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The big question of the prophets was this. How does the world survive? How does the world survive when there is so much injustice, evil, and sin the world? This is a big problem because God is a holy and pure God. As Habakkuk puts it, He is of purer eyes than to look on iniquity. He is a God of justice and righteousness. He is the one who will deal with those who do wrong.
We often don’t appreciate that message because our tendency is to see injustice and wrong-doing as something that is out there in somebody else. However, the prophets realized that this was bad news for everybody, including themselves. They wondered, how can I stand in the presence of a holy God? Woe is me, I am undone! Said Isaiah. Until we get this perspective, we really will not appreciate the message of the prophets to us today. However, if we get it, if we see the wrongs that we have done and struggle with guilt, then their message is for you. It enters into your struggle and provides an answer.
The prophet Zechariah received eight visions from the Lord about the same time as Haggai. These were meant to encourage the people in their struggles as they returned from exile. In the chapter you have read, we have the fourth vision of Zechariah. It provides one of the clearest answers to that question of how the world survives the wrath of a holy God in all of the Old Testament. It is a really beautiful passage that describes the way that God deals with sin and brings forgiveness and transforming grace to His people.