Zechariah: The “Minor” Messianic Prophet
– Zech 1-8 – Cory Collins
(Sources
include The Wiersbe Bible Commentary and
the ESV Study Bible.)
Name:
“Yahweh remembers.” The name of more than 30 men in the Bible. See Luke 1:5.
Date
and setting: A contemporary of Haggai (prophet), Zerubbabel (governor), and
Joshua (high priest) (Ezra 5:1-2), Zechariah preached in 520-518 BC. Darius was
the King of Persia. With Haggai Zechariah exhorted the post-exilic Jews to
rebuild the temple and await the Messiah.
Zechariah is known for eight night
visions and oracles (chs. 1-6), the discussion of fasting (chs. 7-8), and the
description of the Shepherd who would be pierced yet triumphant (chs. 9-14).
The NT authors often quoted the book of Zechariah regarding several
prophecies concerning the Messiah’s coming. Among these are Zech 9:9 (in Matt 21:5 and John 12:15), Zech 11:12–13 (in Matt 27:9–10), Zech 12:10 (in John 19:37),
and Zech 13:7 (in Matt 26:31 and Mark 14:27).
In addition to these are numerous allusions. One estimate finds about 54 passages
from Zechariah echoed in about 67 different places in the NT, most of these in
the book of Revelation.
Outline:
1:1-6 Introduction:
A Call to Return
Their
forefathers had rejected the earlier prophets’ message and paid the price. God
promised, “Return to Me, and I will return to you.” Cf. Isa 31:6; Jer 3:1, 22; Ezek 18:30;
Mal 3:7; Jas 4:8.
1:7 – 6:15 Eight Visions and an Object Lesson
1:7-17 Vision One: The Lord’s Hidden Horsemen
Zechariah
sees horsemen, who report to God that the earth is at rest while His people
have no rest. They prompt the angel of the Lord to ask Him to end Jerusalem’s
seventy years of exile.
1:18–21 Vision Two: Judah’s Oppressors Oppressed
Four horns,
representing military powers that have scattered the Jews (including Assyria
and Babylon), will be cast down by four craftsmen, other nations that God will
use to punish them.
2:1–13 Vision Three: Jerusalem Unwalled
Zechariah
anticipates a renewed Jerusalem, so full of people that it overspreads its
walls. It will attract those Jews who remain in exile, as well as countless
Gentiles.
3:1–10 Vision Four: The Reclothing of Joshua
Joshua,
the high priest, is wearing defiled garments. Before Satan can accuse him, the
Lord declares Joshua to be his chosen, “plucked from the fire.” He has Joshua
clothed in pure vestments, free from all contamination. That was a sign, giving
assurance that God would preserve his people until the coming of the messianic
Branch (Isa 11:1; Jer 23:5).
4:1-14 Vision Five: The Olive Trees and the
Lampstand
Zechariah
sees lamps on a golden lampstand, a symbol of God’s watchfulness and power to
fulfill his promises to David’s house (represented by Zerubbabel).
5:1–4 Vision Six: The Flying Scroll—Wickedness
Judged
Appearing
as a large billboard, 30 feet by 15 feet, this covenant scroll flies through
the air. It enters the house of every offender, cleans out the house, and
consumes it.
5:5–11 Vision Seven: The Flying Basket (Ephah)—Wickedness
Removed
A woman
(representing the iniquity in the land) is placed in an ephah (about
three-fifths of a bushel) basket, which is then covered with lead (about 75
pounds) and taken off to Shinar (Babylon). All the idolaters would thus be
removed and disturb God’s people no more.
6:1–8 Vision Eight: The Lord’s Army on the
Move
Zechariah
sees four chariots with different-colored horses, symbolic of God’s power
ruling over all the earth. These strong horses and chariots patrol the earth in
all directions, asserting and imposing God’s sovereign rule over all the
nations. Even in the “north country,” the mighty Babylon, God’s Spirit was at
rest. God had overcome Judah’s forceful enemies.
Using this
same imagery, Rev 6:1-8 describes judgment using white, red, black, and pale
horses. This is “apocalyptic” language, with symbols that picture impending
doom and deliverance.
6:9–15 An Object Lesson: The Crowning of Joshua
Zechariah took
silver and gold from returning exiles and fashion a royal crown to set on Joshua,
the high priest. He represents the Branch, the coming messianic king (cf. 3:8).
A priest was to share Joshua’s throne, indicating that the Messiah would be
both prophet and priest. The temple in Zechariah’s day foreshadowed the
Messiah’s temple, the church (1 Cor 3:16f; Eph 2:19, 22).
7:1 – 8:23 Fasting and Feasting
The Jews
had fasted in the fifth month each year, the month in which Babylon had
destroyed the temple in Jerusalem nearly 70 years earlier (Jer 25:11). They
fasted in the seventh month to note the assassination of Gedaliah (Jer 41:1-3).
Now that the exile was over, those fasts would be replaced with feasts of
celebration. Judah’s renewal would give the people another chance to exhibit a
society of justice and love, and to be the vehicle by which light comes to all
the world.
Key
principles from Zechariah 1-8:
Unless we learn from the errors of the past, we are
certain to repeat them (1:1-6).
God will not return to us until we return to Him
(1:1-6). Remember the Prodigal Son (Luke 15).
Zechariah used apocalyptic language, which helps us
understand its use in Revelation.
God will remove all sin and idolatry, completely and
permanently, and restore His people.
Weeping and fasting express repentance, sorrow, and
a desire to draw closer to God (Matt 4; 6).
Key
verses from Zechariah 1-8:
Zech
1:3 Therefore say to them, Thus declares the Lord
of hosts: Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you, says
the Lord of hosts.
Zech
1:17 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
4:6 Then he said to me, “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
7:9 “Thus says the Lord of
hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another,
10 do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and
let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.”
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