I saw by night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees in the hollow; and behind him were horses: red, sorrel, and white. Zechariah 1:8
Zechariah saw a vision in the night (Zech. 1:8). The night time symbolizes a very dark period in Israel’s history—the 70 years when they were in captivity. The myrtle trees standing “in the hollow” represent the people of God in a low and dark valley condition. But standing in the midst of this shady myrtle-grove was a man riding on a red horse. This man was known as “the Angel of the LORD” (1:11). The Angel of the LORD is the Son of God, the second Person of the Godhead, appearing in His pre-incarnate form. He also appeared to Joshua with His sword drawn in His hand as the Commander of the army of the LORD (Josh. 5:13-14).
This beautiful picture assures us that even when we find ourselves in a desperate and hopeless situation, Christ is always present in the midst of it. “For the LORD will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you His people” (1 Sam. 12:22). The man in the vision was riding as a man of war, coming down from the heavens to help his people. It is the same LORD who came to the aid of Israel when they were in a dead end situation, with the Red Sea before them and the Egyptian armies behind them. Moses later wrote, “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to help you, and in His excellency on the clouds” (Deut. 33:26). God is a Man of war and He will always fight for His people. And in the vision, the man rode on a red horse. Red is a fiery color, denoting that God is zealous for His Church, Zion (Zech. 1:14), and very angry at her enemies.
Zechariah also saw a troop of horses attending to the Angel of the LORD (Zech. 1:8), ready to receive and obey His orders. These are angels attending to the Lord, ready to be dispatched by Him for the service of His church and waiting to be sent into victorious battles for His people. When Elisha and his servant came face to face with the threat from the armies of Syria, angels were there to fight for them. “And his servant said to him, ‘Alas, my master! What shall we do?’ So he answered, ‘Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them’” (2 Kin. 6:15-16).
God is our present help in times of need. He will never leave us nor forsake us when we go through the valley of the shadow of death. Therefore, let us not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are against us! However, He is a jealous God and demands holiness from us. If we walk in obedience and righteousness before God, He will deliver us from the snare of the devil and give us victory all the time! “For the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you and give your enemies over to you; therefore your camp shall be holy, that He may see no unclean thing among you, and turn away from you” (Deut. 23:14).
Zechariah saw a vision in the night (Zech. 1:8). The night time symbolizes a very dark period in Israel’s history—the 70 years when they were in captivity. The myrtle trees standing “in the hollow” represent the people of God in a low and dark valley condition. But standing in the midst of this shady myrtle-grove was a man riding on a red horse. This man was known as “the Angel of the LORD” (1:11). The Angel of the LORD is the Son of God, the second Person of the Godhead, appearing in His pre-incarnate form. He also appeared to Joshua with His sword drawn in His hand as the Commander of the army of the LORD (Josh. 5:13-14).
This beautiful picture assures us that even when we find ourselves in a desperate and hopeless situation, Christ is always present in the midst of it. “For the LORD will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you His people” (1 Sam. 12:22). The man in the vision was riding as a man of war, coming down from the heavens to help his people. It is the same LORD who came to the aid of Israel when they were in a dead end situation, with the Red Sea before them and the Egyptian armies behind them. Moses later wrote, “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to help you, and in His excellency on the clouds” (Deut. 33:26). God is a Man of war and He will always fight for His people. And in the vision, the man rode on a red horse. Red is a fiery color, denoting that God is zealous for His Church, Zion (Zech. 1:14), and very angry at her enemies.
Zechariah also saw a troop of horses attending to the Angel of the LORD (Zech. 1:8), ready to receive and obey His orders. These are angels attending to the Lord, ready to be dispatched by Him for the service of His church and waiting to be sent into victorious battles for His people. When Elisha and his servant came face to face with the threat from the armies of Syria, angels were there to fight for them. “And his servant said to him, ‘Alas, my master! What shall we do?’ So he answered, ‘Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them’” (2 Kin. 6:15-16).
God is our present help in times of need. He will never leave us nor forsake us when we go through the valley of the shadow of death. Therefore, let us not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are against us! However, He is a jealous God and demands holiness from us. If we walk in obedience and righteousness before God, He will deliver us from the snare of the devil and give us victory all the time! “For the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you and give your enemies over to you; therefore your camp shall be holy, that He may see no unclean thing among you, and turn away from you” (Deut. 23:14).
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