The Book of ZechariahD-1

THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH

  1. Introduction

Meaning of Zechariah: The Lord remembers. The Lord is faithful; He remembered the promise in His covenant and was proactive to fulfill it (Ex 3:14).

Zechariah consists of:

  1. 8 visions (Zech 1-6)
  2. 4 messages (Zech 7-8)
  3. 2 oracles (Zech 9-14)

The book can be divided into two sections:

  1. The messages for restoration of temple (Zech 1-8).
  2. The prophecy of the advent of Messiah, the second coming of Christ, and the establishment of His kingdom (Zech 9-12).

The chronology and background of Zechariah:Zechariah was born in Babylon; he returned to the homeland with Zerubbabel (Neh 12:4,16).

538 BCCyrus, king of Persia, helped the exiles to return to Jerusalem for restoration of the temple (2 Chr 36).

536 BC The foundation of the temple is laid (Ezra 3:10).

530-520 BC The work of the temple came to a stop (Ezra 4:24).

520 BCThe work of the temple renewed after Haggai's calling (Hag 1:1-15).

519-518 BCKing Darius ordered the rebuilding of the temple (Ezra 5:3-6:14).

518 BC Zechariah's visions and messages (Zech 1:7-8:23).

516 BC Completion and dedication of the temple (Ezra 6:15-18).

After 480 BC Zechariah's prophecy (Zech 9-14).

445 BC Nehemiah returned and rebuilt the temple.

  1. The Main Theme of Zechariah

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  1. Outline
  2. Return of exile and rebuilding of the temple (1-8).
  3. Exhortation (1:1-8).
  4. Eight visions (1:7-6:8).
  5. The crowning of Joshua the high priest (6:9-15).
  6. The outcome of rebellion and the hope of restoration (7-8).
  7. The advent of the Messiah and the realization of God's kingdom (9-14).
  8. The advent and rejection of Christ (9-11).
  9. The second coming of Christ and restoration of His kingdom (12-14).
  1. Spiritual Teachings
  2. “Return to Me and I will return to you” (1:3).
  3. The relationship between man and God is interactive.
  4. Disobedience resulted in exile (7:8-14).
  5. Punishment due because they provoked God to wrath (8:14).
  6. Returning to God brings blessings (8:15-17).
  7. God is a true and living God (Jer 10:10).
  8. God is true—He is unchangeable.

iReliable—unlike man.

iiPredictable—unlike stocks.

  1. God is living God—He is responsive.
  1. Why does God respond to man?
  2. All nations are as nothing (Isa 40:12-26).
  3. God's mercy is in heaven (Ps 36:5).
  4. God's faithfulness reaches to the skies (Ps 36:5).
  5. The key rests upon the transformation of man.
  6. The biggest problem is in man; not in God.
  7. Without change, prayer cannot be effective (7:1-6).
  8. Transformation requires that you have wisdom to know yourself and have the power to return.
  9. The choice to return.
  10. Return from sin.

iGod will dwell with those who have a contrite and humble spirit (Isa 57:14-16).

iiFasting that pleases God must be the one coupled with change of life (Isa 58:3-9).

iiiPrepare for the Lord's coming by weeping, mourning, and rending our hearts (Joel 2:12-14).

  1. Keeping the Sabbath (Isa 58:13, 14).

iRejoice in God.

iiGod will return.

  1. Changing our lifestyle.

iDepart from evil and dwell in the promised land (Jer 25:1-14; Deut 8:11-20).

iiThe Rechabites were one of the few role models who lived by God’s principles (Jer 35:12-19).

iiiThe best lifestyle is one which makes it easiest for us to keep the faith (Deut 8; Amos 6:1-10).

  1. Offering tithe (Mal 3:7-12).

iNot offering tithe is to rob God.

iiOffering tithe is returning to God.

  1. Prioritizing the temple and family (Hag 1:1-11, 2:14-19).

iPutting family first, no blessing from God.

iiPutting the temple first, God will bless.

  1. “By returning and rest, you shall be saved” (Isa 30:1-23).
  1. Questions:
  2. From the history of the chosen, how did man turn away from God? What was God's response?
  3. What is the key to restoring the relationship between God and man?
  4. How does God respond to man's return?
  1. The teachings of the eight visions.
  2. Vision of the horses (1:7-17)—the mercy and justice of God.
  3. All the earth resting quietly (1:11)—God's thought for Israel were thoughts of peace (Jer 29:11).
  4. God was angry with Jerusalem for 70 years (1:12)—God's justice.
  5. God was zealous for Jerusalem (1:14-16)—God is different from man.
  6. God will choose Jerusalem again (1:17)—the mercy of God.
  7. Vision of the four horns and four craftsmen (1:18, 21).
  8. God will use a powerful nation as a tool.
  9. The nation with power will face God's justice.
  10. Vision of the measuring line (2:1-13).
  11. Restoration of Jerusalem (2).

iTo measure Jerusalem.

iiIt shall be as a town without a wall.

  1. God will be a wall of fire and glory all around the city.

iCity of fire—God's preservation.

iiGlory—the abidance of God.

  1. The captured returned.

iThose under captivity were treasured by God (2:8).

iiThe plunderer was punished.

iiiThe Lord dwelt among them.

  1. Questions:

iWhat is the difference between God's anger towards Jerusalem and His wrath towards the nations that feel secure?

iiWhat can we understand about God from the ways He treats Jerusalem?

iiiWhat is the spiritual meaning of Jerusalem?

