Today’s vision is from Zechariah 5, which took me a minute to read through and think through. I read several commentaries, and there was one that I really liked. I thought it helped make more sense. In this passage, we see the deeper truth of previous visions. In previous visions, we see the consequences of sinful action. But in today’s vision, we see that the deeper issue is not the actions that are sinful; it is the sinful nature that drives the action. Jesus forgives us for our actions, but He came to restore our nature. I think today’s vision really shows us how that dynamic works.

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Good morning! It’s great to be with you on this Monday morning as we continue our journey through Zechariah. Last week was filled with Vacation Bible School here at St. Matthews, and this week I’ll be involved in the Mississippi Annual Conference. We should have our “Rooted” sessions through Thursday. Friday might be a challenge, but I’ll keep you updated.

Today, we’re picking up from where we left off in Zechariah 5, covering verses 5 through 11, which encompasses Zechariah’s seventh vision.

This vision, like many from the Old Testament prophets, can seem puzzling at first glance. However, after examining various commentaries, a helpful interpretation emerges, especially when considering the seventh vision in light of the sixth.

In the sixth vision, we saw the consequences of sin, highlighting how sin disrupts relationships with God and each other. This seventh vision extends that idea by addressing the deeper issue of inherent wickedness.

The imagery of the basket and the woman representing Wickedness, sealed with a leaden cover, signifies the pervasive nature of sin. It’s not just about individual sinful actions but the underlying sinful nature that corrupts people. The basket being taken to the land of Shinar (Babylon) symbolizes the removal of wickedness from the land. Babylon often represents a place of exile and sinfulness, reminding us of the Israelites’ exile due to their iniquities.

One interpretation suggests that the weight of their sin led the people into exile in Babylon. However, another profound interpretation highlights the need to address not just the punishment of individual sins but the removal of the root cause—wickedness itself.

This resonates with the concept of human depravity and sinfulness, which is more than just our actions; it’s our nature. Vision six deals with sinful actions like lying and stealing, while vision seven targets the deeper issue of our sinful nature.

In theological terms, this aligns with the idea that salvation aims to restore the image of God within us. It’s not enough to stop individual sins; we must seek the transformation of our sinful nature. This restoration process is part of our sanctification, the journey of becoming more like Christ.

The ultimate goal is to restore what sin has corrupted, not just to address the symptoms but to heal the underlying disease. This vision illustrates that God’s work in us is about more than just stopping sinful actions; it’s about transforming our very nature through His grace.

As we reflect on this, let’s remember that God’s grace is sufficient to address both our sinful actions and our sinful nature. Let’s allow His grace to work deeply within us, transforming us from the inside out.

Thank you for being with us today. We’ll continue with chapter 6 tomorrow. Have a great day and see you in the morning!