This is Wickedness - Zechariah 5:8

In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how he saw in a vision a basket for measuring grain, and he added, “behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sits in the midst of the ephah”, and in chapter five and verse eight of Zechariah, Zechariah shared how the angel said, “this is wickedness” where we read,

And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; 

and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.

The verse reads, “And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; ” Zechariah began with the words, “and he said” or “and he, the angel, uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “this is wickedness” which means “this, the woman in the basket, exists as moral wrong, fault and evil”. “And he cast it” or “and he, the angel, threw it, the woman who represented wickedness” “into the midst of the ephah” which means “in the middle of the basket or receptacle for measuring or holding a dry measure of quantity that is equal to about nine imperial gallons”. Zechariah shared how the angel identified the “woman” as the “moral wrong and evil” within the nation of Israel, and he threw her into the basket which held grain. 

The verse continues, “and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.” Zechariah added the words, “and he cast”or “and he, the angel, flung, hurled and threw” “the weight of lead” which means “round lid made of lead” “upon the mouth thereof” or “on the opening of the basket”. Zechariah shared how the angel threw the woman named “Wickedness”into the basket for grain and place the lid made of lead on the top of it.

When we think through Zechariah's words in this verse, we learn more about this vision shown to him. He learned that the “woman” represented the sin and wrong committed by Israel, and now she was thrown into the ephah or basket which was used for holding grain and a round lead top was placed upon it. God was attending to the people of Israel even when they were in violation to His ways. God loves Israel, and when they were walking in sinful ways, He placed them in a secure place where He could deal with them. We shall find out more about this vision in our next verse, but for now let us be mindful that God loves us too, and when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, we have an opportunity to receive Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”. When we do, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us the value of His care for us even when we go astray from Him. 

Next time Zechariah says, “there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".