  1. Vision of the high priest (3:1-10).
  2. Satan opposed Joshua (1).
  3. A branch plucked from the fire (2).
  4. Joshua was clothed with rich robes (4).
  5. The requirement to serve God (6, 7).
  6. God brought forth His servant the Branch.
  7. Questions:

iSatan accuses Joshua before God. What does this means to those who serve God?

iiHow is God's rebuke to Satan related to a burning stick snatched from the fire?

iiiWhat are the requirements to serve the Lord?

  1. Vision of the lampstand and olive trees (4:1-14).
  2. The gold lamp (1-10).

iBy God's spirit (6).

iiA great mountain shall become a plain. In God, nothing is impossible.

iiiThe temple will be rebuilt.

  1. The olive tree (11-14).

iTwo anointed

  1. Questions:

iHow is the gold lampstand related to the rebuilding of the temple?

iiRestoration of the temple needs reliance on God's spirit. Please elaborate with an example.

iiiHow are the two anointed related to rebuilding of the temple?

  1. Vision of the flying scroll (5:1-4).
  2. It was huge but flying.
  3. Eliminate the sinner.
  4. Vision of the woman in a basket (5:5-11).
  5. The wickedness will be removed (5:8; Rev. 17:3-6).
  6. The wickedness will be set in Babylon (5:11).
  7. Questions:

iWhat is the teaching of the flying scroll?

iiHow is the flying scroll related to man?

iiiWhat is the meaning of the woman in the basket?

  1. Vision of the four chariots (6:1-8).
  2. God reigns over history.
  3. Different political powers can serve as God's instruments.
  4. The final purpose is to give His spirit rest.
  5. Questions:

iGod is in control of history. How do we prove this?

iiWhat is the purpose of the Lord to control history?

  1. The command to crown Joshua (6:9-15).
  2. Joshua prefigures the Lord Jesus.
  3. Crown on the head (Rev 19:12).
  4. A branch of David.
  5. He comes to build God's temple (Isa 2:2, 3; Ezek 40-43).
  6. Those who are afar shall come to build the temple.
  7. His counsel of peace shall be between both king and priest (Ps 110; Heb 7).
  8. Reigns as king (2 Chr 7:16; Isa 9:7; Lk 1:32).
  9. Serves as priest (Ps 110:4; Heb 7:1-3).
  10. Questions:
  11. Why does Joshua need to be crowned?
  12. Joshua rebuilt the temple. What is the meaning behind this?
  13. What does it means for Joshua to achieve harmony between the two?
  14. Jerusalem will be restored (8:1-32).
  15. Promise to return to Zion (8:1-8).
  16. The Lord is zealous for Zion.

iGod will dwell in the city.

iiThe city shall be called the city of truth; the holy mountain.

iiiThe city shall be filled with righteousness and peace.

  1. Rebuild the relationship with the chosen.
  1. Promise of bestowing blessings (8:9-23)—urge to rebuild the temple.
  2. Rebuild the temple—will receive blessing (9-13).
  3. Encouragement to be righteous (14-17).
  4. All nations will seek after Lord's grace (18-23).

iSorrow will be turned into joy.

iiGod’s grace will abide.

iiiAll nations will seek after the Lord.

  1. Questions:
  2. What does the magnificent future of the prophecy about Jerusalem represent?
  3. What was God’s action taken for His zeal for Zion?
  4. What was the difference before and after the temple was restored?
  5. What should the chosen’s transformed life be after the restoration of the temple?
  6. Why do people seek after God in the future?
  1. The coming of the Savior and the triumphant return of His chosen (9).
  2. The King of Zion is coming (9:9-10), who:
  3. Is full of authority.
  4. Enforces justice.
  5. Provides redemption.
  6. Achieves peace.
  7. Will bring joy.
  8. God will redeem (9:11-17) His people.
  9. He will make a covenant with blood (11).
  10. He will release them from captivity.
  11. He will double His blessing (12, 16, 17).
  12. The chosen will be triumphant.
  13. Questions:
  14. What is the meaning of the coming of the King of Zion?
  15. Please elaborate the covenant make by the King of Zion with the chosen.
  16. How do we know that the birth of the Savior is prearranged by God?
  17. The coming of the Holy Spirit and the salvation of the chosen (10).
  18. The coming of the latter rain (1).
  19. The Lord is the good Shepherd (2-5).
  20. They are in trouble because there is no shepherd (2).
  21. The Lord will take care of His sheep (3-5).
  22. The Lord will bring His people back (6-12).
  23. The Lord will bring them back (6, 7).
  24. All nations will perish (8-12).
  25. Questions:
  26. How does the pouring down of rain related to the prosperity of God’s kingdom?
  27. Why did God scatter the chosen and gather them again?
  28. Prophecy of the Lord's suffering (11).
  29. Desolation of Israel (1-6).
  30. Calamity will overflow (1-3).
  31. The Lord’ssheep will be ill-treated (4-6).
  32. The good shepherd is abandoned (7-14).
  33. Pastored by the staffs of beauty and bonds (4-7).
  34. Cut the staff of beauty—He will break the covenant with His people (8-13).
  35. Cut the staff of bonds—He will break the brotherhood (14).
  36. Foolish shepherd afflicted (15-17).
  37. Questions:
  38. How does the Lord pastor His sheep?
  39. Why did God break the two staffs?
  40. The second coming of Christ and the fulfillment of His kingdom (12-14).
  41. God will defend Jerusalem (12:1-9).
  42. The house of David will be restored (12:10-14).
  43. Sin was purged and the people were purified (13:1-9).
  44. The second coming of Christ (14:1-21).
  45. Jerusalem besieged (14:1-3).
  46. The Lord’s second coming (4-8).
  47. Christ reigns as king (9-11).
  48. Nations punished (12-15).
  49. Theremnant will worship the Lord (16-21).

NYTS 2007, Hillsborough, USA1Derren Liang