A PATROLLING SPIRIT

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

And again I looked up and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze. The first chariot had red horses, the second chariot black horses, the third chariot white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled gray horses.

Then I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”

The angel answered me, “These are the four winds of heaven going out, after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth. The chariot with the black horses goes toward the north country, the white ones go toward the west country, and the dappled ones go toward the south country.”

When the steeds came out, they were impatient to get off and patrol the earth. And he said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth.

Then he cried out to me, “Lo, those who go toward the north country have set my spirit at rest in the north country.”

Zechariah 6:1-8 (NRSV)

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

As chapter 6 of Zechariah opens, we find the eighth and final vision of the prophet, one which brings a majestic scene of God’s power and authority over His creation. Look again at this passage here:

And again I looked up and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze. The first chariot had red horses, the second chariot black horses, the third chariot white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled gray horses.

Then I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”

The angel answered me, “These are the four winds of heaven going out, after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth. The chariot with the black horses goes toward the north country, the white ones go toward the west country, and the dappled ones go toward the south country.”

When the steeds came out, they were impatient to get off and patrol the earth. And he said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth.

Then he cried out to me, “Lo, those who go toward the north country have set my spirit at rest in the north country.” Zechariah 6:1-8 (NRSV)

It’s interesting that Zechariah’s first vision involved a cadre of multi-colored horses but those in that scene were markedly different in their utility and actions than the ones we find here in chapter 6. The horses in the opening vision were standing still amongst the myrtle trees, having went through the world to find it at peace. Contrast this to the horses in this vision, horses pulling mighty chariots of judgment sent by the Lord Himself to exact judgment on the wickedness of the world. Although chariots were used for a variety of purposes, these chariots were definitely instruments of war, representative of God’s Spirit going to all parts of the world, covering all directions outside of Israel.

God purposed His Spirits to patrol the earth and as we read in the scriptures, they were very eager to carry out that task. In their patrols, they were to seek out any nations who opposed God and were hostile toward Israel, bringing judgment where needed to eliminate any threat and thus bring peace to the Lord and His people, setting their spirits at rest. In particular, we find specific success mentioned from the work of the Spirit sent to the north, believed to align with the location of Babylonia and the downfall of the Babylon empire, the empire used as instruments of judgment to attack and oppress the Israelites.

Today, the Lord continues to send His Spirit to all parts of the world to patrol the hearts and minds of people in search of sin and wickedness, anything that would bring a person into opposition with the God who is their Master and Maker. The end goal of the patrolling Holy Spirit is to eradicate sin and in doing so, restore a person’s spirit to a place of peace and rest, a place of good standing with their Lord who revels in joy with every heart that is turned away from transgression and toward His righteousness.

Have you responded to the work of the patrolling Spirit today?

If so, then it is well with your soul and more importantly with God as well.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark
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