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"This is Wickedness"

Text: Zechariah 5:8

AN IMPORTANT WORD OF EXPLANATION

The angel of the LORD graciously and patiently explained to Zechariah what he desired to know. Though a prophet, Zechariah still needed to learn further.

“‘Here is a lead disc lifted up,
and this is a woman sitting inside the basket’;
then he said, ‘This is Wickedness!’
And he thrust her down into the basket,
and threw the lead cover over its mouth.”
Zechariah 5:7-8

1. The basket

a) It was a measuring basket (an ephah).

b) There was a lead disc that covered the mouth of the basket.

c) Inside the basket there was a woman.

2. The explanation of the angel

a) The woman represented “wickedness”.

b) He has to thrust her down into the basket.

c) And he sealed the basket over the mouth of the basket.

3. The personification of wickedness as a woman

a) Judah was severely attacked by two powerful forces.

i) The Gentile nations (Babylonians followed by the Medo-Persians).

ii) There was another enemy that was just as deadly.

iii) Wickedness was that dangerous enemy.

b) Why was “wickedness” personified as a woman?

i) She represented guile and deception.

ii) She represented subtle sin.

iii) She represented wickedness that was deadly in its invisible influence.