The Book of Zechariah

Study – 2June 17th 2012

Recapitulation

Minor Prophets

• This title originated in Augustine’s time (late fourth century A.D.)

• Minor only in that they are each shorter than the prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel (called “major prophets”) not in Importance

• ‘The Twelve’ – a single book

What is in a Name ?

Themes to look for

– The holiness of God– The sovereignty and justice of God– The immutability of God’s word– The terribleness of sin and necessity of judgment– Repentance, forgiveness, and mercy– Faith and righteousness– The worship due God

SummaryProphet Meaning of name Theme

Hosea Salvation God’s love for Israel

Joel Jehovah is God Day of the LORD

Amos Burden bearer Righteousness of God

Obadiah Servant of Jehovah Destruction of Edom

Jonah Dove God’s love for the nations

Micah Who is like the Lord? Wrath of God upon Samaria & Jerusalem

Nahum Consolation The Destruction of Nineveh

Habakkuk Embrace Problems of faith

Zephaniah Jehovah hides Day of the Lord

Haggai Festive Rebuilding of the temple

Zechariah Whom Jehovah remembers God’s program in history

Malachi My messenger Formal worship

Chronology

8th Century

• Jonah• Amos• Hosea• Micah• Isaiah

7th Century

• Zephaniah• Nahum• Habakkuk• Jeremiah

6th Century

• Haggai• Zechariah• Daniel• Ezekiel

5th Century

• Malachi

Uncertain

• Obadiah• Joel

DavidSolomon

Jeroboam

Judah

Israel

931 BC

Rehoboam

---Hoshea

722 BC

---Ahaz ---Zedekiah

AssyrianCaptivity

586 BC

BabylonianCaptivity

209 Years

345 Years

70 Yrs

Ezra Nehemiah

Haggai

Zechariah

Malachi

Zechariah“Jehovah Remembers”

520 – 480 BC

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 (7:1)

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

• So what is the theme?

The Theme

• “Jehovah remembers”– The name of the prophet seems to best reflect the

theme (Zechariah-God remembers, Berechiah-God blesses, Iddo-at the appointed time)

– 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

Zechariah’s prophecy has two applications

Original application to the return of Jeshua & Zerubbabel and the building of the temple of God

Future application to Christ’s coming & return, and the building of his spiritual house

Zechariah – Key

Ch1vs2,3 (Punctuated by ‘Lord of Hosts’)

– Section 1: An angry God calls for repentance (1:1-6)– Section 2: Return to me (1:7 – 6:15)– Section 3: I will return to you (7:1 – 14:21)

Section 1 – Zech.1:1-6

An angry God calls for repentance

An angry God calls for repentance

• Zech 1:1-6– Between Haggai’s word of encouragement (Hag 2:1-9)

about the glory of the temple– And the warning from God about being unclean while

working on the temple• A message similar to Haggai’s later warning

– The people were doing the work, but they had not yet repented

– God wants to forgive, but repentance must come first• Don’t be like those who refused to repent until they had

been sent into captivity

Section 2: Return to me (1:7 – 6:15)

Zechariah’s Eight Visions

Purpose of the Visions• The people had responded to the preaching of Haggai, and

recommenced work on the temple• Small and rather insignificant group• Desperately struggling to establish themselves in a ruined

city under the heel of a foreign power• Assurance that God had not forgotten His people, nor

cancelled His purposes for them• Encouraged the people to press on and complete the work

of rebuilding the temple• Pointed to the coming glory of Jerusalem with the universal

importance of its temple.

Zechariah’s VisionsVision Reference ThemeRiders & horses 1:7-17 God’s ProvidenceHorns & Craftsmen 1:18-22 God’s RetributionThe Surveyor 2:1-13 God’s Preparation, PromiseJoshua’s Cleansing 3:1-10 God’s CleansingLampstand 4:1-14 God’s PowerFlying Scroll 5:1-4 God’s JudgmentWoman in Basket 5:5-11 God’s Restraining Chariots patrolling 6:1-8 God’s Sovereignty

Typical flow of each vision• Begins with what Zechariah "saw" • Followed by the question "what are these [or, "What

does this mean"]?" • Concludes with an explanation by the interpreting

angel, "Then the angel of the LORD answered and said. . . .“

• Whilst their symbolism has been interpreted in different ways, the message of each vision is clear

• They needed all the encouragement available, and they needed the assurance that God had not forgotten His people, nor cancelled His purposes for them.

