A vision of mercy.
"Then the angel of the Lord answered and said," etc. In the last portion (Zechariah 1:7-11) we saw Christ, or the Angel-Jehovah, presented to us as a King, exercising visitatorial powers. In the present we seem to read of him under those two other principal aspects in which he is revealed to his people, viz.
I. INTERCESSION. We find this to be:
1. Exceedingly apposite. Much had already been done for the remnant of the Captivity; but much also remained. A mere handful (some fifty thousand all told, Ezra 2:64, Ezra 2:65), compared with the many thousands of Israel, had been brought back; a few scattered centres of population only were to be found in the land, and Jerusalem itself was more like a city of the dead than of the living (compare the description of it in Nehemiah 7:4, many years afterwards). This state of things is exactly recognized in the Angel-Jehovah's petition, "How long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah?" (For similar and, probably, nearly contemporaneous request for further mercy after much mercy received, comp. Psalms 126:4 and Psalms 126:1.)
2. Very judicious. See what this intercession allows, viz. the justice of God. "Thou hast had indignation;" and rightly, so it implies. (For similar confessions of God's justice in pleading for mercy, comp. Genesis 18:25; Jeremiah 12:1.) See also what this intercession relies on, viz. on the one hand, God's character, as delighting to exercise mercy (so to speak) as soon as he can; and, on the other hand, on God's faithfulness, as being Sure to confine his indignation strictly to the duration specified by him. "These three score and ten years" (see Jeremiah 26:11, Jeremiah 26:12).
3. Very effectual. This shown by the answer obtained, which consisted, on the one hand, of "good words" i.e. words promising good; and on the other hand, of "comfortable words," literally, words "sighing with," or full of sympathy, in the spirit of Romans 12:15; Isaiah 63:9; and so being all that could be wished for, both in matter and manner.
II. INSTRUCTION. The Angel-Jehovah, having received this reply, then proceeds—either personally or, as some think, through the instrumentality of some subordinate angel—to instruct the prophet accordingly. In this we may notice:
1. His commission. The satisfactory answer just received by the Angel-Jehovah the prophet was now to make known in his turn: "Cry thou." He was also to tell it aloud, to proclaim it: "Cry" (bis); comp. Genesis 41:43; 2 Chronicles 32:18, where the same word is employed. And he was to do so being thus commissioned (this also is mentioned twice, 2 Chronicles 32:14, 2 Chronicles 32:17) in God's name.
2. His message. This corresponds, as might be expected, with the "words" of 2 Chronicles 32:13. For example, it is a message
Do we not see illustrated in all this, finally?
1. The perfection of the gospel. "Good words and comfortable words"—"glad tidings of great joy"—so we see it to be. How full of sympathy! How full of hope! Its excellency culminating in this, perhaps, above all, that we have not only such a "Propitiation" (1 John 2:2). but such a perpetual "Advocate" (1 John 2:1) and Intercessor to plead it (see also Hebrews 7:25; Luke 22:31, Luke 22:32; Luke 13:8, Luke 13:9; Acts 7:55).
2. The certainty of the gospel. As to its essence and source, on the one hand. As in 2 Chronicles 32:13, it is, in effect, the promise of God to his Son (comp. Psalms 2:7-9; Psalms 110:1-7; passim). As to its conveyance to us, on the other; being, in effect, as in 2 Chronicles 32:14, the message of Christ himself to us through those appointed by him. Compare the visions of Christ to Isaiah (6.; John 12:1-50.) and Daniel (Daniel 10:5, Daniel 10:6, and references); also John 14:26; John 16:13, John 16:14; Colossians 3:16, etc.