Zechariah

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Zechariah

• Jehovah Remembers
• Zechariah 11-213

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Background

• Haggai and Zechariah both sent to encourage the
  people to finish building the temple
• Haggai began prophesying in the 6th month of the
  2nd year of Darius
• His last prophecy was in the 9th month of that
  same year
• Zechariah began prophesying in the 8th month of
  the 2nd year
• His last dated prophecy is two years later (71)

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The Message

• Unlike Haggai, the written message of Zechariah
  seems to have very little to do with the
  rebuilding of the temple
• The book is filled with symbolic visions and
  reminds many of Ezekiel and Revelation
• With good reason, Revelation uses much of the
  imagery of Zechariah
• Like our study of Revelation, well try not to
  get too mired in the imagery while keeping sight
  of the theme
• So what is the theme?

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The Theme

• Jehovah remembers
• The name of the prophet seems to best reflect the
  theme
• In the midst of their trials, their work, their
  suffering, their joys, their history
• God has not forgotten
• What does He remember? And what does it mean for
  the people of Israel?
• Those are the questions the book answers

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Return

• Zech 11-6
• Between Haggais word of encouragement (Hag
  21-9) about the glory of the temple
• And the warning from God about being unclean
  while working on the temple
• A message similar to Haggais later waning
• The people were doing the work, but they had not
  yet repented
• God wants to forgive, but repentance must come
  first
• Dont be like those who refused to repent until
  they had been sent into captivity

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The vision of horses

• Zech 17-11
• God has servants watching everything
• Like kings would have scouts, spies, and
  messengers who rode horses across the kingdom
• The message God knows what is going on
  everywhere and at all times
• Never think He has forgotten or overlooked
  something

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Comforting words

• Zech 112-17
• The angel asks why mercy has not yet been shown
  to Jerusalem
• The prophesied 70 years have passed
• God says to be comforted, He remember them and
  His promise to restore them
• God is with the people who are rebuilding
• He is returning to Jerusalem as His house is
  rebuilt
• Prosperity will come and the nation will grow
• And God will punish those nations who acted too
  severely against Judah, as He had already
  punished Babylon as told to Habakkuk

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The vision of the horns

• Zech 218-21
• 4 horns representing the nations which had abused
  Judah before, during or after captivity
• Which nations? We cant be sure since God doesnt
  list them
• God will send someone to punish each of those
  nations
• The message Be comforted, God remembers what
  they did to His people, and will make sure they
  are punished

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The vision of the measuring line

• Zech 21-5
• The man with the line represents human endeavor
  to protect self
• Have to measure the city before building new
  walls
• God says, tell them not to worry about walls
• God will be their wall
• Not just stone, but a wall of fire
• The message God will protect His people, no
  need to fear.
• He remembers who His people are and will be with
  them

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A cause for joy

• Zech 26-13
• v.8 He sent Me after glory (almost every
  translation rewords it differently)
• But notice the Lord says He sent Me
• The only way this (and other similar passages can
  be understood is if God is doing the sending and
  God is being sent)
• These passages (where God speaks and is being
  spoken about) are from the prophetic viewpoint of
  Christ, the Son of God
• Christ was sent into the world to receive glory
• I will dwell in your midst (Jn 114)
• You will know the Lord has sent Me to you (Jn
  1720-26)

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Conclusion

• For Gods people the message hasnt changed
• Be comforted, God always remembers keeps His
  promises
• God remembers the wicked and will punish them in
  His time
• Be joyous, God remembered His promises and came
  Himself to offer salvation to all mankind

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