Among the post exilic works, that is those writings after Judah’s captivity in Babylon, was the prophet Zechariah. He was a contemporary of the prophet Haggai, and began his prophetic work approximately 520 B.C., some 16 years after Judah was released from captivity. Among his treasured writings, are a series of visions in which he converses with the angel of the Lord.
In Zechariah 5:5-11, the prophet sees a vision of a woman sitting in a basket. The angel identified the woman, by noting, “This is Wickedness!” And he thrust her down into the basket, and threw the lead cover over its mouth” (Zechariah 5:8, NKJV). As the vision progressed, the prophet witnessed two women with wings, who came and carried the basket, with the woman in it, to the land of Shinar (Babylon). There a house would be built for it, and, “when it is ready, the basket will be set there on its base” (Zechariah 5:11).
What the prophet was seeing in a vision was wickedness being sent or returned to the sinful, heathen land of Babylon. God did not want such sinfulness to remain in the land with His people.
Here is a powerful lesson that needs to be stressed in the Lord’s church today. That lesson is that sin should not be brought into the church; it should be left in the sinful world. Things such as prejudice, faultfinding, backbiting, gossip, envy, jealousy, hatred, pride, arrogance, etc. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21), need to be left in the world, and should not even be named among the Lord’s people.
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”. . . “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” 2 Corinthians 6:14,17. “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” Ephesians 5:11.