"Whereas the vision in Zech. 5: 1– 4 confronted covenant infidelity in human relationships, the second vision confronts covenant infidelity in the people’s relationship with God. Yahweh is a jealous God, who will not tolerate any rival." [1] This vision of the woman in the basket is found in Zechariah 5:5-11.
Zechariah saw a basket. When the cover is lifted the prophet saw a woman. There is a little struggle (“He said, “This is wickedness,” and he pushed her back into the basket and pushed its lead cover down on it.” (Zechariah 5:8, NIV) but the woman is removed from the land to Babylon by two other unique womanly creatures. (“Then I looked up—and there before me were two women, with the wind in their wings! They had wings like those of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between heaven and earth.” (Zechariah 5:9, NIV)).
The woman in the basket is the personification of wickedness. "Like the basket itself (v.6), the woman in it represents the sin of the people in Palestine, whose measure or cup of evil was full. The whole evil system was to be destroyed. In v.8 the Hebrew word for "wickedness" is feminine. This may explain why the wickedness of the people is personified as a woman. "Wickedness"—a general word denoting moral, religious, and civil evil—is frequently used as an antonym of righteousness (e.g., Prov 13:6; Ezek 33:12)." [2]
"The wickedness that has been personified in female shape was removed by two women with the wind (Hb. ruakh), the divine agency of motion, in their wings." [3] Several suggestions as to who these women are have been offered but suffice to say they appear to be Spirit-empowered messengers from God. The destination of the women bearing the sin away was "Babylonia" (sinar, "Shinar").
The message is this: For the building of the Temple to succeed the idolatry had to be removed from the land. Israel had embraced pagan gods and the land had to be cleansed. "Idolatry was an abomination to God because it represented infidelity in the covenant relationship established between him and his people. Yahweh is a jealous God, who passionately disallowed any rival (Ex. 20: 4– 6) . . . The key is that, whether or not they actually represented a spiritual force (demon, god, goddess), the focus is on the violation of the exclusive relationship between God and his people." [4]
"The definition of idolatry, according to Webster, is “the worship of idols or excessive devotion to, or reverence for some person or thing.” An idol is anything that replaces the one, true God. The most prevalent form of idolatry in Bible times was the worship of images that were thought to embody the various pagan deities." [5]
The restoration of God's people to Jerusalem required a personal repentance and cleansing from sin. But it also required the removal of anything bound in a system of belief that eroded or replaced one's affection and veneration of the one True and Living God. Through Christ we have this hope “may God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23, NIV). And because of this we are instructed: “Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1, NIV).
Father, You do not tolerate rivals in Your People. Misdirected affections and misappropriated pleasures have no place in my life and the life of the Christian. Father, often our hearts cry,longing that You would do as is envisioned here: Take away all idolatry, Father. Root it out and banish it forever from our lives. It gives false promises, false hopes. It dashes are dreams. It makes mockery of Your grandeur. It impairs the sight of Your glory and the view of Your Beauty. Lord that You will enable us to kill and destroy all affections that lead us away from You. Draw us close to You, Lord. Never let us go. We need the empowerment that comes from You. May baskets and baskets fly from our lives laden with idols, destined to perish. For Your sake, Father and the glory of Your Son and our Savior. Amen.
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1. Boda, Mark J. (2009-05-26). Haggai, Zechariah (The NIV Application Commentary) (Kindle Locations 5912-5914). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
2. Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Zechariah/Exposition of Zechariah/II. A Series of Eight Night Visions (1:7-6:8)/G. The Seventh Vision: The Woman in a Basket (5:5-11), Book Version: 4.0.2
3. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (1758). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
4. Boda, Mark J. (2009-05-26). Haggai, Zechariah (The NIV Application Commentary) (Kindle Locations 6038-6043). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
5. Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/idolatry-definition.html#ixzz3Ixe0UwoY
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