The seventh vision given to Zechariah involves an angel that reveals a basket representing the iniquity of the whole land, with a woman named Wickedness inside it, covered by a lead weight.
In the vision, two women with stork wings lift the basket and are instructed to take it to the land of Shinar (Babylon) to build a house for it, signifying a place where this wickedness will be contained.
Verses 10 and 11 describe the removal of the basket filled with wickedness.
Then I said to the angel who spoke with me, “Where are they taking the basket?”
He said to me, “To the land of Shinar, to build a house for it, and when this is prepared, they will set it down there on its base” (Zechariah 5.10-11).
Zechariah highlights how practices considered idolatrous and wicked in the Holy Land are revered and worshipped in Babylon. This raises a serious question: How can we worship something that is inherently wicked?
(1) Today, around the world, dictators and authoritarian leaders are simultaneously feared and admired by their people. Many citizens view the power and strength of these regimes as symbols of national greatness and a safeguard against perceived threats.
This phenomenon illustrates how individuals can come to worship inherently wicked entities.
(2) Devotion to cult-like figures and cults is a well-known example of giving our loyalty to something that, at its root, is wicked. This is based on a misunderstanding or a misrepresentation of the cult’s true nature. It demonstrates how easily human beings, who are seeking meaning or belonging, can be deceived.
(3) History is filled with examples of how entire societies grew up in environments where harmful practices were normalized and revered. Think about some of the atrocities that are taking place in the world today, and are viewed as acceptable practices because of how people have been shaped by cultural and societal norms.
Just as wickedness and idolatry were removed from the Holy Land and instead became worshiped in Babylon, we must learn how to remove wickedness from our lives to ensure we are not giving our service to something fundamentally wrong.
How to Get It Right
For those of us determined not to fall into the trap of worshiping something fundamentally evil, it is wise to heed God’s instructions regarding the watchman. In Ezekiel 33, the prophet is appointed as God’s watchman.
So you, mortal, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me (Ezekiel 33.7).
The duties of a watchman are as follows: He must distance himself from the commotion and activity of the masses and retreat to a place where he can discern what God is revealing to him.
If we immerse ourselves solely in the crowd’s information and neglect to listen to God’s voice, we risk being misled.
On the other hand, if we make every effort to hear God’s voice and follow it, we can be certain that He will guide us in due time.
The Eighth Vision
The Eighth Vision (Zechariah 6.1-8) is somewhat mysterious, but it emphasizes one main point. It serves as an affirmation of faith that the power of God is active and present at the very core of the world’s power.
All of the visions given to Zechariah emphasize the fact that behind world events is the counsel of God, where God is actively working in human history.
The prophets consistently highlight that our understanding of world events is incomplete until we’ve considered God’s perspective. This underscores the importance of listening to God, enabling us to fulfill our role in His work within the world.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. Rudy brings an understanding of these events that will be very beneficial to your comprehension of the Minor Prophets. The video can be found on the Bob Spradling YouTube channel.
Real Voices 