https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_106IfO6Kc0
set: after the return of the exile from Babylon to Jerusalem
last week we talked about Haggai
* challenged the people to rebuild the temple, which would help bring the New Jerusalem through their faithfulness
Summary:
* Intro 1:1-5
* Zechariah challenges the people to turn back to God (to not be like their ancestors who walked away from God)
* the people seem to respond well and repent
* Zechariah’s dreams/visions 1:7-6
* God spoke to him through dreams
* Symmetrical
* 1st 1:8-17 and last (8th) 6:1-8
* both have horsemen -patrol (symbolic of God’s watch over the nations)
* report that the world is at peace
* leaves the question: the 70 year exile period is almost over, is NOW the time for the Messianic kingdom? (God leaves this question unanswered_
* 2nd and 7th paired
* both reflect on Israels past sin that lead up to the exile
* 2nd vision 1:18-21
* horns- symbolize the nations (Assyria and Babylon) that attacked and scattered Israel
* but then these horns themselves are then scattered by a group of blacksmiths (an image for Persia)
* 7th dream 5:5-11Woman in a basket
* she is a symbol of the centuries of Israel's covenant rebellion
* she is then carried off to Babylon by other women who are flying with stork wings (weird)
* 3rd and 6th paired (rebuilding of a New Jerusalem)
* 3rd dream 2:1-13
* man is measuring the city (an image of God’s promise that Jerusalem will be rebuilt and become a beacon to the nations, who will join God’s people in worship)
* 6th dream 5:1-4 The flying scroll
* flies around the new Jerusalem, punishing thieves and lies
* idea that the new Jerualsem is a place that is purified from sin by the scriptures
* 4th and 5th paired (about the two key leaders from the returned exiles)
* 4th Joshua, the high priest 3:1-10
* Joshua symbolically wearing Israels sin in the form of dirty rags
* those are taken off and he is given new clothes
* symbol of God’s grace and forgiveness
* an angel the comes and tells Joshua “if you are faithful to God, you will lead his people…and become a symbol of the future messianic king” 3:7-8
* 5th 4:1-14 Zerubbabel, royal heir of David
* two olive trees that supply oil to an elaborate gold lamp (symbol of God’s watchful eye over his people)
* the two trees symbolize the two anointed leaders (Joshua and Zerubbabel)
* God says, “success will not come to this temple only IF it is begin rebuilt because they are being forced to, it will only have success if they are dependent on God’s spirit as they rebuild
* Bonus vision 6:9-15 has similar theme to the 4th and 5th visions
* Joshua, the high priest is given a crown
* presented as a symbol of the future messiah (who will also be a priest over God’s kingdom)
* All these visions will come true ONLY IF this generation is faithful to God and obeys his covenant
* the coming of the Messianic Kingdom is condition on his people being faithful
* Conclusion of the dreams 7-8
* challenge from Zechariah
* group of Isrealites who have been mourning the destruction of the previous temple for ~70 years come
* ask: is God’s kingdom coming soon
* Zechariah reminds them how their ancestors rejected God’s call through the prophets (led to exile)
* seems to revers their question by making them think about this “will you become the people who are ready to participate in God’s kingdom” (only IF you are faithful to the covenant)
* Final section is very different (poems and images about the future messianic kingdom)
* 9-11
* 9-10 describe the humble king riding a donkey into the new jerusalem to establish God’s kingdom over the nations
* 11- king symbolized as a shepherd over the flock of Israel, but then he is rejected (by own people, then by their leaders)
* poses the question: will this rejection last forever? answered in sections 12-14 (NO!)
* 12-14 depict the new jerusalem as a place where God’s justice finally confronts evil among the nations
* God will also confront rebellion within the hearts of his own people (12:10)
* New Jerusalem as a gathering point for all the nations (a place of healing for all nations
the future depicted in the second half will only happen when the people are faithful as said in the first half
Where is Jesus? Jesus is the messianic king that is to come if the people choose to be faithful
What can we get from this? God will do amazing things when we are faithful to him.
In this book we see yet again God at work in history, guiding his people towards his purpose
I’m sure many of you are asking why. "Why should I be faithful to God when I know so many people who are well off without him”
The Babylonians did not follow God, but they took over the Israelites land, only to be taken over by the Persian empire.
I’m not saying this to say that all those who do not follow God will have a terrible downfall, but it was a part of God’s plan because His people were not faithful to him so he used these other people and allowed them to succeed in order to bring his people back to him
God does many weird things that we don’t always understand, or that we won’t understand until it has passed. This is when faith is required. We need to have faith that if we are faithful to God, he will bless us for it, just like he blessed the Israelites when they were faithful to him.
Encouragement this week: how can you be faithful to God?
* do what he instructs
* honor/respect your parents (and authority figures)
* pray (for others, our leaders, self)
* seek him
* love others, put the needs of others before your own
* spend more time with him, study his word
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