ZECHARIAH LESSON 1
The prophet Zechariah ministered at the same time as Haggai. They
both had been captives in Babylon, and returned to Judah when Cyrus
released the prisoners. The building of the temple had been delayed 16
years, after the first people released had built the foundation. There
was much opposition to its being built, and the people had been busy
building their own homes. They planted their crops again, also.
Zechariah and Haggai preached, that the reason for their poor crops,
was the fact they had not rebuilt the temple. The same neglect of
God's work was still in the land. They had spent 70 years in captivity
to cause them to repent of this complacency toward God.
We will begin now in Zechariah 1:1 "In the eighth month, in the
second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the
son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,"
It is very interesting, to me, that this message came to
Zechariah the month between the 7th and 9th month that God gave Haggai
messages. It seemed, the message was the same from both. Perhaps, this
was to confirm the messages. The Scriptures say, by two a thing shall
be established. We see that Zechariah was the grandson of the prophet
Iddo.
Zechariah 1:2 "The LORD hath been sore displeased with your
fathers."
The fathers, this is speaking of, are those who committed
spiritual adultery, and caused God to send them into captivity for 70
years. The land was destroyed, and so was the temple.
Zechariah 1:3 "Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD
of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn
unto you, saith the LORD of hosts."
God wanted their love and their faithfulness. The captivity had
been to teach them to obey God, and to turn from false gods. When they
reach out to God, He is always there to reach out to them. God loves
them, and wants to bless them, but He will not force Himself upon
them.
Zechariah 1:4 "Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former
prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now
from your evil ways, and [from] your evil doings: but they did not
hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD."
We remember, that they chose to believe the false prophets which
were prophesying good times. They did not heed the warning that God
had sent them by the true prophets. God had to prove to them, that
what He warned of, He would do. Now, they should remember the
chastisement that God sent on them before. It should not be so
difficult to get them to listen to the warnings from God. Their
captivity was still fresh on their minds.
Zechariah 1:5 "Your fathers, where [are] they? and the prophets,
do they live for ever?"
We discussed before, that the unfaithful generation died while
they were in captivity. The answer is no, they do not live forever.
They not only died, but died in a foreign land under terrible
circumstances. This should encourage these people to respond more
quickly to God's warning.
Zechariah 1:6 "But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my
servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and
they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto
us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he
dealt with us."
This is proclaiming to them, that the warnings the prophets
brought to them, came to pass. The chastisement promised, perhaps, was
a while in coming, but it did come. The true prophets spoke with
inspiration of God. Their Words were actually God's Words in the
prophets' mouths. The fathers and grandfathers had told their children
why they were in captivity, so they would not disobey God and wind up
in the same predicament.
Zechariah 1:7 "Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh
month, which [is] the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came
the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of
Iddo the prophet, saying,"
This message comes 3 months after the first message. Haggai's
last message had been spoken about two months prior to this message of
Zechariah's. This month is approximately February on our calendar.
Zechariah 1:8 "I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red
horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that [were] in the bottom;
and behind him [were there] red horses, speckled, and white."
This is a vision that God has given Zechariah. The red horse is
symbolic of war. Revelation 6:4 "And there went out another horse
[that was] red: and [power] was given to him that sat thereon to take
peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there
was given unto him a great sword." One of the things this could mean
is the domination of the Gentiles over Jerusalem, until the time of
the Gentiles be fulfilled. There has been almost constant war
somewhere in the world. It is interesting, to me, that there are only
two places in the world known to grow myrtle trees. Oregon is one
place, and the other is the land we, presently, call Israel. I believe
the three colors of horses following the man symbolize the mixed
nationalities of people in the world.
Zechariah 1:9 "Then said I, O my lord, what [are] these? And the
angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these
[be]."
The key word in this is "what". We know from this, that whatever
they are is symbolic. Notice, also, this is not the LORD, but lord, he
is speaking to. This is an angel.
Zechariah 1:10 "And the man that stood among the myrtle trees
answered and said, These [are they] whom the LORD hath sent to walk to
and fro through the earth."
We know that Satan walks the earth to and fro, seeking whom he
may devour. The LORD has sent these to search out the earth, and see
what the people of the earth are doing.
Zechariah 1:11 "And they answered the angel of the LORD that
stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro
through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at
rest."
They have searched the earth, and found a time when there is
relative peace upon the earth. I Thessalonians 5:3 "For when they
shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them,
as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape."