First vision of Zechariah

What Zechariah saw:• A man riding on a red horse

• standing among myrtle trees

• Red, speckled & white horses behind

What had they done?• Patrol the earth

• Brought news of the nations at ease

Man riding on a red horse• ‘Angel of the Lord’ - Zech 1.10-11• Appearance in OT at times of crisis• He is identified with God - Gen16. 7-14; Ex 3.1-14; Ex

23. 20-23; Josh 5.13-15; Judges 6. 12-14. • He is described as 'the angel of His presence' (literally,

'of His face') in Isaiah 63.9. • Hagar, Abraham and Jacob all describe Him as God,

Gen. 16. 13,22. 11-14, 48. 15-16. • He accepted sacrifices offered to God, Judg. 6. 17-24;

13. 3-23. • 'the angel of the Lord' - is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Standing among the myrtle trees

• The myrtle is an evergreen tree• Used as a symbol for Israel in happy and

prosperous times, Isa. 41. 19, Isa. 55. 13• 'Hadassah' - Esther 2. 7 - means 'myrtle'. • The myrtle grove in the vision represents

God's people, but not here in very happy conditions.

In the bottom• The picture is a glen or hollow - a dark valley. • The lowest part of the Kidron valley outside

Jerusalem, where there was once a garden, 2 Kings. 25. 4.

• The word 'bottom' means a 'a shady place' • Describes the position of these newly-returned

exiles. • But standing among them is the angel of the Lord. • The first practical lesson - encouragement to them • To us as well - lsa. 43. 2, Hebrews 13. 5-6.

Red, Speckled, White Horses • Similarities with John’s vision in Revelation 6 (John sees

horses of white, red, black and pale)

• Behind the 'man riding upon a red horse'. He is their Leader.

• Zech 1.10-11 The riders were angels. 'These are they whom the Lord hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth'.

• A patrol is reporting. 'We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.‘

• A second lesson emerges. The whole world is under divine surveillance. 'The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth', 2 Chron. 16. 9. Nothing escapes His gaze.

The message from God (1.12-17)• Hag. 2. 7, 22 - God had said through Haggai, 'I will

shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come .... I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms',. But nothing was happening - 'all the earth sitteth still and is at rest'.

• 'the angel of the Lord' is with us and also intercedes for them: 'O Lord of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem?'

• We too have a Representative in heaven. 'Christ is ... entered ... into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us', Heb. 9. 24.

• The message is made up of 'good words and comfortable (consoling) words', v. 13.

I am jealous for Jerusalem, v. 14.

• "zeal" - Hebrew -“to become very red," “burning passion” , Greek - "to boil."

• Intensity of His love towards His own(Exod. 20:5; 34:14; Deut. 5:9)

• He will allow no rival in the affections of His people

• Jerusalem, 'the city of God', Psa. 87. 3, had become part of the Babylonian empire, and now part of the Persian empire. He wanted it for Himself - and He will have it.

I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease, v. 15

The nations which had invaded and distressed His people, especially the Assyrians, the Babylonians and the Edomites, had fulfilled a God-given role in punishing them, but they had overstepped the mark and increased their suffering to unacceptable levels.

I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies, v. 16

• Zech 1.16 - Immediate fulfillment• Zech 12. 2 &14.1-2 – Future destruction • Zech 1.17 - God points them forward to the

ultimate prosperity and peace of Jerusalem. Isaiah 40. 1-2 'Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned'.

Comforting Words - Reiterated

• Messiah will come again to Jerusalem (v. 16a)– Ezekiel describes how the "glory of the LORD"

departed from Jerusalem.

• My house shall be built in Jerusalem(v. 16b). • Jerusalem's boundaries would expand (v. 16c,

Rev11.1)• that Jerusalem would once again be the city

God had chosen (v. 17)

Second vision of Zechariah

What Zechariah saw:• 4 horns• 4 craftsmen or carpenters

What happened?• The horns scattered and

humiliated Israel• The carpenters will terrify

and cast out the horns

Four Horns• Horn - Emblem of strength and power. Deut 33.17• Daniel chapter 2

– Babylon, Medo/Persia, Greece and Rome– Zech.1.21 : 'the horns of the gentiles.' 'Horns which have

scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem'. – The Assyrians scattered Israel, and the Babylonians scattered

Judah.• Number ‘4’ reminds us of the four cardinal points of the

compass (NSEW), and therefore of universality. – The Bible speaks about the 'four winds of heaven', Dan. 7. 2;

