THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH

INTRODUCTION:

1.TITLE / AUTHOR: ZECHARIAH was a Post-Exile Prophet to the Jews who returned from Babylonian Captivity (it is assumed he was born in Babylon).

2.CONTEXT: Ezra 4:23-6:15; Zechariah was a contemporary of Haggai.

3.Judah had been conquered, Jerusalem burned, the temple demolished, and the people exiled -- 606-586 BC.

a.Then after seventy years (from 606 BC), about 50,000 returned and started to rebuild the temple -- 536 BC.

b.The temple was essential to the Nation’s spirituality (it was the center of worship, the place of God’s presence); Without it they could not expect God’s favor.

4.Discouragement then came: Hard work, crop failure, and the opposition and hostility of the Samaritans.

a.It was easier to stop building than to fight, so they quit work in
534 BC - Ezra 4.

b.With only the foundation laid, the temple work was abandoned for about fourteen or fifteen years.

5.Discouragement (and no temple) led to a period of cold religion and
lax morals.

6.In this context God called Haggai and Zechariah - Ezra 5:1-2.

a.DATE: About 520 BC.

b.Haggai rebuked and admonished; Zechariah encouraged and looked to brighter days - cf Hag 2:15-19.

c.He seems to look beyond the material temple to the coming Messiah and the spiritual temple - cf Ezra 6:14.

7.Some of the clearest Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament are found here. In this dark day of discouragement which blanketed the remnant, Zechariah saw God’s glory in a vision of hope.

8.This is the longest and most difficult of the Minor Prophets; We cannot be certain about the meaning of some parts.

1.INTRODUCTION: MESSAGE OF WARNING -- CHAPTERS 1-6

NOTE: This Is Heaven’s Pictures Of Israel’s Future; The First Part Of The BOOK Was Written About 520 BC, During The Temple Rebuilding.

A.A CALL TO REPENTANCE, 1:1-6.

1.This BOOK begins with the same date as Haggai - Verse 1, Hag 1:1.

2.The two men were raised to stir the zeal of the people, Verse 3.

B.SEVEN NIGHT VISIONS, 1:7-6:8 (all received in one night).

1.Horsemen Under The Myrtle Trees, 1:7-17.

a.The Horsemen seem to be God’s servants who are sent to keep watch over the nations of the earth, Verses 10-11.

b.God’s guidance will bring fulfillment of His promise: The Temple was to be built, Verses 12-16 (Essential point, Verse 16).

2.Four Horns (Strength) And The Craftsmen, 1:18-21.

a.Enemies who opposed the building of the temple would be defeated.

b.Oppressors would be judged; They could not withstand God.

3.The Man With A Measuring Line, Chapter 2.

a.God would protect and glorify Jerusalem; there would be no need for walls, Verses 1-2,4-5,12.

b.This is the new spiritual Jerusalem of the Gospel dispensation;
It is not measured (not limited); It is universal, world-wide,
Verse 11; Isa 2:2-4.

4.Joshua, The High Priest; And Satan, Chapter 3.

a.Joshua (representing all priests, who represented all the people), was cleansed; Satan was rebuked, Verses 1-5.

b.The coming BRANCH would take away all sins, in spite of false accusations by Satan; This would come to pass IN THAT DAY, Verses 8,10.

c.There would be freedom and blessings under the New Testament Gospel - Ac 2:38; Jude 1-2.

5.Golden Lampstand And Two Olive Trees, Chapter 4.

a.Anointed ones show Divine power in the accomplishment of God’s purposes, Verses 1-3,6,9,14.

1)Perhaps primarily Joshua as the religious leader of the Remnant, and Zerubbabel as their civil leader.

2)Perhaps secondarily as Old Testament prophets and New Testament apostles, empowered by the Spirit, NOT BY MIGHT NOR BY POWER (of men) to build the respective temples
(OT -- Material; NT -- Spiritual) and glorify God.

b.The point seems to be that God was again blessing His people.

6.The Flying Scroll, Chapter 5.

a.A huge scroll, Verses 1-2 (about thirty feet by fifteen feet).

b.Curse against stealing on one side; Curse against perjury on the other, Verses 3-4.

c.The woman in the ephah (seven to eight gallon basket, or barrel) represented wickedness, Verses 7-8.

d.The Nation’s sin was to be removed and carried to ITS PLACE in Satan’s realm, Shinar (Babylon), Verses 9-11.

e.Perhaps the woman imprisoned implies the captivity of the Nation; But sin would be forgiven when the true temple would be built in the new day.

7.The Four Chariots, 6:1-8.

a.God’s judgment on wicked nations; His purpose was served.

b.Divine protection surrounded the temple; This was God’s guarantee of the coming fulfillment of all that had been revealed through the prophets.

C.THE CROWNING OF JOSHUA, 6:9-15.

1.Primarily: The new high priest at Jerusalem was to be blessed of God, and the people blessed through him, Verse 11.

2.Secondarily: Anticipates the coming of THE BRANCH Who wears a double crown: He is both KING and PRIEST, Verses 12-13.

3.This is not the material temple (it was completed by Zerubbabel, 4:9).

a.Christ builds the spiritual temple - Mt 16:18; 1Co 3:16.

b.He sits on His throne - Ac 2:34.

c.Rules on His throne - Heb 1:8.

d.Is Priest on His throne - Heb 4:14; 8:4.

e.He does all this NOW; So the kingdom is now, not future.

4.The Gentiles would be invited to have part in the spiritual temple, Verse 15; They ARE invited - Mk 16:15-16; Rom 1:16.

