The Book of Zechariah
Zechariah, meaning ‘Yahweh remembers,’ is actually a common name in the Old Testament. His prophecies reassured the remnant that returned that were still God’s covenant people. Zechariah’s ministry overlapped Haggai’s.
Zechariah’s purpose to was to comfort and encourage God’s people. He urged them to rebuild the temple and focused their attention on the Lord’s promises for the future.
Zechariah insisted that the purity of the people and in the land must accompany the restoration of the temple.
Historical Context: As a result of Haggai’s ministry, the rebuilding of the temple had resumed. The people were once again experiencing the blessings of obedience. Zechariah encouraged the people to live in obedience as a prerequisite to continue to enjoy their covenant blessings. Once again, they were called to repent, to obedience and purity. Towards the end of his ministry, there was a period of political uncertainty that prompted new prophecies.
The prophesies of Zechariah are dated during the reign of Darius, king of the Persian Empire. Darius reaffirmed Cyrus’ decree, allowing the Israelites to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.
Zechariah is one of the the two longer books of the Minor Prophets. It is an example of apocalyptic literature, concerning revelations or visions. His prophecy depicts God’s final victory as an accomplished fact. The Gospel writers quote Zechariah more than any other minor prophet, and he is frequently referenced in the New Testament.
Zechariah 1
The Lord had been angry with the ancestors of His people. He warned the remnant to repent, and not to be like their ancestors. “Return to me and I will return to you.” He reminded the remnant that their exile was judgment for sin. God had called their ancestors to repent, but they refused and ended up in exile.
God’s words and decrees superseded and outlasted the ancestors. The people ultimately repented and acknowledged that the Lord’s judgement was just.
Accompanying each of Zechariah’s visions was an angel that helped interpret the vision. All except the 4th vision followed the same format: the prophet described what he saw, asked for an interpretation and received an explanation. Each vision built on the other, and all 8 should be studied as a whole.
Zechariah’s vision: The Man Among the Myrtle Trees
A man mounted on a red horse appeared before Zechariah. He stood among the myrtle trees with red. brown and white horses behind him — likely the angel of the Lord, a special manifestation of Yahweh’s presence. The Angel of the Lord is often thought to be the pre-incarnate Christ.
The Angel of the Lord asked the Lord Almighty how long he would withhold mercy from Judah. The Lord responded with kindness and comfort.
The Lord is jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, but angry with their enemies (foreign nations). They went too far with the punishment He used them to deliver. Both Israel and its enemies experienced the Lord’s wrath, but their relationship with Him was completely different.
The Lord declared that He would return to Jerusalem with mercy and His house would be rebuilt. There would once again be prosperity, and the nation would be comforted.
Zechariah’s vision: Four Horns and Four Craftsmen
The horn was a symbol of strength and power, used in both offense and defense. The four horns are symbolic of the world power that had attempted to defeat the Lord’s purposes, but failed. They were horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.
The four craftsmen represented the ultimate fate of Israel’s enemies. They were skilled in their task, and sent to terrify the enemies and throw down the horns that lifted against the land of Judah.
Zechariah 2
Zechariah’s vision: A Man with a Measuring Line
A city without walls: Jerusalem could not be measured because it would be so filled that no walls could contain it. The Lord would serve as it’s wall of fire, protecting it, and as glory within, serving as a protective care and a presence.
Flee the land of the north: Babylon was east of Judah, but the route from Judah to Babylon was to the north, in order to avoid the desert. The land of the north was Babylon. Jeremiah predicted the invasion would come from the north and the people would return from the north.
Whoever touched God’s people, He would raise His hand against them. The Lord was coming to once again live amongst His people. He would again choose them and their would no longer be separation between Him and His people.
Zechariah 3
Zechariah’s vision: Clean Garments for the High Priest
Joshua the high priest stood before the Angel of the Lord, interceding on behalf of the people. Satan was accusing Joshua.
