The Red Horse Rider and the Return of Mercy

That's another thing we can take away from this too. The words of the angel of Yahweh to Yahweh verses twelve and thirteen. How long will you have no mercy? How how long are your people gonna struggle? How long until your blessings and your prosperity are upon your people? How many of you feel that this day at times? How long, Lord, until my salvation is made complete? I know I feel that way. How long, Lord? [01:03:16] (36 seconds)  #HowLongLord

In contrast to Satan, however, these holy angels roam. They patrol the earth doing the lord's will, and here serving the people and noting and inspecting the activity, including that of their enemies. And therefore, they brought their report. The angel of Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, they brought it to him. Given his readiness for battle, their their report is somewhat surprising. It says, we have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth remains at rest. [00:48:51] (30 seconds)  #AngelicPatrol

Christ intercedes for us now. Just as Christ interceded for the people of Israel as revealed in the vision Zechariah received, so too the Lord Jesus Christ ever intercedes for us. Romans eight thirty four, one example. Who is to condemn? No one there's no condemnation for those who are in Christ. Who can condemn us? Christ Jesus is the one who died. Right? The atoning death for us. So we're gonna remember in a few minutes here. More than that, who was raised, who's at the right hand of god, who indeed is interceding for us. [01:04:06] (36 seconds)  #ChristIntercedes

So here we have the angel of the lord, the pre incarnate Christ, interceding on behalf of his people. He's pleading with who? The father, the lord, Yahweh of hosts, the personal covenant name of the god of Israel, the commander of heaven's armies. He is referred to this way 53 times in Zechariah. So his appeal Christ's appeal, basically, is for him, the father, to have mercy on his people. [00:51:10] (30 seconds)  #IntercedingSavior

Jesus pleads with the father for the His blood intercedes for us. Right? That's through him that we're saved. But also, still, for for us, for our needs, for our concerns that we have, that we bring to him in prayer. It reflects a deep sense of compassion and responsibility for our well-being. Isn't that encouraging? Shouldn't this also motivate us to wanna pray? I mean, he's gonna intercede for us even if we're not praying as he ever leaves ever lives to intercede for us. But, nevertheless, when we pray, we know that he we have an intercessor with the father. [01:04:43] (45 seconds)  #PrayWithConfidence

So the angel of Yahweh, Christ here, asked the father, how long will you have no mercy on Jerusalem? And here's a direct answer. I have returned with her to to her with mercy. So, spiritually, his favor was once again upon Jerusalem. One day, the physical presence would be there as well through his messiah. His house, the temple, would be rebuilt there. And indeed, about four years after this prophecy, the post exile people had finished the temple, the the second temple. [00:56:04] (38 seconds)  #MercyRestored

So in the face of doubts, the Lord, through the angel, called Zechariah to cry out the strong proclamation of these truths. First, he says, I'm exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion. Like a husband who loves his wife would not be indifferent to her acts of unfaithfulness, so too the lord had jealously refused to ignore the waywardness of his chosen people. [00:53:50] (31 seconds)  #GodsJealousLove

Friends, listen. His mercy is not also just available to those who come to know him for the first time, but as we even considered last week, he lives to intercede for those of us who already have come to him. He is merciful to forgive his wayward children. And so if you have strayed, if you have been ensnared in some sin, if you have been cold to God, return to him who is merciful. [01:12:36] (29 seconds)  #ReturnToMercy