Zechariah 5:5-8
The Face of Humanity
5 Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. 6 And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth. 7 And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. 8 And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.
In this seventh vision, Zechariah's attention was diverted from the previous one and he was told to look up and see what was going forth. It is not clear where it was going from, but we might assume that it was being sent out of Jerusalem or out of the temple, because verse 11 tells us that it was going to the land of Shinar.
When the prophet asked the angel for an explanation. he was told that it was an ephah, a large container that held approximately seven gallons and was the standard measure for grain. However, since Zechariah had to ask, and since there was a woman sitting in the middle of it, this may have been larger than the standard ephah.
The face of this woman was "their resemblance through all the earth." She was the face of all sinners throughout the earth, but some commentators believe that she represented only the people of Judah.
Sin was certainly not limited to the land of Judah in that day nor is it limited to any portion of the earth today, and everyone should see himself or herself in the face of this woman. She is like the great whore in Revelation 17 who corrupts "the earth with her fornication" (Rev 19:2) All have sinned and come short of God's glory.
John Calvin expressed the idea that, while sin may seem to run rampant throughout the earth, it is in fact limited by God not to any area but in its scope. " The meaning then is, that though wickedness spreads and extends through the whole earth, it is yet in a measure; but this measure is not always closed up. However this may be, still God knows how to regulate all things, so that impiety shall not exceed its limits. And this is most true, whatever view may be taken; for when enemies harass the church, though they may be carried along in the air, that is, though God may not immediately restrain their wrongs, they yet sit in a measure, and are ruled by the eyes of God, so that they cannot move a finger, except so far as they are permitted." (Calvin's Commentary on verse 7)
In that sense, this vision should have come to the people as both a warning and as a comfort. It was a warning to them that their sins would be dealt with appropriately, and a comfort to them to know that the sins of their enemies were under God's control and were not unlimited but measured.
There was a talent of lead, approximately 120 pounds troy, lifted over the head of this woman. Then, wickedness itself was cast upon her and the lead stone was used to seal the ephah. How certain and frightening it is to know that your sins will come back upon you! The enormous weight of them will weigh you down and seal your fate. "For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me." (Psalms 38:4)
Whether we apply this image to our individual sins, to the sins of our nation, or to the sins of our enemies, it is a fearsome message. "For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double." (Revelation 18:5-6)
While we have plenty of reason to fear the outcome of our sins, we must also understand that God has made a way for us to escape. We worship a loving God who took no pleasure in the punishments that He laid on the people of Judah. He has no pleasure in the destruction of any people but He also cannot and will not tolerate our sins. He has therefore given us His Son as a sacrifice for our sins. Through Jesus Christ. we can have the assurance that our wickedness will not be cast upon us and will not seal our fate for all eternity. Instead, by accepting Him as our Lord and Savior, we can have the privilege of being called the sons of God. Eternity can be ours through the victory that Christ has won on the cross at Calvary. Will you place your trust in Him right now before it is too late?
Before The Throne:
Everyday should be a day of prayerful confession and repentance. Pray for the faith, courage, and strength to turn from your sins and to live righteously before God. Thank Him for the assurance that sin is limited by the power of His will and will one day be completely abolished. Pray for the people around you who have not experienced the love, mercy and grace of Jesus Christ. Ask God to give you the words to help them find Him.
For Further Study:
(v.5) ** the angel. Zech 1:9, 14, 19; 2:3; 4:5;
(v.7) ** talent. Isa 13:1; 15:1; 22:11; ** is. Jer 3:1-2; Ezek 16:1-63; 23:1-49; Hos 1:1-3; Rev 17:1-18;
(v.8 ) ** This. Gen 15:16; Matt 23:32; 1Thess 2:16; ** the weight. Psa 38:4; Prov 5:22; Lam 1:14; Amos 9:1-4;
5 Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. 6 And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth. 7 And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. 8 And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.
In this seventh vision, Zechariah's attention was diverted from the previous one and he was told to look up and see what was going forth. It is not clear where it was going from, but we might assume that it was being sent out of Jerusalem or out of the temple, because verse 11 tells us that it was going to the land of Shinar.
When the prophet asked the angel for an explanation. he was told that it was an ephah, a large container that held approximately seven gallons and was the standard measure for grain. However, since Zechariah had to ask, and since there was a woman sitting in the middle of it, this may have been larger than the standard ephah.
The face of this woman was "their resemblance through all the earth." She was the face of all sinners throughout the earth, but some commentators believe that she represented only the people of Judah.
Sin was certainly not limited to the land of Judah in that day nor is it limited to any portion of the earth today, and everyone should see himself or herself in the face of this woman. She is like the great whore in Revelation 17 who corrupts "the earth with her fornication" (Rev 19:2) All have sinned and come short of God's glory.
John Calvin expressed the idea that, while sin may seem to run rampant throughout the earth, it is in fact limited by God not to any area but in its scope. " The meaning then is, that though wickedness spreads and extends through the whole earth, it is yet in a measure; but this measure is not always closed up. However this may be, still God knows how to regulate all things, so that impiety shall not exceed its limits. And this is most true, whatever view may be taken; for when enemies harass the church, though they may be carried along in the air, that is, though God may not immediately restrain their wrongs, they yet sit in a measure, and are ruled by the eyes of God, so that they cannot move a finger, except so far as they are permitted." (Calvin's Commentary on verse 7)
In that sense, this vision should have come to the people as both a warning and as a comfort. It was a warning to them that their sins would be dealt with appropriately, and a comfort to them to know that the sins of their enemies were under God's control and were not unlimited but measured.
There was a talent of lead, approximately 120 pounds troy, lifted over the head of this woman. Then, wickedness itself was cast upon her and the lead stone was used to seal the ephah. How certain and frightening it is to know that your sins will come back upon you! The enormous weight of them will weigh you down and seal your fate. "For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me." (Psalms 38:4)
Whether we apply this image to our individual sins, to the sins of our nation, or to the sins of our enemies, it is a fearsome message. "For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double." (Revelation 18:5-6)
While we have plenty of reason to fear the outcome of our sins, we must also understand that God has made a way for us to escape. We worship a loving God who took no pleasure in the punishments that He laid on the people of Judah. He has no pleasure in the destruction of any people but He also cannot and will not tolerate our sins. He has therefore given us His Son as a sacrifice for our sins. Through Jesus Christ. we can have the assurance that our wickedness will not be cast upon us and will not seal our fate for all eternity. Instead, by accepting Him as our Lord and Savior, we can have the privilege of being called the sons of God. Eternity can be ours through the victory that Christ has won on the cross at Calvary. Will you place your trust in Him right now before it is too late?
Before The Throne:
Everyday should be a day of prayerful confession and repentance. Pray for the faith, courage, and strength to turn from your sins and to live righteously before God. Thank Him for the assurance that sin is limited by the power of His will and will one day be completely abolished. Pray for the people around you who have not experienced the love, mercy and grace of Jesus Christ. Ask God to give you the words to help them find Him.
For Further Study:
(v.5) ** the angel. Zech 1:9, 14, 19; 2:3; 4:5;
(v.7) ** talent. Isa 13:1; 15:1; 22:11; ** is. Jer 3:1-2; Ezek 16:1-63; 23:1-49; Hos 1:1-3; Rev 17:1-18;
(v.8 ) ** This. Gen 15:16; Matt 23:32; 1Thess 2:16; ** the weight. Psa 38:4; Prov 5:22; Lam 1:14; Amos 9:1-4;