5:1-9The judgment of the flying scroll was leveled against those who violated God’s law, specificaily by stealing and lying (5:1-4). The woman in a basket personified wickedness, and so this vision showed that wickedness would be not only severely punished (the vision of the flying scroll) but also banished (the vision of the woman in a basket, 5:6-9). §:9-11 The woman in a basket was carried away “to the land of Babylonia,” which had become a symbo! for the center of world idolatry and wickedness. This woman was a picture to Zechariah that wickedness and sin would be taken away from Israel and one day sin would be removed from the entire earth. When Christ died, he removed sin’s power and penalty. When we trust Christ to orgive us, he removes the penalty of sin and gives us the power to overcome sin in our life. When Christ returns, he will remove all sin from the earth, allowing people to live in eternal safety and security.
Life Application Study BibleZechariahChapter 5
Zechariah 5
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1506, 1507
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
13:8,
3The “Branch” refers to the Messiah. The meaning of thestone with seven facets is unclear. It could mean (1) the Branchhimself as the foundation stone of the Temple, (2) the rockstruck by Moses that produced water for the Israelites (Numbers20:7-11), or (3) the renewed spiritual priesthood of the church(
4Peter 2:5). These verses were fulfilled hundreds of years laterby Jesus Christ. God said,
6I will remove the sins of this fand ina single day,” and this was fulfilled in Christ who “suffered forour sins once for all time.... to bring you safely home to God”(
7Peter 3:18). You cannot remove your sins by your own effort.You must allow God to remove them through Christ.3:10 God promises that each person will have his or her ownplace of security during Christ’s reign (see also Micah 4:4).4:1-3 The gold lampstand with a bowl and seven lamps on itrepresents a steady supply of ail, signifying that God's powerwould be reflected in the light. Oi! was obtained from crushedolives and used in bowls with wicks to produce light. The twoolive trees stood for the priestly and royal offices.4:6 Zerubbabel was given the responsibility of rebuilding theTemple in Jerusalem (Ezra 3:2, 8, Haggai 1:1; 2:23). While theprophets Haggai and Zechariah gave the moral and spiritualencouragement to resume work on the Temple, Zerubbabel sawthat the task was carried out. As the work was being completed,the prophets encouraged Zerubbabel and told him of a timewhen spiritual apathy and foreign oppression would foreverbe abolished.4:6 Many people belive that to survive in this world a personmust be tough, strong, unbending, and harsh. But God says, “Notby force nor by strength, but by my Spirit.” The key words are “bymy Spirit.
9It is only through God’s Spirit that anything of lastingvalue is accomplished. The returned exiles were indeed weak—harassed by their enemies, tired, discouraged, and poor. But actu-ally they had God on their side! As you live for God, determinenot to trust in your own strength or abilities. Instead, depend onGod and work in the power of his Spirit! (See also Hosea 1:7.)4:9 The Temple was completed in 516 B.C. (Ezra 6:14, 15).4:10 Many of the older Jews were disheartened when they real-ized this new Temple would not match the size and splendor ofthe previous Temple built during King Solomon's reign. But biggerand more beautiful is not always better. What you do for God mayseem small and insignificant at the time, but God rejoices in whatis right, not necessarily in what is big. Be faithful in the smallopportunities. Begin where you are and do what you can, andleave the results to God.
13“Don’t you know?” he asked.“No, my lord,” I replied.14Then he said to me, “They represent the two heavenly beings who stand in the court ofthe LORD of all the earth.”
A Flying Scroll
Tlooked up again and saw a scroll flying through the air. 2“What do you see?” the angel asked. “Tsee a flying scroll,” I replied. “It appears to be about 30 feet long and 15 feet wide.*” 3Then he said to me, “This scroll contains the curse that is going out over the entire land. One side of the scroll says that those who steal will be banished from the land; the other side says that those who swear falsely will be banished from.the land. 4And this is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies says: I am sending this curse into the house of every thief and into the house of everyone who swears falsely using my name. And my curse will remain in that house and completely destroy it—even its timbers and stones.”
A Woman in a Basket
5Then the angel who was talking with me came forward and said, “Look up and see what's coming.” 6“ What is it?” I asked. He replied, “It is a basket for measuring grain,* and it’s filled with the sins* of everyone throughout the land.” 7Then the heavy lead cover was lifted off the basket, and there was awoman sitting inside it. 8The angel said, “The woman’s name is Wickedness,” and he pushed her back into the basket and closed the heavy lid again. 9Then I looked up and saw two women flying toward us, gliding on the wind. They had wings like a stork, and they picked up the basket and flew into the sky. 10“ Where are they taking the basket?” I asked the angel. 11He replied, “To the land of Babylonia,* where they will build a temple for the basket. And when the temple is ready, they will set the basket there on its pedestal.”