2.PROBLEMS: ISRAEL’S FASTING -- CHAPTERS 7-8

A.QUESTION ABOUT FASTING, 7:3 (“Are the people to continue to fast, as they did in captivity?”)

B.ANSWER IN FOUR MESSAGES, 7:4-8:23 (“Hear the Word!”)

1.A rebuke for empty forms and rituals with only self in mind, 7:4-7.

2.A reminder of past disobedience and consequent captivity, 7:8-14 (Verses 8,11,14).

3.God will gather and restore the people, provided they will practice truth and righteousness, 8:1-17 (Verses 1,4,7-8,12).

4.There is to be consolation and universal blessings in the coming kingdom, 8:18-23.

a.This is the answer to their question: Fasting will be turned to joy, Verses 18-19.

b.This joy will attract the Gentiles to the blessings which are to the Jews first - Verses 20-23; Rom 1:16; Mk 16:15.

NOTE: Chapters 1-8 were written during the rebuilding of the temple, and have to do primarily with the Remnant now back in the land. Chapters 9-14 were written considerably after the temple was rebuilt, and refer primarily to the future.

3.PREDICTIONS: ISRAEL’S FUTURE -- CHAPTERS 9-14

The Second Part Of The Book Was Written About 480 BC; Some Time After The Temple Was Rebuilt.

NOTE: The rest of the Book seems to be one continuous unfolding prophecy, extending from Zechariah’s time to the time of the Messiah.

A.FIRST BURDEN: REJECTION OF THE MESSIAH, CHAPTERS 9-11.

1.Heathen nations would fall; A remnant of God’s people were to be blessed, 9:1-7 (Verses 1,3-4,7).

2.God would establish His spiritual kingdom with a spiritual King (not to display pomp and pride like earthly kings), 9:8-10; Mt 21:4-5,8-9.

a.Judah and Ephraim united under one king; Not nationally,
but socially.

b.The People would be redeemed from captivity, and defeat their enemies in honor.

3.The scattered people could be blessed by the coming Messiah,
10:1-11:3.

a.Blessings are only in God, not in idolatry which is false, 10:1-7 (Verses 2,6).

b.God’s scattered people would return to blessings and strength in Him, 10:8-12 (Verse 12).

c.Sorrow was expressed over the land; The glory had been destroyed, 11:1-3 (Verse 3).

4.The Shepherd was rejected and sold for the price of a foreign wounded slave, 11:4-17 (Verses 12-13); cf Ex 21:32.

a.This insult to Jehovah was repeated when their children rejected His Son - Mt 27:9-10; Lk 19:42.

b.In both instances: People were then rejected by the Lord.

B.SECOND BURDEN: RECEPTION OF THE MESSIAH, 12:1-14:21.

1.Culmination of the prophecies in the glory of the new spiritual kingdom.

2.The nations would be defeated because God fought for Jerusalem, 12:1-4 (Verse 2).

3.Strength for spiritual Jerusalem is in God, 12:5-9 (Verses 5,9).

4.People will repent when they see Whom they have pierced, 12:10-14 (Verse 10); Jn 19:37; Rev 1:7.

a.This would bring great mourning, as at the death of Josiah -
2Ch 35:20-25.

b.It was fulfilled in the mourning of the Jews as their nation ended
(70 AD).

5.The fountain for sin, 13:1-9.

a.Mediation is necessary to the reconciliation of sinners to God, 13:1.

b.Idols to have no influence in the new spiritual kingdom; Prophesying would be finished and discontinued; Demon possession would cease, 13:2-6 (Verse 2).

c.The Shepherd was smitten; The majority was lost; The minority was saved, 13:7-9 (Verses 7,9).

1)Messiah to reign over His world-wide spiritual kingdom.

2)Salvation was to be established in spiritual Israel, the church -
cf Eph 2:16.

3)He would gather the scattered ones and protect those who were weak - cf 1Pe 3:12.

6.The day of the Lord, 14:1-21.

a.Jerusalem would be besieged by armies, 14:1-5 (Verse 2); Is this the Roman armies in 70 AD? - Mt 24.

b.Darkness over the Jewish nation as it ended; The light of the Gospel was to shine, 14:6-11 (Verses 6-7).

1)The fountain of forgiveness for both covenants (Old Testament and New Testament), 14:8; Heb 9:15.

2)One Lord, one people, one kingdom, 14:9; Eph 4:4-6.

c.Jerusalem would then (IN THE GOSPEL DISPENSATION) dwell safely, 14:11.

d.Enemies, not Jerusalem, were the ones who would be cursed, 14:12-15 (Verse 12).

e.Expansion of the Gospel after the destruction of Jerusalem, 14:16-21; cf Ac 1:8; 8:4; Col 1:23.

1)The remnant turned to the Lord in thanksgiving; Others suffered, 14:16-19.

2)Everything in the spiritual kingdom is to be Holy to Jehovah; There will be no aliens in this fellowship, 14:20-21.

**ZECHARIAH IN THREE WORDS:

Old Testament Apocalypse (Revelation).

**CONTRIBUTION OF THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH TO THE BIBLE:

1.It contains clear and interesting prophecies of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.

2.It is second only to Isaiah in the richness of Messianic passages.

3.The BOOK provides countless hours of rewarding study.

**CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH:

1.He is here seen as Servant and King, Man and God, the Angel of the Lord, the Righteous Branch, the King-Priest, the Good Shepherd; Perhaps Other references.

2.The BOOK contains clear statements about His coming to build the universal spiritual temple.

3.Through a prayerful study of ZECHARIAH we can come to appreciate Christ and our present blessings.

**CONCLUSION:

Do you now enjoy the blessings which are offered to the obedient? -
2Co 6:2.