A Vision with Comforting Words

Text: Zechariah 1:7-17

Reflection and Question: Zechariah’s vision of the four horsemen reporting “We have patrolled the whole earth, and lo, the whole earth remains at peace,” joins Ezekiel and Daniel in the Old Testament, and Mark 13 and Revelation in the New Testament, as what is called “apocalyptic” writing. Each of these passages is full of fantastic visions and angels interpreting them, but they are not all as gently comforting as Zechariah. This section concludes, “The Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.” When have you found comfort in God’s words?

Prayer: Almighty God, when we cry with our ancestors, “How long will You withhold mercy from us with whom You have been angry?” please respond as You did through Zechariah, with comfort and compassion and the promise of peace. Amen.

This meditation is based on the Daily Lectionary Year 1 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).