However, the difficulty proves the fact we are not defeated.
Prayer: Lord, to your glory be the victory, in the name of Jesus Christ. You are the alpha and omega, Lord of Armies, Yahweh Sabaoth. May your name be glorified forever and ever. Amen.
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