The Lord rebuked Satan and referred to Joshua as a “burning stick snatched from the fire”: The remnant, symbolized by Joshua, was saved from the fire of exile and from complete destruction.
The removal of Joshua’s filthy clothes and replacement with fine garments symbolized the removal of sin. “See, I have taken away your sins, and I will put fine garments on you.” (Zechariah 3:4) Joshua was righteous before God, despite Satan’s accusations.
Joshua would have a place among the priests as long as he continued to walk in obedience to God and keep His requirements. His companions or fellow priests were symbols of things to come, of God’s coming servant, a Priest-King who would judge and execute justice, embody righteousness, reign, bear the transgression of others and intercede. Jesus is this Priest-King.
God was going to remove the sin of this land in a single day. There would be peace among the nations.
Zechariah 4
Zechariah’s vision: The Gold Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees
The tabernacle lampstand was a light in an otherwise dark tabernacle. It was to be tended by a priest all day, every day. Zechariah’s lampstand didn’t need to be tended to, and had a total of 49 wicks, giving off much more light.
Both the tabernacle lampstand and Zechariah’s lampstand were fueled with olive oil. In the Old Testament, specially chosen people and things were anointed with oil. In the New Testament, those chosen by God were anointed with the Holy Spirit.
“Not my might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty. (Zechariah 4:6) The mountains will be leveled, all opposition will be removed and the temple will be completed. Zerubbabel was also appointed to complete the temple.
Some were disappointed with the new temple, the “day of small things.” The temple lacked the splendor of Solomon’s temple, but it would cause the greatest rejoicing.
Through the anointed ones, Zerubbabel (governor) and Joshua (high priest), the Holy Spirit provided the encouragement the faithful people needed to rebuild the temple. The people became witnesses or lights of the presence of God among them.
Zechariah 5
Zechariah’s vision: The Flying Scroll
The scroll is Zechariah’s vision was considerably large, and already set in motion for judgement. It was designated as the curse over the land. The scroll specifically named thievery and bearing false witness. The thieves and those who swears falsely would be banished.
The Lord declared that He would send out the curse and it would enter the houses of those who committed these sins and destroy the house completely.
Zechariah’s vision: The Woman in a Basket
The basket = the state of the people throughout the land, a state of sin.
The woman in the basket = wickedness.
The focus of this vision was the removal of sin. The Angel of the Lord pushed the woman, “wickedness,” back into the basket and pushed its lead cover down.
Both positive and negative concepts are personified by a woman in the Old Testament, but both men and women are included.
The wickedness was carried far away from the place God chose to reside, and carried to the country of Babylonia. God had designated Babylon as the place for wickedness to dwell, because it was outside of the promise land.
Zechariah 6
Zechariah’s vision: Four Chariots
The two mountains that appeared before Zechariah were made of bronze. God is depicted as dwelling in His mountain, and the entrance of God’s earthly dwelling place (the temple) is made of bronze.
The horses and chariots represent armies and war, coming to earth from their heavenly place. The horses were being sent out throughout the earth by God, the divine warrior.
Zechariah’s vision: A Crown for Joshua
The Lord instructed Zechariah to crown Joshua, the high priest. The crowning of a priest represented God’s promise of a future Priest-King. The crowned priest is a representation of “the Branch,” who would rebuild the temple of the Lord and as King, would rule on earth.
The crown would be placed in the temple as a memorial to those who returned from exile, and a reminder of the promise of “the Branch,” the Priest-King.
Just as God’s promise that the temple would be rebuilt was being fulfilled, so would His promise regarding “the Branch”
Zechariah 7
Justice and Mercy, Not Fasting
Two years have passed since the temple reconstruction resumed and since Zechariah’s visions. During the exile, the people of Israel celebrated fasts as a remembrance of their humiliation from being taken into exile and the destruction of the temple.
The fasts during exile weren’t for God or for their sins, but for their own personal satisfaction. Instead of performative fasting, God told the people: to administer true justice; to show mercy & compassion for each other; don’t oppress the widows or fatherless, foreigners or poor; and don’t plot evil against each other.
