The second of the final three prophets of the Old Testament is Zechariah. His name means “God remembers”. Because each word of God’s Word is inspired, this presents the book’s theme. Unlike the thunder of Haggai, his contemporary, Zechariah, gives comforting messages of encouragement! Born as the son of a priest during the Babylonian exile, he seems to have been an orphan. He was called the son of Iddo, who was his grandfather.
The Exiles Return
Returning with the faithful remnant, which numbered 42,360 individuals under Zerubbabel, he joined those who came to restore the Temple worship of the Lord. His ministry dates to the second year of the King of Persia, Darius Hystapses (521-520 BC). This dates his ministry to two months after Haggai stood at the ruins of the Temple and preached his first prophetic sermon.
Just as Haggai, God burdened Zechariah for the neglected repair of the Temple. However, God extends his prophetic view far beyond the Jews of his day. God sends him on a prophetic voyage to the end of redemptive history. He is given such detailed insights surrounding the events of the coming Messiah, the Tribulation, the Golden Millennial Age of Israel, and the Reign of Christ that bible teachers of the magnitude of Martin Luther would not even write on some parts of this book. They just couldn’t figure it out. Of course, they believed God was through with the Jews, and all of this had to be describing the church . . .
Four Sweeping Truths from Zechariah
To maximize our learning, we may begin by gleaning four broad applications from this great Old Testament prophet:
1. SIN WILL BRING GOD’S JUDGMENT. Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. (NKJV)
2. GOD’S PAST DEALINGS WITH SIN SHOULD CAUSE US TO TURN FROM SIN. Matthew 12:41 "The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah [is] here. (NKJV)
3. TURNING FROM SIN BRINGS BLESSING. Look at Zechariah 1:3 "Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Return to Me," says the LORD of hosts, "and I will return to you," says the LORD of hosts. (NKJV). Even the most wicked (Ahab) found mercy in turning. Even the wicked Manasseh was forgiven (II Chr. 33:9-13).
4. GOD LIKE HIS WORD CAN NEVER BE EVADED FOR LONG! See what God said in Zechariah 1:6 Yet surely My words and My statutes, Which I commanded My servants the prophets, Did they not overtake your fathers? "So they returned and said: ‘Just as the LORD of hosts determined to do to us, According to our ways and according to our deeds, So He has dealt with us.’ " ‘ " (NKJV)
A Future Roadmap from Zechariah
From OTI-38 – Zechariah (970122WE)
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