Zechariah 1:12

My Notes

What Does Zechariah 1:12 Mean?

"Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?" An angel intercedes for Jerusalem — asking God how much longer the judgment will last. The seventy years (the duration prophesied by Jeremiah in 25:11-12) are fulfilled, and the angel wants to know: isn't it time for mercy? The indignation has run its course. The sentence has been served. How long until the restoration begins?

The verse is remarkable because an angel is praying for Jerusalem. Not a human prophet. An angel. The heavenly beings are invested in the earthly city's restoration. And the angel's prayer is essentially: your own timeline says this should be over. When does mercy begin?

Reflection Questions

• 1.What 'seventy years' of discipline might be ending in your life — and are you looking for the mercy?
• 2.What does an angel interceding for an earthly city teach about heaven's investment in earthly restoration?
• 3.How does knowing mercy is God's 'default posture' (interrupted by judgment, not the other way around) change your hope?
• 4.Where do you need to hear God's 'good words and comfortable words' after a long season of indignation?

Devotional

How long? An angel asks God. How long will you be angry with Jerusalem? It's been seventy years. The sentence Jeremiah specified has been served. When does the mercy start?

An angel intercedes for Jerusalem. Not a priest. Not a prophet. An angel — a heavenly being whose domain is God's throne room, not the streets of Jerusalem. And this angel cares enough about an earthly city to petition the Lord of hosts on its behalf. The heavenly realm is invested in the earthly restoration.

Threescore and ten years. Seventy years — exactly what Jeremiah prophesied (25:11-12, 29:10). The angel knows the timeline. The sentence was specific: seventy years of Babylonian domination. And the seventy years are up. The calendar says the indignation should be over. The prophecy says the restoration should begin. And the angel turns to God and asks: the clock has run out. When does mercy replace indignation?

How long wilt thou not have mercy? The question assumes mercy is God's preferred posture. The angel isn't asking: will you ever show mercy? He's asking: when will you return to mercy? — because mercy is what God does. The indignation was temporary. The mercy is permanent. The seventy years was the interruption. The mercy is the default.

God's answer (v. 13-17) is immediate and warm: "good words and comfortable words." The LORD is "jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy" (v. 14). He's "sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease" (v. 15). He's returning to Jerusalem with mercies (v. 16). The angel's prayer is answered with everything the angel hoped for — because the seventy years were always meant to end. The indignation was always meant to give way to mercy.

If you've been under divine discipline and the sentence feels like it should be over — if you've served the time and mercy hasn't arrived yet — an angel asked the same question. How long? And the answer was: the mercy is already on its way. The indignation is ending. The comfortable words are being spoken. And the jealous love of God for his city hasn't diminished during the seventy years. It's been building.

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture