Outline
Introduction – Compare Zechariah 1:1-2 with Matthew 3:2
Discussion
A. What the message did (Chs. 1-8)
- It encouraged righteousness (Ps. 119:172) because it taught the following: to repent (1:3-6; Acts 3:19), to not fear (8:15; John 4:18), and to speak and love the truth (8:16, 19; Eph. 4:15)
- It inspired hope (1:16-17; 2:10; 8:3, 6-8) (Compare Rom. 8:24,1 Cor. 13:13; Eph. 2:12)
- It promoted the rebuilding of the temple (4:9; 6:15)
- It pointed to Christ (3:8; 6:12-13) (Compare Isa. 4:2; 11:1-4)
B. What the message promised (Chs. 9-14)
- The enemies of Judah would be defeated (9:1-6; 10:11; 12:9; James 4:7)
- God’s people would be blessed (10:6-7, 12; Rom. 8:28)
- False leaders would be condemned (11:17; 13:2; Matt. 7:22-23)
- Christ would come (9:9-10; 11:12-13; 12:10-11; 13:1, 6-7; 14:1-2; 4, 8-9; John 4:11; Matt. 21:5)
Conclusion – Zech. 14:21 “In that day there shall no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts.”
Introduction
It has been said that no prophet makes such large use of the Scriptures as Zechariah. It is not necessary to ascertain the authorship and date of a book in the Bible before it can be read without profit. However, chapter 1 verse 1 settles the matter of both. It says about the date “in the eighth month in the second year of Darius”. This would be 520 B.C. The verse says with relation to authorship “came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet saying . . .” Then follows what one writer says to be “the brightest, the clearest, the most hopeful message to be found in prophetic literature”.
Discussion
T. T. Perowne says: “A moment’s reflection will suffice to convince us that it is quite possible to acknowledge unreservedly, as an integral part of God’s Word written, and to reverence accordingly, a book of which the authorship is uncertain or unknown. Of the book of Job, of many of the Psalms, of the larger part of the historical books of the Old testament, we do not know the authors. The authorship of the epistle to the Hebrews will probably be a moot question as long as the world lasts. Yet all these writings hold their place in the Canon of Scripture, on equal terms with those of which the authorship is undoubted” (Cambridge Bible, pp. 49-50).
Kyle Yates says chapters 1-8 refer clearly to events of the years 521-518 B.C. He adds that chapters 9-14 were produced under circumstances far removed from the period around 520 B.C., but he admits that Zechariah “could have written them in his old age, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to describe the coming of the Messianic King” (Preaching from the Prophets, pp. 209-210).
Calkins states: “Social and political conditions are exactly the same as we find in Haggai. Darius is king. Numbers of Jews still remain in Babylon. The community at Jerusalem is small and weak, consisting chiefly of young men and men in middle life with a few old folks and some children. The temple is still to be built, although we may presuppose that some progress has been made. Yet discouragement, if not despair, was the prevailing popular mood. Zechariah seeks to change this to one of hopefulness by historical retrospect and by glowing Messianic prediction. His face shines like a clear beacon in the darkness. It is what men see in the night that tests them and proves the strength, the quality, and the fiber of a faith which beholds the realities of God and His enduring power and love” (The Modern Message of the Minor Prophets, pp. 112-113).
The message begins with a most interesting, spiritual call to repentance. Then follows a series of eight visions:
- The horseman among the myrtle trees.
- The four horns and the four carpenters.
- The man with a measuring line.
- The high priest before the angel of the Lord and Satan.
- The golden candlestick and the olive trees.
- The flying scroll.
- The woman sitting in the barrel.
- The four chariots and two mountains.
According to Farrar the first vision means to show that God’s eyes were upon the nations in spite of the apparent stillness, and the second vision means that God would break the power of Israel’s oppressors (The Minor Prophets, pp. 195-223.
The third vision means that Jerusalem would be judged and blessed. It was announced that Jerusalem would become prosperous and populous with God dwelling in the midst of her revealing her glory. Her captive children were exhorted to flee out of Babylon and hasten home. In the greatness of her future prosperity it was stated that many nations would join themselves to the Lord.
The fourth vision of the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord and Satan seems to show that God did not reject, but forgave and restored the priesthood, and would one day make it perpetual in the person of the Messiah (Zechariah 3:8; Isaiah 4:2; 11:1-4).
