Recently a crew installed new windows in our house. The foreman, a carpenter by trade, arrived the first morning ten minutes early. As we discussed the job he noticed that my glass storm door sat oddly in the frame. Two days later he fixed it, taking over an hour to adjust the door. It was not part of the work order, nor did he get paid for the extra service. But as a craftsman he couldn’t walk away from a crooked door.

I know a few people I consider a craftsman. These masters (men and women, so I suppose I should use the term craftsperson), trained hard in their field, are excellent at their work, and take pride in their results.

One doesn’t think of a craftsman as a person to enact the judgement of God. But that’s how Zechariah described those the Lord used to settle the score with Israel’s enemies.

These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise their head, but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter its people.

The horns represent the nations that invaded and overwhelmed Israel and Judah. Craftsman point to the nation or nations of their judgement, arriving in the next wave of conquering. This prophecy likely referred to the Persian Empire, called upon to terrify those who arrogantly defied the Lord.

Craftsmen have come to terrify. Think of a blacksmith at his anvil beating until the metal is formed. Some work requires force, and divine judgement fits that bill. A craftsman brings an eye for detail. Nothing escapes his tenacity. No door remains crooked, and no nation escapes judgement.

The Lord accomplishes his purposes. Sometimes through saints, sometimes through sinners, and sometimes through craftsmen. But bear in mind—the job gets done and gets done right.

Zechariah 1 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Jonny Gios