ZECHARIAH 1:1
THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH
[Jeremiah 25: 1- 13/ 52: 3-16 / Isaiah 45:1-8]
I. INTRODUCTION
Life on planet earth is fragile. We live every day under the threat of catastrophic environmental disasters and weapons of mass destruction.
Surprisingly, a study of a book as ancient as the Old Testament prophecy of Zechariah can give us a stabilizing perspective in these fear-filled times. Zechariah reminds us that even though there will be calamitous events in the last days, human history is not destined for accidental death and extinction. Rather, we can expect a merciful deliverance and the long-awaited kingdom of God’s promised Messiah.
The book of Zechariah was written when the people of Israel were a small nation with no means of defense against powerful neighbors. Zechariah not only reveals a God who is able to protect His people, but a God who has given us all the information we need to know His Messiah and His plan for the future.
The Prophet Zechariah was unusually anointed by God’s Spirit, who took him to heights of messianic revelation rarely equaled. His revelations or oracles were for God’s chosen people who had covenanted with God. The church today is made up of God’s chosen who have entered into a covenant relationship with God. This new covenant relationship is also by grace through faith.
The study of this book will grow and fortify our faith if we will realize with the prophets of old, that for every situation developing in Israel, the God ruled ones, there was nothing more necessary than faith in the Messiah of the transcendent God. When new problems appear what Israel, the Church, and you need is a fuller revelation of what the Messiah is and does and that our help lies entirely in Him.
The New Testament makes repeated use of this book. So should we.
II. BACKGROUND
The historical situation underlying the book of Zechariah is identical in time and place to the one which called forth the oracles of Haggai. The return from exile had become a reality. A small remnant of the Jews who had been torn loose from Judah had not taken root in Babylon despite their 70 year captivity there (Dan. 9:2). They returned to their homeland. This return was an extremely important event in the history of Israel.
The raising of interest and enthusiasm of the small remnant to return was like a resurrection of the nation out of death. For it was through this chosen remnant that the promised Messiah would come. Through Divine intervention (Ezra 1:1-4) Cyrus, King of the Medes and the Persians (Isa. 44:28; 45:1-8), issued a decree that gave permissions for the Jews to return to the land of their fathers. This Cyrus was the same one Isaiah professed by name as responsible for punishing and over throwing the world power Babylon and setting Israel free and sending the remnant to restore their nation. Less than 50,000 of the once mighty nation did return (Ezra 2, Neh. 7).
Almost at once upon returning, the remnant began the erection of their temple as Cyrus had decreed. The difficulties of this undertaking were increased by the opposition of the Samaritans (Ezra 4ff) after they were not permitted to join in rebuilding the temple. The Samaritans then deceived the Persian officials and made them suspicious so that the generous assistance promised by Cyrus did not come. The remnant was also subject to raids because the walls were broken down. The Samaritans told King Artaxerxes (464-424 B.C., Ezra 4:1-24; 7:1; Neh. 2:1. He succeeded his father Ahasuerus or Xeres I, and is also called Darius the Mede ? Dan. 9:1) to search their records and learn what a mighty nation this once was--and so they wanted to be again.
The discouraged people gave in to the opposition and started seeking just their own comfort. Many of them built for themselves rather substantial dwellings (Hag. 1:4), but the work upon the Lord’s house had come to a complete stand still.
Then 17 years after the small remnant had returned, the prophet, Haggai, meaning "a messenger from God," stepped forth to call the people to resume the building of the temple. Two months later, Zechariah would burst forth and join in proclaiming God’s revelation to His people.
Notice that God waited many, many years before He called His people to rebuild the sanctuary. He allowed them the natural concern of building shelter for their families and solidifying their livelihood. But with their houses built they became individualistic having no enthusiasm for the united undertaking of a new temple or a protective wall around Jerusalem. The call for the people to repent and return to God for the spiritual reviving necessary was the formidable to which Haggai and Zechariah were called. Haggai, Ezra and others called for repentance and the building of the temple and Zechariah proclaimed the spiritual restoration necessary to experience God’s blessings.
CHRONOLOGY
700-681 Isaiah’s Prophecies
605- Daniel taken to Babylon.
597- Ezekiel taken to Babylon.
587/6- Fall of Jerusalem & Judah (southern Kingdom) 2 Kgs, 2 Chron,
Daniel prophesying in Babylon.
539- Babylon over thrown by Cyrus (2 Chron 36:21ff; Ezra 1:1-4).
538/7/6- About 50,000 Jews return to Jerusalem (Ezra 2, Neh 7). Rebuild altar and offer sacrifice.
535- Temple construction begins (Ezra 3:8-13).
530- Temple construction stopped (Ezra4:1-5, 24).
535-520- Hardships, economic depression, people forget temple and selfishly concentrated on their own needs (Hag.1,2).
520- Darius confirms the decree of Cyrus and aids in the construction of the Jewish Temple (Ezra 6:1-14; Hg. 1:1-2).
520- Zechariah gives opening sermon (1:1-6). He & Haggai are contemporaries-He begins just after Haggai & before he stops prophesying.
516- Second Temple completed and dedicated
458- Ezra comes to Jerusalem.
