Zechariah

Zechariah was likely born in Babylon and a priest who returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel. He prophesied to those who had returned. Zechariah begins with a reminder of the sins of their forefathers. “The Lord was very angry with your fathers. Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried out, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts, Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.' But they did not hear or pay attention to me, declares the Lord.”

“Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? So, they repented and said, As the Lord of hosts purposed to deal with us for our ways and deeds, so has he dealt with us.” (Zech 1:2-6)

Zechariah Visions

Man riding red horse “A man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees. These are they whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth. And they answered the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, and said, ‘We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth remains at rest.’ … Therefore, thus says the Lord, ‘I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built in it, declares the Lord of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.’ Cry out again, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.’” (Zech 1:10-11; 16-17)

Horns and Craftsmen “These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one raised his head. And these craftsmen have come to terrify them, to cast down the horns of the nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter it.” (Zech 1:21)

A man with a measuring line to measure Jerusalem “Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in

• And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst.” (Zech 2:4-5)

Satan Rebuked “Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, ‘Take off his filthy clothes.’ Then he said to Joshua, ‘See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you.’” (Zech 3:3-4) Comment: Filthy garments probably represent people stained with sin and pure vestments are garments without the stains of sins.

Lampstand and Two Olive Trees “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” (Zech 4:6-7)

“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.” (Zech 4:9-10)

Flying Scroll “This is the curse that is going out over the whole land; for according to what it says on one side, every thief will be banished, and according to what it says on the other, everyone who swears falsely will be banished.” (Zech 5:3)

Four Chariots “The four chariots are the four spirits of heaven. … Those going toward the north country have given my Spirit rest in the land of the north.” (Zech 6:1, 8)

“Zechariah was to ask all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted? And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves?’ … This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.’ But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears. They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So, the Lord Almighty was very angry.” (Zech 7:5-6; 9-12)

“‘Do not be afraid. These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,’ declares the Lord. … Therefore, love truth and peace.” (Zech 8:16-17, 19)

City of Truth “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, Let us go at once to entreat the Lord and seek the Lord Almighty.” (Zech 8:20-21)

“In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.” (Zech 8:23)

“Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zech 9:9- 11)

Comment: Jesus entered Jerusalem this way “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord needs them,' and he will send them at once.” (Matt 21:2-3) … He will proclaim peace to the nations. … I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit. The waterless pit is the grave.

“The people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd. My anger burns against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders; for the Lord Almighty will care for his flock, the house of Judah, and make them like a proud horse in battle. From Judah will come the cornerstone.” (Zech 10:2-4) Comment: So, then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone. (Eph 2:19-20)

“I took my staff called Favor and broke it, revoking the covenant I had made with all the nations. It was revoked on that day, and so the afflicted of the flock who were watching me knew it was the word of the Lord. I told them, If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.’’ So, they paid me thirty pieces

of silver. And the Lord said to me, Throw it to the potter’-the handsome price at which they priced me! So, I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord to the potter. Then I broke my second staff called Union, breaking the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. Then the Lord said to me, ‘Take again the equipment of a foolish shepherd. For I am going to raise up a shepherd over the land who will not care for the lost, or seek the young, or heal the injured, or feed the healthy, but will eat the meat of the choice sheep, tearing off their hoofs.’ Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock!” (Zech 11:10-17)

Comment: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers. I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” (Heb 8:8-12)

“I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced.” (Zech 12:10) Comment: “One of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness.” (John 19:34-35)

On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity” (Zech 13:1)

Key Points from Zechariah ➢ Time has come for repentance, return to the Lord and to do His work. ➢ Satan stains with sins. The Lord cleanses. ➢ Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. ➢ Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. ➢ Do not think evil of each other. ➢ Speak the truth. render true and sound judgment. ➢ Do not plot evil. ➢ Do not swear falsely.