Z is for Zechariah
Zechariah
means Yahweh remembers.
means Yahweh remembers.
Author
of the book of Zechariah, prophet and priest in the Old Testament.
of the book of Zechariah, prophet and priest in the Old Testament.
Zechariah,
son of Berekiah and grandson of Iddo, the prophet
son of Berekiah and grandson of Iddo, the prophet
Zechariah’s ministry took
place during the reign of Darius the Great.
place during the reign of Darius the Great.
Zechariah’s
prophecies are dated from 520-518 BC,
prophecies are dated from 520-518 BC,
Haggai
was a contemporary prophet of Zechariah after the fall of Jerusalem.
was a contemporary prophet of Zechariah after the fall of Jerusalem.
Zechariah
experienced visions from the Lord.
A vision is something seen that will or may come to be, according to the
dictionary. Zechariah was one of the
minor prophets – Joel, Hosea, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk,
Zephaniah, Haggai, Malachi. The major
prophets are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel and Daniel.
experienced visions from the Lord.
A vision is something seen that will or may come to be, according to the
dictionary. Zechariah was one of the
minor prophets – Joel, Hosea, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk,
Zephaniah, Haggai, Malachi. The major
prophets are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel and Daniel.
Zechariah’s night
visions occurred all in one night –
visions occurred all in one night –
Visions:
Horseman – 1:7-17
Horns and
Craftsmen – 1:18-21
Craftsmen – 1:18-21
Man with a
Measuring Line – 2:1-13
Measuring Line – 2:1-13
Joshua the High
Priest – 3:1-10
Priest – 3:1-10
Golden Lampstand
– 4:1-14
– 4:1-14
Flying Scroll –
5:1-4
5:1-4
Woman in a Basket
– 5:1-11
– 5:1-11
Four Chariots – 6:1-8
Crown and the
Temple – 6:9-15
Temple – 6:9-15
Zechariah returned
to Jerusalem and was called a few months after Haggai, to prophesy. His visions
are dated from 520-518 BC. The
interesting fact is that Zechariah grew up in captivity, and his grandfather
was a priest and a prophet. Picture
Zechariah as a young boy being taught about the Father God of all. Picture his excitement in returning to
Jerusalem, the Holy City. Imagine his longing to make Jerusalem become as it
once was. Then comes the visions. It wasn’t what he ate, but it was real
visions. Visions brought from the Angel
of the Lord, speaking for the Lord God.
He must have been in awe.
to Jerusalem and was called a few months after Haggai, to prophesy. His visions
are dated from 520-518 BC. The
interesting fact is that Zechariah grew up in captivity, and his grandfather
was a priest and a prophet. Picture
Zechariah as a young boy being taught about the Father God of all. Picture his excitement in returning to
Jerusalem, the Holy City. Imagine his longing to make Jerusalem become as it
once was. Then comes the visions. It wasn’t what he ate, but it was real
visions. Visions brought from the Angel
of the Lord, speaking for the Lord God.
He must have been in awe.
Zechariah
listened, and listened well, to the Word of the Lord given him by the Angel of
the Lord. He recorded the words. He believed them. He shared them. So often I have thumbed quickly through the
Bible and skipped the book of Zechariah.
As I study Zechariah, I find a wealth of information that is not only
important for the Israelites returning to their homeland, but also to me and to
you.
listened, and listened well, to the Word of the Lord given him by the Angel of
the Lord. He recorded the words. He believed them. He shared them. So often I have thumbed quickly through the
Bible and skipped the book of Zechariah.
As I study Zechariah, I find a wealth of information that is not only
important for the Israelites returning to their homeland, but also to me and to
you.
Chapter One gives
this insight: “I,
the Lord, was very angry with
your ancestors. Therefore, say to the people, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says:
Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.’ Verses 2-3
this insight: “I,
the Lord, was very angry with
your ancestors. Therefore, say to the people, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says:
Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.’ Verses 2-3
The promise is
clear. When we return to God, He returns
to us. Everywhere I look in this world I
see wars, death, chaos, greed and unrest.
Our God is of Peace and Love.
