Walking Together Through the Old Testament - Week 50

Introduction

In 538 BC Cyrus the King of Persia allowed the Jews to return to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple after the period in exile in Babylon. Haggai & Zechariah were the two key prophets who encouraged this re-building through their ministry to those who returned.

Day 1 – Read: Zechariah 1 This chapter contains the first two of 8 visions that Zechariah receives in one night. The main message of these visions is that while there is a sense of peace and security over the nations God is going to disrupt this. If the Persian empire was weakened, that was good news for nations like Judah who would have a greater degree of political power as a result. Verses 16 & 17 especially would bring great comfort to the Jews.

Reflect: What verse of scripture is a source of encouragement and comfort to you? Take time today to read it through slowly 2 or 3 times and then thank God for the truth it contains.

Day 2 – Read: Zechariah 3-4 Being true to his name, which means Accuser, Satan is poised ready to accuse Joshua the High Priest (symbolising Israel), but God’s word prevented His activity and transformed Joshua. This chapter also has references to Christ’s coming and His power to remove sin in a single day (3:9). Chapter 4 is a word of encouragement to Zerubbabel who was seeking to rebuild the Temple (see Ezra 3). God reminds discouraged Zerubbabel of four important principles: i) The source of His power (v 6), ii) He will not only start the work, but will bring it to completion (v9), iii) that small things produce big results (v10), and iv) his task is to serve the Lord within his anointing and gifting.

Consider: Which of these four encouragements is most applicable to you at the present time? Is the Holy Spirit speaking to you about a specific area of your life?

Day 3 – Read: Zechariah 7 This chapter begins with a query made by the people of Bethel to the priests and prophets regarding fasting in the fifth month - a tradition that had developed as a memorial to when the walls of Jerusalem had been breached. God answers the query through Zechariah by asking them some searching questions about their motives for bothering with fasts and feasts. God goes on to talk about what he wants - ‘justice, mercy and compassion’ (v 9-10), and the issue of whether we fast or hold a feast is always less important than these key areas of motive, attitude and lifestyle.

Meditate: on verse 13. A key reason why prayers are not answered is found here. Disobedience to God will always be an obstacle to the

Walking Together Through the Old Testament - Week 50

Introduction

In 538 BC Cyrus the King of Persia allowed the Jews to return to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple after the period in exile in Babylon. Haggai & Zechariah were the two key prophets who encouraged this re-building through their ministry to those who returned.

Day 1 – Read: Zechariah 1 This chapter contains the first two of 8 visions that Zechariah receives in one night. The main message of these visions is that while there is a sense of peace and security over the nations God is going to disrupt this. If the Persian empire was weakened, that was good news for nations like Judah who would have a greater degree of political power as a result. Verses 16 & 17 especially would bring great comfort to the Jews.

Reflect: What verse of scripture is a source of encouragement and comfort to you? Take time today to read it through slowly 2 or 3 times and then thank God for the truth it contains.

Day 2 – Read: Zechariah 3-4 Being true to his name, which means Accuser, Satan is poised ready to accuse Joshua the High Priest (symbolising Israel), but God’s word prevented His activity and transformed Joshua. This chapter also has references to Christ’s coming and His power to remove sin in a single day (3:9). Chapter 4 is a word of encouragement to Zerubbabel who was seeking to rebuild the Temple (see Ezra 3). God reminds discouraged Zerubbabel of four important principles: i) The source of His power (v 6), ii) He will not only start the work, but will bring it to completion (v9), iii) that small things produce big results (v10), and iv) his task is to serve the Lord within his anointing and gifting.

Consider: Which of these four encouragements is most applicable to you at the present time? Is the Holy Spirit speaking to you about a specific area of your life?

Day 3 – Read: Zechariah 7 This chapter begins with a query made by the people of Bethel to the priests and prophets regarding fasting in the fifth month - a tradition that had developed as a memorial to when the walls of Jerusalem had been breached. God answers the query through Zechariah by asking them some searching questions about their motives for bothering with fasts and feasts. God goes on to talk about what he wants - ‘justice, mercy and compassion’ (v 9-10), and the issue of whether we fast or hold a feast is always less important than these key areas of motive, attitude and lifestyle.

Meditate: on verse 13. A key reason why prayers are not answered is found here. Disobedience to God will always be an obstacle to the

demonstration of His power. Use Psalm 139:23,24 as a personal prayer before you pray for anything else today.

Day 4 – Read: Zechariah 12-13 As Zechariah looks forward into the future, as with much Old Testament prophecy, there are references to Christs first and second coming mixed together. The phrase ‘On that day’ used a number of times in chapter 12 (verses 3-4, 8, &11) seems to refer to the Second Coming, while the same phrase in 13:1 seems to refer to what Christ accomplished on the Cross. Certainly, Jesus quotes 13:7 in Matthew 26:31 to refer to his own disciples falling away for a time after He is crucified, and so this at least had an application to His first coming.

Pray: for the Jewish nation and Jews around the world that they might come to an understanding of Jesus, “the one they have pierced”, and might come to saving faith.

Day 5 – Read: Zechariah 14 The ‘On that day’ theme continues and depicts a dramatic scene when everything is stacked against Jerusalem, at the final rebellion of the nations, when Christ returns. God will intervene and Jesus will return to the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem, splitting it in two. The day of the Lord will usher in God’s Kingdom on Earth, and Jesus will take his rightful place as king over the whole world (v 9). Read what the Apostle Paul says about this in Philippians 2:9-11, and recognise the focus of history that is there in both the Old and New Testaments.

