The Minor Prophets, X, Zechariah: the Temple of Holiness
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The Minor Prophets, X, Zechariah: The Temple of Holiness Zechariah 6:1-6; 9:9-11; 11:4-16; 13; 14:16-21 Going Beyond the sermon into the Scripture preached by Pastor Peter Oh on August 23, 2015 Entering In: What town do you like to call your home and why? What do you miss most from your previous living places? 1. The name Zechariah means “Yahweh remembers.” Before reading the text, what can you predict about the stories of Zechariah regarding the Temple? 2. Be familiar with the chronology of the Postexile stage. Complete some of Postexile events below. 538 B.C.: Return: Ezra 1-6 Haggai: 520 Zechariah: 520 – ? 515 B.C.: Completion of the Temple: Esther Ezra 7-10 Nehemiah Malachi ca. 432 Some of Post-Exilic Events ( ) issued the decree allowing the Jews to 538 B.C. Ezra 1 return to Jerusalem. About 50,000 Jews returned under Zerubbabel and 536 B.C. Ezra 2 Joshua’s leadership. Rebuilding the temple began but then stopped. 536 B.C. Ezra 3:1-4 The Jews were busy building ( ). 536-522 B.C. Haggai 1-2 Darius confirmed Cyrus’ decree. 520 B.C. Ezra 6:1-14 Haggai’s first three sermons 520 B.C., 6th & 7th months Haggai 1:1, 15; 2:1 Zechariah’s first sermon 520 B.C., ( ) month Zechariah 1:1 Haggai’s fourth and fifth sermons 520 B.C., 9th month Haggai 2:10, 20 Zechariah’s ( ) visions 520 B.C., 11th month Zechariah 1:7-6:8 The delegation from Bethel and Zechariah 518 B.C., 9th month Zechariah 7:1 preached again. The completion of the temple ( ) B.C. Ezra 6:15 About 5,000 Jews returned to Palestine under 458 B.C. Ezra 7:7 Ezra’s leadership. ( ) to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls. 445 B.C. Nehemiah 2 The last prophet ( ) ministered ca. 432-431 B.C. 3. How would have you felt if you had come back to your home town after living 50 years in a different city? What would for sure make you want to come home? Do you think your passion for Christ’s church is similar to the Jews’ passion for the temple? In what ways are they similar and different? 4. Match each vision of Zechariah with the corresponding lesson. A. The horseman among the myrtle trees (1:7-17) • Yahweh’s sovereignty B. The four horns and the four craftsmen (1:18-21) • Triumph of Israel C. The surveyor (chapter 2) • Preparation for Israel’s future restoration D. Clean garments (chapter 3) E. The gold lampstand and two olive trees (chapter 4) • The renewal of Israel’s priestly ministry F. The flying scroll (5:1-4) • Testimony G. The woman in a basket (5:5-11) • Judgement on Israel for disobedience H. Four chariots (6:1-8) • The return of evil to Babylon • Judgment on Israel’s enemies What characteristics of God’s naturedo you see from the eight visions? 5. Why did the LORD command the Jews to “Return to me” when they were already in Jerusalem? (1:3) How could they return to God? (1:4) The title “the LORD Almighty” or “the LORD of Hosts” appeared three times in verse 3 (35 times in total). What do you think the LORD was stressing by using this title? 6. How do you become God’s temple? Some people say, quoting 1 Corinthians 3:16, that they don’t need to go to church since they are God’s temple and God is in them. What is your argument for them? Suggest ways to make God’s temple sacred. “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple” (1 Corinthians 3: 16-17) 7. What vision or promises of God are you holding on to in order to be faithful to God’s ministry? Do we need to renew our vision? How can we do so? Living It Out: If you were a carpenter, as Jesus was, who was going to build the 8. What features of Jesus did Zechariah prophesy? house of the LORD, A. Zech. 9:9; Matthew 21:4-5: The King B. Zech. 3:9; 10:4; Romans 9:31-33: A. what would be your C. Zech. 11:12; Matthew 27:3-10: foundation, middle and finishing D. Zech. 13:7; Matthew 26: 31: works, respectively? E. Zech. 6:12; Isaiah 4:2; 11:1: F. Zech. 14:9; 20-21: The holy and glorious Lord B. who would you be inviting to 9. What are important aspects of the Kingdom of God in heaven described in 14:20-21? the house of the LORD you built this week? How is it possible to see the Kingdom of God in the dark and broken world? “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-10). .