Zech. 2. 6, – 'four angels standing on the four corners of the earth', Rev. 7. 1. – In the eighth vision, we will encounter four chariots which are

interpreted as 'the four spirits of the heavens', 6. 5. • Symbol of national hatred and oppression of Israel

Four Craftsmen• ‘craftsmen’, 'carpenters‘, 'workman‘, ’smith’ refers to skilled

workers in wood, metal and stone• Purpose is to demolish the horns, whether by carving them

away, or by striking them with a hammer.• Ch 1.21 - 'These are come to fray them‘ - Each 'horn' is

destroyed by the 'four carpenters' working together.• It seems equally clear that they are quite separate in identity

from the horns.• Ezek 14. 21: 'For thus saith the Lord God ... I send my four

sore judgments. . the sword, the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence ...', Rev. 6. 8.

• Ch 2.8 : 'He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of his eye', Genesis 12. 3.

Lessons• 2 Thess. 1. 5-6 - The very opposition we face is in itself the

guarantee that God will deal with those responsible for it.• We are too precious to God for Him to stand by and do

nothing. • He may not act immediately - but act He most certainly will. • Luke 1. 69 - God will have the last word in this world. Christ

will be victorious in the final contest. • Psa. 27. 5-6 'For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in his

pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me‘

• Psa. 3. 2-3'Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But Thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head’.

Third vision of Zechariah

What Zechariah saw:

• A man with a measuring line• Man intends to measure Jerusalem• Another angel comes out• This angel says to tell the young

man Jerusalem will not need walls• Jerusalem will be overflowing with

people and livestock• God will be her wall of fire and glory

The city of Jerusalem - Immediate• 2 Kings 21.13, Lam 2. 8, Isa 34.11 - Jerusalem is being

measured for destruction • Ch 2.4 -'Jerusalem shall be inhabited‘… Being measured for

reconstruction. • Words of encouragement. Jerusalem was in ruins - but it

would be rebuilt.

The city of Jerusalem - Future• Ch 2.4 - 'Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without

walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein'. • Neh 11.1-2 - Lots had to be cast, and people compelled to

move into the city• Ezekiel chapters 4-48 No reference to walls in Millennial

Jerusalem• Ch 2.5 But the absence of walls does not mean that there is

no protection• In the millennial age, Jerusalem will enjoy GOD'S

PROTECTION WITHOUT, and GOD'S PRESENCE WITHIN. • 2 Thess. 3. 3 - But this is not limited to the future. We can

enjoy God's protection and presence today.

The people of Jerusalem - Immediate• Ch 2.6,7 - A message for Jews in Babylon.• Ezra 8.1 -The Jews who returned to Jerusalem didn't have it

easy: it meant a difficult journey for a start, and reproach, privation and hard work. The Jews who remained in Babylon were evidently at ease, and had little interest in what was happening at Jerusalem.

• Ch 2.7 - 'deliver thyself', 'escape' (other Translations). 'The land of the north' - Babylon - would be judged. It was therefore folly to build hopes, aspirations and relationships in a society soon to be judged by God.

The people of Jerusalem - Future• Ch 2.8-13 summarize events when the Lord Jesus returns to

deliver and bless His people• V. 8 - He will come in glory and will judge those nations

which have oppressed His people• v. 8-9. God is very sensitive about His people (Deut.32.10,

Psa. 17. 8, and Prov. 7. 2)• v. 10 - He will dwell in the midst of His people• v. 11 - He will bring blessing to the whole earth• v. 12 - He will reign as King, with Jerusalem as His capital • v. 13 - Nothing can prevent the fulfillment of His purposes:

'Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord; for He is raised up out of His holy habitation',.

Fourth vision of ZechariahWhat Zechariah saw:• Joshua & Satan standing before the

Angel of the Lord

• Angel tells Satan “the Lord rebuke you”

• Angel tells other angels to changeJoshua’s dirty clothes & put a cleanturban on him

• Joshua and his companions are awondrous sign

• God will bring forth His servant, theBranch, the stone

• 7 eyes are looking at the stone

• God will remove the iniquity of the land

The cleansing of the high priest - Joshua• Only vision where Zechariah does not ask questions• Ch3v.I - 'Joshua the high priest‘ (Ezra 3.8-9, 4.3, 5.2,

Haggai 1. I, etc.)• As high priest - represented the people. • Exodus 28.12,29 - 'Aaron shall bear their names . . ‘• v. 3 -The whole nation stood before God in Joshua

'clothed with filthy garments‘• Their cleansing was of paramount importance for

any blessing to flow

The cleansing of the high priest - Satan• Ch 3.1 -'and Satan standing at his right hand to

resist him' or, literally, 'to be his adversary.‘ (Cmp Ps 16. 8)

• Rev 12.10 - 'the accuser of our brethren' • Ch 2.12, 13 - 'the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion

in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again', and therefore, 'Be silent all flesh, before the Lord'. -But here is someone who will not be silent. Satan's objective is to thwart God's purposes by underlining the fact that God's people just weren't fit for His presence and blessing. He appears to have a strong case against Joshua and the nation of Israel. But does the case succeed?