Zechariah 1:12 "Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O
LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on
the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these
threescore and ten years?"
This one Scripture makes us think this is speaking of the
immediate time of Zechariah. The 70 years are for the 70 years in
Babylon captivity. Babylon symbolizes the world. This is a cry similar
to the saints that cry in heaven. Revelation 6:10 "And they cried
with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou
not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" Even
just before the coming of the Lord Jesus as King, this will still be
the cry. The Lord is our intercessor. He pleads the believers case
continually before the Father.
Zechariah 1:13 "And the LORD answered the angel that talked with
me [with] good words [and] comfortable words."
The LORD answers with reassuring Words, that He is concerned
about His people. God does care. His time is not the same as our time.
Zechariah 1:14 "So the angel that communed with me said unto me,
Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for
Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy."
This is speaking of the holy city, and is, also, speaking of the
church. The jealousy, here, is love to the extreme. God loves His
people.
Zechariah 1:15 "And I am very sore displeased with the heathen
[that are] at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped
forward the affliction."
God was displeased with the heathen that lived around Jerusalem.
I believe He is, also, displeased today with the heathen world that
has no desire to come to Him and be saved. Babylon, and the other
nations, that attacked God's people in such cruel manner were some
that He was displeased with. Even in our society, there are nations
who do not accept God. These are heathen nations, as well.
Zechariah 1:16 "Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to
Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD
of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem."
This is speaking of the temple being rebuilt in Jerusalem. Jesus
will set up His kingdom headquartered in Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be
the measure that all will be measured by. We saw in one of the other
prophetic books, this same line which measured the city of Jerusalem
and the temple area.
Zechariah 1:17 "Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My
cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD
shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem."
This is speaking of Jerusalem as the capital of the world, when
Jesus reigns. The church {Zion} will be comforted. The prosperity of
Jerusalem has begun. Jews from all over the world are returning to
Israel now. They shall prosper greatly, because the blessing of God is
upon them.
Zechariah 1:18 "Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold
four horns."
"Horns" symbolize power, and the number "four" symbolizes
universal. This, then, is speaking of universal power.
Zechariah 1:19 "And I said unto the angel that talked with me,
What [be] these? And he answered me, These [are] the horns which have
scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem."
This could be speaking of the Babylonians, Assyria, Medio-
Persians, and the Egyptians. I believe it speaks of the nations of the
world against Israel. There are not just 4 nations that have done harm
to Israel. There are many. I believe the number 4 is symbolic of the
nations of the world who are Jerusalem, Judah, and Israel's enemies.
These are nations opposed to God, and all His people.
Zechariah 1:20 "And the LORD shewed me four carpenters."
These carpenters were workers in iron. This means, then, that
these were extremely strong universally.
Zechariah 1:21 "Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake,
saying, These [are] the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no
man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out
the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up [their] horn over the land
of Judah to scatter it."
The angel is speaking here. The horns are they that scattered
Judah, and lay them helpless. They frayed {whipped} them. The enemies
of Judah had not only defeated them, but scattered them to the winds.
Luke 21:24 "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be
led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down
of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled."
Zechariah 1 Questions
1. Zechariah ministered at the same time as ________.
2. They both had been captives in Babylon, until ________ released
them.
3. The building of the temple had been delayed _____ years.
4. What had the people been doing during that time?
5. What was the message of Zechariah?
6. When was the first message Zechariah received?
7. Who was Zechariah's father?
8. What did Iddo and Zechariah have in common?
9. The LORD hath been sore displeased with your ___________.
10. What will happen, if they turn to God?
11. Who had their fathers believed?
12. Do prophets live forever?
13. What is verse 6 saying to them?
14. What month on our calendar is Sebat?
15. How does Zechariah receive the second message?
16. The "red horse" is symbolic of _______.
17. Quote Revelations chapter 6 verse 4.
18. Where is myrtle wood grown?
19. Who talked with Zechariah?
20. Who did the angel say they were?
21. How did they find the earth?
22. Quote 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 3.
23. Which Scripture would cause us to believe this is in Zechariah's
time?
24. Quote Revelation chapter 6 verse 10.
25. The LORD is jealous for whom?
26. Who was He sore displeased with?
27. What is verse 16 speaking of?
28. What is verse 17 speaking of Jerusalem as?
29. What do "horns" symbolize?
30. What does "4" symbolize?
31. Who are the 4 horns?
32. Who were the carpenters?
33. Quote Luke chapter 21 verse 24.
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