Scripture

He replied,” It is a basket for measuring grain, and it is filled with the sins of everyone throughout the land.”

Observation

Zechariah sees a flying scroll which contains a curse that goes out over every part of the land. One side of the scroll says that everyone who steals will be banished from the land, while the other side says that everyone who swears falsely will be banished from the land. The house of every thief and every liar will be cursed by the Lord.

Next, Zechariah sees a basket that is used to measure grain, but it is filled with the sins of everyone in the land. The lid of the basket is removed to reveal a woman who is named Wickedness. Two women then fly towards the basket and take it to Babylon. There, a temple will be built for the basket, where it will be placed on a pedestal, presumably to be worshipped.

Application

Our nation is filled with every kind of evil – pornography, greed, theft, lies, violence, murder, and every kind of sexual immorality. The sins are in a measuring basket, which means that God can see them, weigh them, and judge them

In Zechariah’s vision, the basket of sins is sent to Babylon, where a temple is built to worship it. We are living in Babylon, where what God declares good is trashed but, every sin is elevated and worshipped .

The solution is not merely to condemn the sins of the world. Nor is it to hide in our holy huddle, isolated from the world and waiting for Jesus to take us home .

The solution is for the church to preach the gospel widely and fearlessly. As people turn away from their sin, its ability to captivate the nation is reduced.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I pray for my friends who do not know you. Bring them to the place of repentance and salvation. Amen