The cleansing of the high priest – The Lord • 'the angel of the Lord', vv. 1, 5-6 and 'the Lord', v. 2

are identical as also 1. 7-11• Ch 3.2 - The Lord answers Satan Himself. • Ch 3.4,5 -His ultimate answer to Satan• Vs 2 - He makes clear why no accusation can stand

against His people:– His purposes were settled and could not be defeated –

‘chosen Jerusalem . . ‘– 'is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?'(Amos 4. 11).

He had snatched them out of the furnace of Babylon. There was no point at all in taking any further interest in them, if they were ultimately destined to destruction.

The cleansing of the high priest – The Lord • vv. 3-5. The Lord does it all- and says it all! • Rom 8.33,34 - What can Satan say now? God fits His people

for His own presence. • Isa. 64. 6 - 'as filthy rags', to 'the righteousness of God in

Him‘ - 2 Cor. 5. 21, Phil. 3. 19.• Is 60. 21, chs 61,62 - ultimate cleansing and restoration.• Is 61.6 - 'fair mitre‘, 'garments' - 'ye shall be named the

Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God‘

• Ex 28.36-38 -The mitre supported 'a plate of pure gold' on which was inscribed 'HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD'. What a change in the picture!

• vv. 6-7 –‘Walk in my ways’, ‘keep my charge’–WALK &WORK

The cleansing of the land• V 8 - 'Branch’, 'shoot' or 'sprout'. . (Isaiah 4. 2; 11. 1; Jer.

23. 5; 33.15, Zech. 3. 8 and 6: 12)• Not a stately tree• As a shoot, will bring new life to the nation of Israel when,

humanly speaking, all seems lost • V 9 - 'Behold the Stone ... '. 'headstone' (chapter 4.7)• Christ will complete the work of restoration Himself., i.e.

the final stone in completing the temple, Matt. 21. 42.• Rev 5.6 – 7 eyes – Perfection and completeness (Is 11.1,2)• V 10 - Micah 4. 1-4. 'That day' will be wonderful!

ChiasmA chiasm (ky'-az-um) represents a writing style that – once understood – clarifies, emphasizes and reveals a deeper meaning in the Scriptures than is revealed in just a surface reading of these same verses. A chiasm is a literary style that some call the “chiastic (ky'-az-tic) structure.” Once you understand how the chiastic approach works, it can dramatically enhance your understanding of those portions / verses in the New and Old Testament where chiasms appear.Eg. Matthew 19:30.A "But many that are first

B shall be last;B1 and the last

A1 shall be first."

Chiastic StructureA. Multi-colored horse/angels

B. Dealing with the oppression of Babylon (among others)

C. Holding God's people to the standard of the Word

D. Joshua prefigures Jesus

The Branch (3:7-10)

D'. Zerubbabel prefigures Jesus

C'. God's Word judges sinners

B'. Dealing with the oppression of spiritual Babylon

A'. Multi-colored horse/angels.

Fifth vision of Zechariah

What Zechariah saw:• Lampstand with a bowlon top

• 7 lamps and 7 pipes

• 2 olive trees dripping oilthrough 2 pipes into thebowl

The vision of the lampstand

• Zech 4:1-5– Zechariah sees a golden lampstand, like the one

that should be in the Holy Place of the temple• And he sees olive trees on either side of it He asks the

identity (the meaning) of these items– The angel thinks it should be obvious– But Zechariah doesn’t know

A word for Zerubbabel

• Zech 4:6-7– Before continuing with the vision– A message for the governor

• Don’t think that you can bring about God’s purpose• God’s plan will come about in God’s time and by His

will, not man’s– In relationship to that message

• The temple will be finished in Zerubbabel’s life– Even if a mountain tries to get in the way– The headstone will be placed– May also be prophetic of Christ as the headstone

» And nothing will defeat God’s purpose

The lampstand• Zech 4:8-10

– Confirming the message previous• Zerubbabel will complete the temple

– “Who has despised the day of small things?”• As in Hag 2:3, the people though the building was going too

slow– But God is watching (symbolzed by the lampstand)

• He is pleased with the progress• He knows it takes small steps, to reach a goal

• Lesson: We too often want immediate results in our efforts for God. God knows things take time. Just keep moving forward.