445- Nehemiah comes to Jerusalem.
III. DATE OF THE BOOK
In 587 BC, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, was used by God to bring about the total destruction of Jerusalem. 68 years later, Cyrus, king of Persia conquered Babylon and after the Jews had completed the 70 years in captivity proclaimed by Jeremiah, Daniel’s prayer opened the door out of captivity for them (Dan. 9:2).
God answered His promise and Daniel’s prayer with Cyrus’ degree in 538 (Ezra 1, 2 Chron. 36:22-23). Eight years later Cyrus died (530 B.C.) and his son reigned for 8 years (Cambyses II). Then in 521 (to 486) Darius I became king after saving the Persian empire from civil war.
So God uses Cyrus, His deliverer, prophesied about 150 years earlier in Isaiah 45:1 to conquer the proud Babylonian king and to release His people. The small remnant laid the foundation for the temple in 536 BC but first Samaritan opposition, then self seeking blocked all progress for nearly 16 years. In 520 God raised up two prophets to encourage the completion of the work. Thus, Zechariah comes on the recorded prophetic scene in 520, two months after his contemporary Haggai’s (1:1) ref. Ezra 5:1 & 6:14. Shortly after Zechariah’s opening message of repentance Haggai will deliver his 3rd and then, four days later his last recorded message.
The book of Zechariah is broken into two major parts. Chapters 1-8 being delivered when the prophet was a young man (2:4), over approx. a 2 year period. And chapters 9-14 being delivered some time later in his life.
IV. THE AUTHOR
The name Zechariah was a common name in Old Testament times. It means the Lord remembers.
Like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, he was of priestly descent. His father (Berekiah) probably died while Zechariah was small since he is also referred to as the son of Iddo, his grandfather who possibly adopted him. Zechariah succeeded his grandfather priest who returned when Zerub-ba-bel, the grandson of king Jehoiachin (Ezra 3:2) led the remnant back to Judea (Neh 12:1 & 4).
Zechariah 2:4 indicates that he was a "young man" (Naar) when he was called to prophetic office. Thus, he would have grown up amidst the time of apathy, indifference and neglect of spiritual priorities which characterized the period of return between 537 to 520 BC in Jerusalem.
V. CONTENT
This book has been appraised as the most messianic, the most apocalyptic and eschatological of all the writings in the Old Testament (I.S.B. Encl. p 3136). The book abounds with far reaching predictive prophecies to the person, work, and future glory of the Coming One. Messianic flashes occur everywhere with at least eight major predictions of the Messiah (3:8; 6:12, 13; 11:4-11; 13:7; 11:12, 13; 12:10; 14:4). The whole gamut of events clusters around the Messiah’s rejection at His first coming and His acceptance at His second coming. Their effect upon Israel and the nations is unfolded with fullness and clarity. Nowhere else in the Old Testament is there such a concentrated and rich revelation of messianic prophecy. The book is the apocalypse of the Old Testament. The scope and profoundness of its visions are striking (Unger p.17).
Zechariah may be divided into four major divisions:
I. 1:1-6 The Call to Repentance
II. 1:7-6:15 Eight Visions with Climax
III.. 7:1-8:23 Fasting Becomes Feasting
IV. 9:1-14:21 Messianic Messages
VI. A THEME AND PURPOSES OF ZECHARIAH
Haggai and Zechariah came to call a self-centered people back to the worship of God. Haggai’s purpose was to call for national repentance and for the Jews to return to the rebuilding of the temple. The theme of Haggai’s message is that the temple will be finished and that God will make it glorious and that Israel shall be glorious but Israel’s foes shall be cast down.
Zechariah called for the establishment of spiritual priorities in the life of the returning community. The priests were lax in their attitude and duties and the people were indifferent to the claims of the covenant relationship upon their lives and this accompanied a disregard for the law. Zechariah saw that submission, repentance, and cleansing from sin must precede the outpouring of Divine blessing. Zechariah’s theme was that spiritual renewal among the people would precede the Messianic restoration. The book teaches the sovereignty of God over mean and nation--past, present and future. What a message of hope against a hopeless economic and spiritual situation into which Israel had fallen.
VII. REASONS TO STUDY ZECHARIAH TODAY
First, because of the clear and striking manner in which it testifies of our Lord, Jesus Christ concerning His personage; divine, yet human, His mission, His suffering and the glory that will follow.
Secondly, because of the light it shines on the events of the last times preceding the great and terrible "Day of the Lord" which is continually drawing closer.
VIII. CONCLUSION
In this next to the last prophet before over 400 years of prophetic silence, we behold the Divinely revealed foretelling in all its flaming glory as proof that prophecy did not sink because of disuse, but was withdrawn according to the deliberate purpose of the Lord. It seems eminently proper to have prophecy stop in a mighty blaze of glory still as strong at its removal as it had been at its birth.
The prophecy of Zechariah is profoundly precious to the Christian because of its unique messianic emphasis and its panoramic unfolding of the events connected with the first and especially the second advent which it sees as the final redemption of this world resulting in the millennial reign of Christ in connection with the restoration of Israel, The God ruled ones.
