Haggai's compatriot and inspiration to Israel, according to Ezra.
Introduction
Zechariah was a common name, but this one was the contemporary of Haggai.
- Zechariah is the author of the book.
- His grandfather was Iddo, a priest who returned to Jerusalem from Babylon, along with Zerubbabel and Jeshua.
- Zechariah was a priest.
- Zechariah means, "God remembers."
- Zechariah is speaking up after 15 years of stalled work on the Temple. (along with Haggai)
- The Ryrie Study Bible states that Zechariah predicts more about the Messiah than any other book, except Isiah. That's very interesting. I'm looking forward to that.
Tradition is that he belonged to the Great Synagogue that was established by Nehemiah and presided over by Ezra (which eventually developed in the Sanhedrin). It seems to me that he was either born in Jerusalem or was very young when they returned. Meaning that he's likely of the second generation of the returning remnant.
He starts speaking two months after Haggai and prophesied for two years.
Chapter 1
The chapter opens in the 8th month of the second year of Darius, October and November of 520 BC. The Word of the Lord came to Zechariah. They give his father and grandfather's name. The commentaries said his dad didn't live long so Zechariah is most closely associated with his grandfather, Iddo, a priest who returned to Jerusalem with the Babylonian captivity remnant.
It opens with e a very rough start:
“The Lord was very angry with your fathers. Zechariah 1:2
It's a good reminder to the audience how they had arrived at this moment. We're just a minute off from the last disaster...pay attention, folks.
It doesn't get much better from there:
Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Return to Me,” declares the Lord of hosts, “that I may return to you,” says the Lord of hosts. “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.”’ But they did not listen or give heed to Me,” declares the Lord. Zechariah 1:3–4
In two verses He uses the name Lord of hosts THREE times. That's a not-so-subtle reminder that God has an angel army and they are not afraid to spread death around.
But it is also a plea. Return to me. That I may return to you. God is so relational. There is an obvious threat and a reminder He doesn't bluff. But at the heart is the invitation back to Him. He always makes a way back. Even though it didn't take this group very long to nod off to sleep.
He asks these people where their fathers and the prophets are? Reminding them that every man eventually dies. He goes on to remind them that the Lord follows through when He makes a threat or promise. The prophet may dies, but the prophesy lives on.
That's the end of that prophesy. All stick. Not very much carrot.
The next event starts in verse 7, three months later and after Haggai has prophesied and the people had quickly repented. This time it was a vision from the Lord that Zechariah was sharing:
I saw at night, and behold, a man was riding on a red horse, and he was standing among the myrtle trees which were in the ravine, with red, sorrel and white horses behind him. Then I said, “My lord, what are these?” And the angel who was speaking with me said to me, “I will show you what these are.” Zechariah 1:8–9
- Man
- red horse
- myrtle trees (evergreens that grow 30 feet high) in a ravine
- red, sorrel (reddish brown), and white horses
- angel
Trying to keep track of the specifics. I like the visions and want to make my own guess before I read what commentaries say.
In verse 10 there is a man standing in the myrtle trees, which I am assuming is different from the man on the horse. The man speaks to him and tells him the horse patrol the earth.
I'm going to leave the next bit in tact so I don't butcher it in summary:
So they answered the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees and said, “We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth is peaceful and quiet.” Zechariah 1:11
If I'm reading that correctly, the horses speak to the man in the trees, who is the angel of the Lord. As I understand it, that usually means the preincarnate Person of Jesus. The horses report that all peaceful and quiet.
Can we pause for a moment and consider what it must have been like for Zechariah. The Angel of the Lord. Talking horses. That had to have left him wondering about his own sanity. And why the different colors for the horses? Is that different kinds of angels? or just the diversity we always see God use in His creation? Curiouser and curiouser.
In verse 12 they still use the full title, angel of the Lord, which is more evidence to me that it's Jesus, who cries out to the lord of hosts on behalf of Jerusalem after 70 years of suffering. Jesus pleading for Jerusalem to the Father. Something we'll see again in the New Testament.
Get this:
The Lord answered the angel who was speaking with me with gracious words, comforting words. Zechariah 1:13
If I'm right about that angel of the Lord, this is the Father answering a son's plea on behalf of another wayward child. he spoke with gracious and comforting words.
Please hold this image in your mind. This is Jesus pleading the case for each and everyone one of us to follows him. We've been wayward and wicked and still Jesus approaches the Father on our behalf. And because of that, the Father's heart is for us, gracious and comforting words. Thank you, Jesus!
Amazing grace.
Unearned, amazing grace.
Comforting, unearned, amazing grace.
Hallelujah.
Now we come back to the angel who was originally speaking to Zechariah. This angel commands Zechariah to proclaim that the Lord is exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and Zion. He goes on to explain that He is very angry with the gentile nation who were currently at ease. God was a little angry with Israel and punished them, but the gentile nations furthered the disaster beyond God's design.
The Lord promises to return to Jerusalem and built His house.
Again, proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “My cities will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.”’” Zechariah 1:17
God is gracious. Pay attention. they are still God's chosen people. Watch them prosper despite a world history of persecution, including today. And yet they prosper.
Uh-oh.
Verse 18 starts with a vision of four horns. (Daniel flashbacks)
Zechariah asks the angel what they are and the angel explains that scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.
Okay, so these are not the future empires, but the past empires. Probably Assyria, Egypt, Babylon, and medo-Persia.
Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen. Zechariah 1:20
Okay, that's new. And interesting. Four craftsmen.
The craftsmen have come to terrify the horns and to throw them down. Ryrie thinks these are a combination of men and countries who will partake in the rebuilding. It looks like the next chapter continues the "building" theme so we'll see.
God is good. All of the time. God is good.
Amen.