The olive trees• Zech 4:11-14

– Zechariah now asks what the olive trees mean• No answer, it should be obvious

– Zechariah looks closer• He now sees that the olive trees are feeding oil directly to the

lamps• Again asks for meaning• Again told he should already know

– The answer “the two anointed ones”• Not messiah, but ben yitshar (lit. “sons of oil”)• Two people, anointed by oil, serving God (lampstand)

– Joshua, the high priest– Zerubabel, the governor– They are standing with God, so treat them as such

Sixth vision of ZechariahWhat Zechariah Saw:• A flying scroll (20 X 10 cu)

• It cursed thieves andperjurers

• An ephah basket with awoman inside

• A lead disc on the basket

• 2 women with wings flewthe basket to the land of Shinar, where there is a house for it

The vision of the flying scroll• Zech 5:1-4

– The scroll contains a message from God– The scroll is 30’ x 15’; very large

• Written on both sides; very detailed– The scroll is flying; the message (and fulfillment) are

coming soon and fast– The message is one of judgment against thieves and

liars (esp., those who use God’s name)• Across the whole earth

• God remembers the sinners and will judge them for their sins

The vision of the woman in a basket

• Zech 5:5-11– A woman, “Wickedness”, is placed in a basket

• A lead cover prevents the woman’s escape– The basket is then taken to the land of Shinar

• The land where the Tower of Babel was being built when God confused the languages and scattered the people (Gen 11:1-9)

– Wickedness is being removed from God’s people and will dwell with other wickedness

• The fulfillment of the message of the flying scroll• God remembers the wicked and will separate

them from His people

The vision of the four chariots• Zech 6:1-8

– Sees 4 chariots coming forth from God• Chariots are identified by the colors of the horses

– No meaning is given to the colors– Any attempt to make the colors mean something is fruitless

speculation• 2 chariots head north

– Assuming starting from Judah (Zechariah’s location), north was the Medo-Persian empire

• 1 chariot heads south (Egypt)• The last (red) is not sent any particular place

– Those that went north gave rest to God’s Spirit• They fulfilled God’s word / prophecies in regard to that

country

The vision of the four chariots

• So what does the vision mean?– God remembers all His prophecies concerning the

earth and its various countries– He sends forth His servants to make sure those

prophecies come to pass• Just as the vision of the horsemen (Zech 1:8-11) had

God’s servants watching the whole earth

– We can take away comfort knowing that God is in control and will fulfill His word

Crowning the high priest

• Zech 6:9-15– Some men have come from Babylon, from the

former captives there who have not returned• They have brought gifts of gold and silver

– Probably to help with the rebuilding of the temple

– Zechariah is told to fashion a crown from the metal

• He is then to place it on the head of the high priest, Joshua

– The action is symbolic and explained in the prophecy that follows

Crowning the high priest

• The prophecy– A prophecy of the Branch, the Messiah

• Zech 3:8 – The Branch as God’s servant who would remove sin

• Isa 11:1-5 – The Branch as God’s judge• Jer 23:5-6 – The Branch as God’s king• And now, Zech 6:11-13 – The Branch as God’s high priestly

king– The Branch will build the temple of the Lord

• Eph 2:19-22 – the church– And He will join the two (king and priest) in peace

Crowning the high priest• The crown was to be left in the physical temple

(once rebuilt) as a memorial– To remind them that God had made a promise to send

the Branch • That He would build God’s real temple• That He would be both king and high priest• So that they would recognize Him when He came

– And those who were diligent to obey God would recognize Him– But sadly many of the Jews did not (John 1:11-13)

– Sadly nothing is known of what happened to the crown, it was lost and forgotten

• But God remembered the promise of that crown and sent His Son to be the Branch

Conclusion

• Jehovah remembers– Wickedness does not escape His notice

• Punishment is coming• Wickedness will be removed from His people

– God’s plans are always remembered and fulfilled• He sends His servants everywhere to see that His will is

carried out– God’s plan of salvation needed a servant who

would be judge, king, and priest for God’s people (and a builder of the real temple of God)

• He remembered that plan, and sent Jesus to fulfill the plan