Worship: Use verse 9 and Philippians 2:9-11 as a basis for your praise today! Pray for your non-Christian friends and family who are not yet ready to stand before the judgement seat when Christ returns.

Review the week’s readings

Read the following passages to discover what Zechariah teaches us about the life and ministry of Jesus:

  • Zechariah 2:10-13...The Lamb on the Throne Revelation 5:13, 6:9, 21:24
  • Zechariah 3:8...God's servant John 17:4
  • Zechariah 6:12-13...Priest and King Hebrews 8:1
  • Zechariah 9:9 … Greeted with rejoicing in Jerusalem Matthew 21:8-10, Beheld as King John 12:12-13, The Messiah would be just John 5:30, The Messiah would bring salvation Luke 19:10, The Messiah would be humble Matthew 11:29, Presented to Jerusalem riding on a donkey Matthew 21:6-9.
  • Zechariah 10:4 ... The cornerstone... Ephesians 2:20
  • Zechariah 11:4-13 … At His coming, Israel to have unfit leaders Matthew 23:1-4, Rejection causes God to remove His protection Luke 19:41-44, Rejected in favour of another king John 19:13-15, Ministry to "poor," the believing remnant Matthew 9:35-36, Unbelief forces Messiah to reject them Matthew 23:33, Zechariah 11:8b, Despised Matthew 27:20, Stops ministering to the those who rejected Him Matthew 13:10-11, Rejection causes God to remove protection Luke 19:41-44, The Messiah would be God John 14:7, Betrayed for thirty pieces of silver Matthew 26:14-15, Rejected Matthew 26:14-15, Thirty pieces of silver thrown into the house of the Lord, Matthew 27:3-5, The Messiah would be God... John 12:45
  • Zechariah 12:10…The Messiah's body would be pierced John 19:34-37, The Messiah would be both God and man John 10:30, The Messiah would be rejected John 1:11
  • Zechariah 13:7...God's will He die for mankind John 18:11, A violent death Matthew 27:35, Both God and man John 14:9, Israel scattered as a result of rejecting Him Matthew 26:31-56

demonstration of His power. Use Psalm 139:23,24 as a personal prayer before you pray for anything else today.

Day 4 – Read: Zechariah 12-13 As Zechariah looks forward into the future, as with much Old Testament prophecy, there are references to Christs first and second coming mixed together. The phrase ‘On that day’ used a number of times in chapter 12 (verses 3-4, 8, &11) seems to refer to the Second Coming, while the same phrase in 13:1 seems to refer to what Christ accomplished on the Cross. Certainly, Jesus quotes 13:7 in Matthew 26:31 to refer to his own disciples falling away for a time after He is crucified, and so this at least had an application to His first coming.

Pray: for the Jewish nation and Jews around the world that they might come to an understanding of Jesus, “the one they have pierced”, and might come to saving faith.

Day 5 – Read: Zechariah 14 The ‘On that day’ theme continues and depicts a dramatic scene when everything is stacked against Jerusalem, at the final rebellion of the nations, when Christ returns. God will intervene and Jesus will return to the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem, splitting it in two. The day of the Lord will usher in God’s Kingdom on Earth, and Jesus will take his rightful place as king over the whole world (v 9). Read what the Apostle Paul says about this in Philippians 2:9-11, and recognise the focus of history that is there in both the Old and New Testaments.

Worship: Use verse 9 and Philippians 2:9-11 as a basis for your praise today! Pray for your non-Christian friends and family who are not yet ready to stand before the judgement seat when Christ returns.

Review the week’s readings

Read the following passages to discover what Zechariah teaches us about the life and ministry of Jesus:

  • Zechariah 2:10-13...The Lamb on the Throne Revelation 5:13, 6:9, 21:24
  • Zechariah 3:8...God's servant John 17:4
  • Zechariah 6:12-13...Priest and King Hebrews 8:1
  • Zechariah 9:9 … Greeted with rejoicing in Jerusalem Matthew 21:8-10, Beheld as King John 12:12-13, The Messiah would be just John 5:30, The Messiah would bring salvation Luke 19:10, The Messiah would be humble Matthew 11:29, Presented to Jerusalem riding on a donkey Matthew 21:6-9.
  • Zechariah 10:4 ... The cornerstone... Ephesians 2:20
  • Zechariah 11:4-13 … At His coming, Israel to have unfit leaders Matthew 23:1-4, Rejection causes God to remove His protection Luke 19:41-44, Rejected in favour of another king John 19:13-15, Ministry to "poor," the believing remnant Matthew 9:35-36, Unbelief forces Messiah to reject them Matthew 23:33, Zechariah 11:8b, Despised Matthew 27:20, Stops ministering to the those who rejected Him Matthew 13:10-11, Rejection causes God to remove protection Luke 19:41-44, The Messiah would be God John 14:7, Betrayed for thirty pieces of silver Matthew 26:14-15, Rejected Matthew 26:14-15, Thirty pieces of silver thrown into the house of the Lord, Matthew 27:3-5, The Messiah would be God... John 12:45
  • Zechariah 12:10…The Messiah's body would be pierced John 19:34-37, The Messiah would be both God and man John 10:30, The Messiah would be rejected John 1:11
  • Zechariah 13:7...God's will He die for mankind John 18:11, A violent death Matthew 27:35, Both God and man John 14:9, Israel scattered as a result of rejecting Him Matthew 26:31-56