Zechariah 1:20 And the LORD showed me four carpenters. "When God makes the prophet, He does not unmake the man." Each sacred writer preserves his individuality. Character and circumstance leave their impress on the inspired productions. Zechariah was moulded by the peculiarities of the age in which he lived. He was raised up to incite the Jews' zeal in building the temple. His mind overflowed with it. he could think of nothing else. Hence we cannot marvel that, when he prophesied, he used architectural figures. At one time he sees a "man with measuring line," and anon he says, "The Lord shewed me four carpenters." 1. God's works are often unobserved. "The Lord shewed me." The seer did not behold them at first. Only when Divine help was afforded did he become aware of them. Are there not thousands who resemble him? As regards nature it is so. "Eyes have they, and they see not." What is true of creation is true with double emphasis and touching revelation. The Bible is dull and uninteresting to some. Others delight in it. Why the difference? The last have Divine teaching. 2. God's works are creative. "Carpenters." These are constructive agents. Building, not demolishing, is their proper work. In seeking our own spiritual and moral welfare, we cannot too often remember this important principle — the true method of destroying is by creating. Get good into your heart, and it will cast out evil. 3. God's works are compensative. "Four." Observe the number. It corresponds with the number of Israel's foes. There is more of equality in men's conditions than is often supposed. A grand law of compensation is in operation. "God hath set one thing over against the other." As regards riches and poverty, adversity and prosperity, there is compensation. Everywhere evil is counterbalanced by good. Our mercies outweigh our miseries. (T. R. Stevenson.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the LORD shewed me four carpenters. |
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