The fifth vision was the golden candlestick and the two olive trees. The first part means that man’s works were not sufficient, but that God’s will must prevail “not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit” (4:6; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). The two olive trees represent “the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth” (4:14). This perhaps refers to Zerubbabel and Jeshua, but it reminds us of Christ and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28: 19-20; John 14:26; 16:8; Hebrews 1:1-2).
The sixth vision of the flying book and the seventh vision of the woman in the barrel both represent God’s condemnation of wickedness among His people. The prophet points out Babylon as the place of the house of wickedness while Jerusalem was the place for the Temple of God. The eighth and last vision was the four chariots and the two mountains. The two mountains may mean Mount Sinai and Mount Calvary or the Old Covenant in the New Covenant. The four chariots and the four winds with horses going to the north and to the south may refer to Babylon and Egypt or to the world which will receive God’s judgments, satisfying His justice (6:8). The last part of the chapter is a symbolic transaction (6:9-15). The making of the crowns and setting them on the high priest looked forward to the coming of the Messiah (6:12-13).
The prophet rebuked the hypocrisy and selfishness manifested by some of the people in their fasts and exhorted them to justice and righteousness. For 70 years the people had been observing certain days of fasting in remembrance of the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple. Now that they had returned from captivity and had rebuilt the city and had begun work on the Temple, should the observance of the fast days be continued?
The answer was twofold as presented by Zechariah. First, it rebuked their hypocrisy and selfishness and then told them that God’s eyes were on them. Second, it promised blessing to the obedient and gave a direct answer to the question stating that Israel’s fasts should become cheerful feasts (8:19).
At this point we enter the second division of the book of Zechariah. It presents two oracles of Jehovah (Chs. 9-14). The first oracle or burden presented in chapters 9-11 begins with showing God’s care for His people and the prediction that the heathen would be chastised. One of the outstanding prophecies of Christ is found in verses 9 and 10 of chapter 9. It says in part: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. . . . He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be . . . to the ends of the earth” (9:9-10). The New Testament shows conclusively that the prophet spoke of Christ (John 12:14-15). The remainder of the chapter pronounced blessings upon Israel over her adversaries.
Chapter 10 begins with why the anger of the Lord has been kindled against Judah; idol worship, false doctrines, and false prophets were mentioned. Then, it was predicted that Israel would repent and turn to God, and that Jehovah would strengthen and bless them, and bring them out of Egypt and Assyria. The chapter concludes with a prediction of the fall of both those wicked nations. However, the bright predictions expressed here were not without shadows.
Chapter 11 points out that the Holy Land was threatened with judgments. Punishment would fall upon Israel because of her rejection of the good Shepherd. Verses 12 and 13 of chapter 11 mentioning “thirty pieces of silver, cast to the potter in the house of the Lord” is quoted in Matthew 27:9-10 with relation to incidents connected with Judas. In the last part of the chapter, as a result of the rejection of the good Shepherd, the people were to be deceived by a foolish shepherd.
The second “burden” begins with chapter 12. This oracle was introduced with Jerusalem becoming a burdensome stone, to the confusion of her adversaries. Though opposed by hostile powers, Jerusalem would overcome all opposition. The prophecy of the last part of the chapter may be fulfilled in John 19:34 when the soldier pierced the side of Christ. An outpouring of God’s Spirit was predicted along with great mourning.
Conclusion
Repentance would be followed by a condemnation of idolatry and false prophets. The good Shepherd would be smitten, the sheep scattered, and only a fraction of the people saved. Jerusalem would be taken and plundered, but there would come blessings. Living waters would go out from Jerusalem, and the Lord would become universal King, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Questions for Class Discussion
- What was one thing taught by Zechariah to encourage righteousness? Read the passage from the Bible and discuss.
- What is a passage from Zechariah which inspired hope? Discuss.
- What is a passage which predicts the coming of one called the “Branch? Read also passages from Isaiah about this and discuss.
- What was in your opinion the most outstanding passage relative to the coming of Christ? Read it and discuss.
- How many visions are found in Zechariah chapters 1 through 6? Discuss their probable meanings.
- What did Zechariah tell the people about fasting? Why?
- How many oracles or burdens are found in the second section of the book? In what chapters is each oracle found?
- What were some of the sins mentioned in chapter 10 causing the anger of the Lord to be kindled against Judah?
- Why were the people of Israel to be punished according to chapter 11?
- What do you see in the last three chapters that predict things to come about Christ and Jerusalem?