That is lost to us. The faithful
listen and are challenged to live ever close to God. Is God angry with us? The blame goes to everyone, for we are all
sinful. Zechariah was admonished by the
Angel of the Lord, Shout this message for all to hear:
‘This is what the Lord of
Heaven’s Armies says: My love for Jerusalem and Mount Zion is passionate and
strong. I:14.
clear. When we return to God, He returns
to us. Everywhere I look in this world I
see wars, death, chaos, greed and unrest.
Our God is of Peace and Love.
That is lost to us. The faithful
listen and are challenged to live ever close to God. Is God angry with us? The blame goes to everyone, for we are all
sinful. Zechariah was admonished by the
Angel of the Lord, Shout this message for all to hear:
‘This is what the Lord of
Heaven’s Armies says: My love for Jerusalem and Mount Zion is passionate and
strong. I:14.
In Chapter 9:7-9 – Shout this message
for all to hear: ‘This is what the Lord of
Heaven’s Armies says: My love for Jerusalem and Mount Zion is passionate and
strong.
for all to hear: ‘This is what the Lord of
Heaven’s Armies says: My love for Jerusalem and Mount Zion is passionate and
strong.
In Chapter 12, the phrase – In That Day – is repeated over and over. That Day is coming! Yes! Verses 1—11 – “Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and
prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on
me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will
grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died. The sorrow
and mourning in Jerusalem on that day will be like the great mourning for
Hadad-rimmon in the valley of Megiddo.
prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on
me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will
grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died. The sorrow
and mourning in Jerusalem on that day will be like the great mourning for
Hadad-rimmon in the valley of Megiddo.
Oh, how Zechariah wondered about the message. He grew up knowing and watching for the
coming Messiah. The how and why are not
told, simply how there will be grieving. A first born son has died? Such sadness fills these two verses. There is more.
coming Messiah. The how and why are not
told, simply how there will be grieving. A first born son has died? Such sadness fills these two verses. There is more.
When I read these verses my heart quakes with sorrow,
for I see there is a great battle coming.
How do I know if this battle of darkness against light is not with us
today? We live by a highway of scurrying, hurrying travelers whisking by our
house, just across the fence. Are we
like them, scurrying and whisking through our lives not heeding God’s
Words?
for I see there is a great battle coming.
How do I know if this battle of darkness against light is not with us
today? We live by a highway of scurrying, hurrying travelers whisking by our
house, just across the fence. Are we
like them, scurrying and whisking through our lives not heeding God’s
Words?
God chooses us, but He waits for us to choose to serve
and obey Him. The choice is a matter of
life and death, lightness and darkness.
So often I remember my Grandmother’s prayer that all her family will
join her in Heaven; they would choose God.
This was my Mother’s prayer as well.
Now I understand completely.
Choosing God is choosing life now, tomorrow and forever.
and obey Him. The choice is a matter of
life and death, lightness and darkness.
So often I remember my Grandmother’s prayer that all her family will
join her in Heaven; they would choose God.
This was my Mother’s prayer as well.
Now I understand completely.
Choosing God is choosing life now, tomorrow and forever.
Zechariah’s message ends with a bad news — good news
theme. IN THAT DAY….the first two verses
cry out….and then comes what will take place.
theme. IN THAT DAY….the first two verses
cry out….and then comes what will take place.
Verses 3-5 – Then the Lord will go out to fight against those nations, as he
has fought in times past. On
that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. And the
Mount of Olives will split apart, making a wide valley running from east to
west. Half the mountain will move toward the north and half toward the
south. You will flee through this valley, for it
will reach across to Azal. Yes, you will flee as you did from the earthquake
in the days of King Uzziah of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all his holy ones with him.
has fought in times past. On
that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. And the
Mount of Olives will split apart, making a wide valley running from east to
west. Half the mountain will move toward the north and half toward the
south. You will flee through this valley, for it
will reach across to Azal. Yes, you will flee as you did from the earthquake
in the days of King Uzziah of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all his holy ones with him.
Now that is good news!
Then the Lord my
God will come, and all his holy ones with him.
Then the Lord my
God will come, and all his holy ones with him.
Thank you, Zechariah, for blessing us with the words
from the Angel of the Lord. How blessed
we are for your courage to share with us.
John writes, He who testifies to these things says,
“Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Revelation 22:20
from the Angel of the Lord. How blessed
we are for your courage to share with us.
John writes, He who testifies to these things says,
“Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Revelation 22:20
Comments? eacombs@att.net