The Second Vision
George H. Morrison
Zechariah 1:18
The first thing to arrest us in this text is how a second vision followed on the first. Then-when he had had one glorious vision-the prophet lifted up his eyes again. Zechariah, despondent, sick at heart, had gone out one evening from the ruined city. He had gone out to pray in some secluded glen where in the hollows the myrtle bushes grew. And there, as he wrestled with heaven in the darkness, God flashed a glory of light upon his soul, such light as never was on sea or land. Zechariah had a glorious vision such as might have contented any man. He saw squadrons of angelic horses; he heard the voice of the angel of the Lord. And then the darkness fell, the angel vanished, the serried chivalry1 of heaven faded, and Zechariah was left alone again with the night wind and the myrtles in the valley. How many men would have said, ''It is enough. Let me steal home again; I have seen everything.'' The point to note is that the inspired prophet adopted no such final attitude. If he had seen once, he would see again, though heaven was wrapped in impenetrable darkness: ''Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw.''
A somewhat similar outlook and expectancy is to be witnessed in the apostle Paul. He also knew what Meredith2 describes as the rapture of the forward view. Like Zechariah, Paul had had his vision. A glory brighter than the sun had flashed on him. He had seen what was better than angelic cavalry: he had seen the risen and glorified Redeemer. And then on him, too, as on Zechariah, there had fallen a darkness fathomless as midnight, and they led him by the hand into the city. How many men would have said, ''It is enough: I have seen everything that soul can see.'' The point to note is that his heroic heart never dreamed of saying such a thing. ''Now I know in part and see in part.'' If he has seen once, he will see again. Then, when the first vision had departed, Paul lifted up his eyes and saw.
The temptation t ...
George H. Morrison
Zechariah 1:18
The first thing to arrest us in this text is how a second vision followed on the first. Then-when he had had one glorious vision-the prophet lifted up his eyes again. Zechariah, despondent, sick at heart, had gone out one evening from the ruined city. He had gone out to pray in some secluded glen where in the hollows the myrtle bushes grew. And there, as he wrestled with heaven in the darkness, God flashed a glory of light upon his soul, such light as never was on sea or land. Zechariah had a glorious vision such as might have contented any man. He saw squadrons of angelic horses; he heard the voice of the angel of the Lord. And then the darkness fell, the angel vanished, the serried chivalry1 of heaven faded, and Zechariah was left alone again with the night wind and the myrtles in the valley. How many men would have said, ''It is enough. Let me steal home again; I have seen everything.'' The point to note is that the inspired prophet adopted no such final attitude. If he had seen once, he would see again, though heaven was wrapped in impenetrable darkness: ''Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw.''
A somewhat similar outlook and expectancy is to be witnessed in the apostle Paul. He also knew what Meredith2 describes as the rapture of the forward view. Like Zechariah, Paul had had his vision. A glory brighter than the sun had flashed on him. He had seen what was better than angelic cavalry: he had seen the risen and glorified Redeemer. And then on him, too, as on Zechariah, there had fallen a darkness fathomless as midnight, and they led him by the hand into the city. How many men would have said, ''It is enough: I have seen everything that soul can see.'' The point to note is that his heroic heart never dreamed of saying such a thing. ''Now I know in part and see in part.'' If he has seen once, he will see again. Then, when the first vision had departed, Paul lifted up his eyes and saw.
The temptation t ...
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