18 [1]Then I lifted up my eyes and looked , and behold , there were four horns . 19 So I said to the angel who was speaking with me, "What are these ?" And he answered me, "These are the horns which have scattered Judah , Israel and Jerusalem ." 20 Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen . 21 I said , "What are these coming to do ?" And he said , "These are the horns which have scattered Judah so that no man lifts up his head ; but these craftsmen have come to terrify them, to throw down the horns of the nations who have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah in order to scatter it."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Zechariah 1:18-21
Commentary on Zechariah 1:18-21
(Read Zechariah 1:18-21)
The enemies of the church threaten to cut off the name of Israel. They are horns, emblems of power, strength, and violence. The prophet saw them so formidable that he began to despair of the safety of every good man, and the success of every good work; but the Lord showed him four workmen empowered to cut off these horns. With an eye of sense we see the power of the enemies of the church; look which way we will, the world shows us that; but it is only with an eye of faith that we see it safe. The Lord shows us that. When God has work to do, he will raise up some to do it, and others to defend it, and to protect those employed in doing it. What cause there is to look up in love and praise to the holy and eternal Spirit, who has the same care over the present and eternal interests of believers, by the holy word bringing the church to know the wonderful things of salvation!