The Book of Zechariah Study – 1 May 20th 2012 2 Peter 1:19-21 (New King James Version) 19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. Minor Prophets - Introduction • Origin of the Prophetic Office (Deuteronomy 18:15-22) • 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 Old Testament Prophesy – View of the future Minor Prophets – Outline • Basic Ingredients – warning of impending judgment because of the nations’ sinfulness – a description of the sin – a description of the coming judgment – a call for repentance – a promise of future deliverance. • Divisions – They use an introductory or concluding formula like “This is what the Lord says…” Minor Prophets – Themes Prophet 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 931 BC 722 BC 586 BC 209 Years Israel Jeroboam ---Hoshea Assyrian Captivity David Ezra Nehemiah Solomon Haggai 70 Malachi Yrs Judah Rehoboam ---Ahaz ---Zedekiah Zechariah 345 Years Babylonian Captivity Chronology Uncertain 8th Century 7th Century 6th Century 5th Century • Obadiah • Jonah • Zephaniah • Haggai • Malachi • Joel • Amos • Nahum • Zechariah • Hosea • Habakkuk • Daniel • Micah • Jeremiah • Ezekiel • Isaiah Zechariah – Who Wrote the Book • Author – Zechariah – God remember – Berechiah – God blesses – Iddo – At the appointed time – God remembers, God blesses, at the appointed time – Neh 12:4,16 - Iddo was head of the priestly families coming back from exile – Zechariah, like Ezekiel and Jeremiah is Prophet and Priest • Multiple author theory – no justification for this • Christ as God's Servant (3:8); the Branch (3:8; 6:12); the Stone (3:9); the King (9:9); the Shepherd (13:7) Zechariah – When Was It Written 520 – 480 B.C. – Jerusalem – Post Exilic (Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther) – BC 536 - Cyrus, king of Persia, issued a decree authorizing exiles to return – The first contingent returned under the leadership of Zerubbabel (Ezra 1 – 6). – A second contingent returned under the leadership of Ezra (Ezra 7 – 10). – 50-60 years elapsed between the two (Esther events took place during this time). – Ezra - rebuilding of the temple Nehemiah - rebuilding of the city wall. – The sad conditions set out in Nehemiah 13 had deteriorated still further by the time Malachi began to write Zechariah – Why Was It Written • Backdrop – Ezra 4.24-5.1 - Temple work ceased till 2nd yr of Darius. Zechariah, with Haggai, was deeply involved with the rebuilding of the temple with no confusion or collision between them. – Hag. 1. 1 - Haggai preached his first message 'in the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month‘ - 24 days later, the Jews recommenced rebuilding the temple. – Hag. 2. 1 – 4 weeks later, Haggai delivered his second message – Zech. 1. 1 - In the next month, God called Zechariah to confirm and supplement Haggai's preaching,. – Hag. 2. 10 - The following month saw Haggai back in action. – Zech 1.7 - Two months later, it was Zechariah's turn again, in the ninth month – Zech 7.1 – Two Years later • Theme Present – the people needed constant encouragement and help in the work of rebuilding Future – final fulfillment of God's purposes for Israel – Old Testament prophets addressed the present in the light of the future. – Zechariah therefore describes the still future glory of Jerusalem (chapters 6. 13-15 and 14. 20-21) 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) An angry God calls for repentance (1:1-6) The Lord of Hosts('the Lord of sabaoth‘ - Romans 9.29 and James 5.4),Dan 4.35,1 Sam1.3 (first time) – His power to bless (1.3) Mal 3.10 – His power to judge(1.6) The Fathers – They displeased God (1.2)- Apostle Paul - 'Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him (well-pleasing unto Him, R.V.) – They disregarded God (1.4) - Our Lord Jesus said, 'Take heed therefore how ye hear', Luke 8. 18 – They were judged by God (1.5) - died in disgrace and defeat – They acknowledged God (1.6) The Prophets – They cried (1.4) - Acts 18. 5, where 'pressed in spirit' means, 'constrained by the word', R.V. – They ceased (1.5) - the messenger passes off the scene, but the message remains – They were commanded (1.6) The Word of God – God appeals through His word (1.3) – God warns through His word (1.4) – God is faithful to His word (1.6) Eight Night Visions (Zechariah 1:7-6:15) Chiastic Pattern 1. Waiting in the Calm Before the International Storm 1:7-17 2. Watching the Nations Punish One Another 1:18-21 3. Expecting the Glory of God on Earth 2: 1-13 4. Symbolizing the Removal of Sin All in One Day 3:1-10 5. Receiving God's Spirit for Doing His Work 4:1-14 6. Purging Evil From Israel 5:1-4 7. Removing Wickedness From Israel 5:5-11 8. Executing Judgment on the Gentile Nations 6:1-15 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(1:7-17) 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.