The people refused to pay attention and turned their backs. God was angry, and because they didn’t listen when He called, He also didn’t listen when they called. “This is how they made the pleasant land desolate.“ (Zechariah 7:14)
Zechariah 8
All of the promises and statements begin with “This is what the Lord Almighty says…”
God once again speaks on His jealousy for Zion, for His daughter. He will return and dwell in Jerusalem
God promised to bless Jerusalem with old men and women, meaning longevity for the people. God promised the streets would be filled with boys and girls playing, meaning there would once again be new life for the people, a blessing that was previously revoked.
God promised that the people of Jerusalem would be His people, and He would be faithful and righteous to them.
God reminded His people to be strong and work for His people. Now they would be able to work and go about their business in peace. God would not deal with the remnant as He did in the past.
God promised an inheritance to His people. He promised to save them and to make them a blessing, as long as they stayed faithful, keeping their faith strong and working on the temple.
God promised the fasts and days of mourning would become joyful occasions, as long as His people loved truth and peace.
“In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you’.” (Zechariah 8:23)
Zechariah 9
Just as God promised blessings to His people, He promised judgement for their enemies. This chapter references Philistine cities of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron and Ashdod, as well as Tyre and Damascus. These cities once noted for their strength, beauty, wealth and more would crumble. The goal of judgement is always repentance.
Those left would belong to God and join the people of Judah.
God promised that an oppressor would never again overrun His people.
Zion’s king was going to come in righteous and victorious, riding on a donkey. This king would proclaim peace to the nations and rule over the entire earth His covenant with the people, God would free the remaining prisoners that were not part of the remnant. He promised to restore twice as much to the prisoners.
Jesus spoke of himself as the sacrifice whose blood would ratify a new covenant, freeing those who came to Christ in faith.
The Lord would appear to His people, as a warrior with bow and arrow. On that day, He will save His people. They will sparkle like jewels in a crown.
Zechariah 10
Ask the Lord for rain, He sends the thunderstorms. Idols speak deceitfully, diviners lie and tell false dreams, giving comfort in vain. Don’t use illegitimate means to gain knowledge of the future, like horoscopes and fortune tellers.
God’s punishment would start at the top: shepherds, leaders, preachers, etc., but He would strengthen His people.
From Judah would come the cornerstone, that on which all else depends. He was going to strengthen them against their enemies and restore them as if He had not rejected them, because of His compassion.
This chapter lists the promises of God to renew and restore His people.
Zechariah 11
Zechariah was to shepherd the flock marked for slaughter, the one destined to be ignored, tortured and abused, and lead them rightly.
The two staffs Favor (grace) and Union (unity) were tools of a good shepherd. The people rejected Godly leadership and looked to the bad leadership they suffered under. They detested the leadership of God and so He gave them to the foolish shepherd. The rejection of Jesus Christ as the Sepherd-King was the culmination of Israel’s history of rejecting God’s leadership.
The breaking of the staffs representing the revocation of the covenant and the breaking of the family bond between Judah and Israel.
Zechariah 12
A prophecy concerning Israel, from the Lord who made heaven and earth, AND people. Don’t forget it.
God was going to make Jerusalem an “immovable rock” against those who came against her. It might look like a simple task to those looking to attack, but it would injure anyone who tried to even lift it. This was a promise of protection.
The Lord would make it so even the weakest among the Israelites like David — a strong and mighty warrior and Israel’s ideal king, and the house of David would be like God going against their enemies.
God promised a spirit of grace and supplication poured out on the house of David. They would mourn in repentance for their sins against the Lord.
Zechariah 13
The people needed to be cleansed from sin and impurity. God cuts off idols from the land and will cut off false prophets. Their sin was worthy of death, because of their lies in the name of the Lord.
They may run, but they cannot hide. The false prophets would say they were farmers or other occupations, but would be identified by their self-inflicted wounds, which was a characteristic of idol worship.
