The Written Prophecy of Zechariah

Quote:
By H. A. (Buster) Dobbs
I. Introduction.
A. The man.
1. The name Zechariah was common among the Jews. It means
"the Lord remembers."
2. Zachariah was the son of Berechiah and the grandson of
Iddo, who was one of the priests who came back to
Jerusalem with Zerubbabel (Neh. 12:4).
3. He was of the priestly office and of the family of Levi.
4. He may have become the chief priest upon the death of his
grandfather, Iddo.
B. The background.
1. Zechariah was contemporary with Haggai.
2. The Jews who returned form Babylonian captivity have ceased
their work of rebuilding the temple and the city.
a. Opposition voiced to the Persian king had resulted in
discouragement and stoppage of work.
b. Sixteen years passed with little interest and no activity.
3. Zechariah and Haggai rebuked the workers and insisted that
they get back to the job of rebuilding the temple and the walls
of the city.
4. The prophecy of Zechariah may be divided into three major
parts; the first part consists of a series of vision; the second
part deals with some Jewish fasts; the third part tells of the
problems of the people and the coming victory of Messiah.
II. The Book.
A. Part one -- a series of eight visions and the crowning of the
high priest (1:1 to 6:15).
1. The word of God came to Zechariah (1:1).
2. The nation warned to not follow the example of their fathers
in turning away from God and disregarding his word (1:2-6).
3. First vision: horsemen in a myrtle grove (1:7-17).
a. The nations were at peace and unaware of a gathering
storm.
b. Jehovah was angry with the nations (probably because of
moral corruption).
c. It is important to finish the house of the Lord because it is
to influence the world for good.
4. Second vision: four horns and four carpenters (1:18-21).
a. The four horns had broken and scattered Judah.
b. The four carpenters were to rebuild the nation.
c. Zechariah and the people were to do the work of
restoring a destroyed nation.
5. Third vision: the man with a measuring line (2:1-13).
a. The man was sent to measure Jerusalem to find out how
long and how wide it is.
b. The measuring-man was told to stop because Jehovah
would be a wall round about Jerusalem and would be its
glory.
c. The scattered people were now being recalled.
d. The peaceful empire (Persians) that had ordered the
stoppage of the work of rebuilding would be punished
(rise of the Grecian empire).
e. The Jews to rejoice because they were again chosen by
Jehovah.
f. Jehovah to inherit Judah.
6. Fourth vision: Joshua, the high priest, the angel of the Lord,
and Satan (3:1-10).
a. Satan rebuked and not allowed to destroy Israel.
b. Joshua clothed in filthy clothes.
c. The filthy rags are taken away and replaced with a clean
turban and clean clothes.
d. Jehovah's servant, the Branch, to come forth.
e. An unpolished stone watched over by the seven eyes of
God.
7. Fifth vision: a gold candlestick (4:1-14).
a. The candlestick has seven lamps.
b. The candlestick has a bowl on its top with pipes leading
the seven lamps.
c. To keep the candlestick burning required no human
agency, but oil was perpetually supplied by olive trees on
either side of the candlestick.
d. This represented the provision of God and the lack of
need for human power and might. God will accomplish his
purpose.
e. Zerubbabel had laid the foundation for the temple and
would live to see the work finished.
f. The olive trees represented two powers that serve the
interest of Jehovah (priestly and kingly interest would
bend to the will of the Lord).
8. Sixth vision: the flying roll (5:1-4).
a. The flying roll represented the moral law of God.
b. The immoral will be punished.
9. Seventh vision: the woman in the ephah (5:5-11).
a. A woman in an ephah with a lead cover.
b. The woman represented wickedness.
c. The woman pushed back into the container and the leaden
lid replaced.
d. Two winged-women lifted up the ephah.
e. The ephah carried to its house in Shinar.
f. Evil to be banished from Israel and take residence in
another place.
10. Eighth vision: four chariots (6:1-8) .
a. Four chariots, drawn by four horses, come from two
brass mountains.
b. The chariots and their horses represented four spirits of
God.
c. They go to the north country and throughout the earth.
d. The spirit of Jehovah was quieted and the north country
had rest.
11. The crowning of the high priest (6:9-15).
a. The crowning of Joshua, the high priest, in the presence of
men from Babylon.
b. The Branch to build the temple of the Lord.
c. Branch is to sit and rule upon his throne.
d. Branch is to be a "priest upon his throne."
e. Branch is to be prophet, priest and king.
f. The crown to be taken from Joshua's head and kept in the
restored temple as a reminder of this prophecy.
g. The temple to be built by those who come from far off
(Babylon).
B. Part two -- answer questions about fasts (7:1 to 8:23).
1. Shall the weeping and fasting of the fifth month be
continued (7:1-3)?
a. The Jews held feasts to commemorate victories and fasts
to remember tragedy.
b. The fast of the fifth month was in memory of the
destruction of the temple.
2. The answer (7:4-14).
a. Fasting is valuable only when those who observe it have
clean hands and a right attitude toward Jehovah.
b. Reminded of their rebellion against God which resulted in
their exile.
3. God's love for the Jews will fill Jerusalem with happiness
(8:1-8) .
4. The people are told to rejoice, for God would give a
conditional blessing (8:9-17).
a. It was God's purpose now to restore the nation and
prosper the people.
b. The fasting of the past would be turned to joyful feasting.
c. Salvation is of the Jews.
C. Part three -- the future for Israel and the nations of earth
(9:1 to 14:21).
1. The nations to be punished but Israel to be safe (9:1-8) .
a. A prophecy of the conquest of Alexander of Macedonian.
b. Israel will be at peace.
2. The coming Prince will bring peace and cut off the battle-
bow (9:9-10).
3. Israel will not suffer from the Greek invasion (9:11-17).
4. Condition of safety is that they seek Jehovah and not idols
(10:1-12).
a. Faithless shepherds (leaders) anger Jehovah.
b. Trusting Jehovah will bring peace and prosperity.
5. Good and bad leaders (11:1-17).
a. Disaster can come if God is not honored.
b. Jehovah hates bad leaders.
c. The blood-sealed covenant will be broken.
d. God's favor sold for 30 pieces of silver.
e. Israel and Judah to be rejected.
6. Judah to be a terror to the enemies of Jehovah (12:1-7).
7. Judah to be blessed (12:8-9).
8. Judah's rejection of God's mercy (12:10-14).
a. They shall look on him whom they pierced.
b. There shall be great mourning.
9. The good shepherd and his treatment (13:1-9).
a. A cleansing fountain.
b. Family feuds will result.
c. The good shepherd will receive wounds in the house of
his friend.
d. A fraction of the people will respond to God's offer of
grace.
10. Jehovah's universal reign (14:1-21).
a. Jerusalem to be plundered once again.
b. A new war for minds and souls will be fought by the one
whose feet will stand upon the mount of Olives.
c. It will be a strange and unique day.
d. Healing waters will flow from Jerusalem.
e. Jehovah will prevail.
f. Those who reject the good shepherd will rot.
g. "Holiness to the Lord" shall be written on the bells of the
horses and upon the cooking pots.
h. The impure will be excluded.
Shain1611

"SANCTIFY THEM THROUGH THY TRUTH: THY WORD IS TRUTH
(John 17:17)

And Jesus Speaking; " He that rejecteth me, receiveth not my words, hath one that, judgeth him:the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in
( John12:48 KJV)