Zechariah

Zechariah

Finding the Context:

The prophet Zechariah wrote this book to the returned exiles in the land of Israel (1:1,7; Ezra 5:1,2). The exiles would have felt vulnerable and hopeless at this time seeing as a small remnant had returned (8:6). Zechariah was written to encourage them and give them hope. God wanted His people to know that He was going to bless and restore them and was giving them hope once again (8:14,15). You see a constant theme of restoration through out this book as God affirms several times that He is going to restore and bless His people (1:14-17; 2:3-13; 8; 9:9-17;10:4-12; 12-14). You also see several visions are given to Zechariah (1:8-11,18-21; 2:1-6:15).

Theme Tracing:

1.     What does this book show about the character and nature of God?

Zechariah reveals that God is truly gracious. Even after His people have sinned over and over, He is still longing to restore them (1:12-17). You see that He wants to bless Zerubbabel who started building the temple and then stopped for a while. Once Zerubbabel started walking in obedience again, God blesses Him with His Spirit and says that even a mountain won’t stand in his way (4:6,7). God is not someone who has to be begged and forced into doing good. He loves to do good and be gracious because He loves His people just as He loved Jerusalem (1:14; 8:2).

2.     What does this book show about God’s redemptive plan for mankind?

You see multiple prophecies regarding the coming Messiah in the book of Zechariah. He is mentioned as the Branch. Zechariah also says that He will come riding on a colt and will be pierced (3:8; 6:12,13; 9:9; 12:10). Not only was God giving encouragement regarding the present situations in Jerusalem, He also was prophesying ultimate future hope through the Messiah.

Application Questions:

1.     Personal Application

I like how God tells Jeshua, the high priest, all the priests and all Israel that they are a symbol among the nations. You see God working in His people and in all Israel to demonstrate how He wants to work in the other nations (3:8; 8:13). It doesn’t matter if you are an entire nation or merely an individual, God loves using the lives His people as symbols of things that He wants to do on a larger scale. It excites me that God longs to do that in my life. He desires to use my life as a symbol of His love and goodness in the world. I am so thankful that His dreams for me are bigger than I can even imagine. He is so astounding.