Sunday, March 23 – Zechariah 1, 2

1. What assurance did the Lord give to the returnees from captivity about Jerusalem and the temple? Zechariah 1:14-16

2. How did the Lord assure Judah of His protection? Zechariah 2:3-5

3. How did the Lord express his sensitivity to the suffering of His people? Zechariah 2:8

4. When will Zechariah 2:10-12 finally be fulfilled? Revelation 21:3-5

Zechariah is both prophetic, a little puzzling, and yet profound. In school, we had to learn the three “Rs”: reading, ‘Rriting, and ‘Rithmetic.

Zechariah also has three “Rs”: Repent, Return, and Remember. The word Zechariah means “the Lord Remembers.”

God’s people were returning from 70 years of captivity in Babylon to Jerusalem. Their mission was to rebuild the Temple of the Lord, and they did so under extreme difficulty and opposition from their enemies, especially the Samaritans. Here, Zechariah, through several visions, is commissioned to bring them encouraging prophetic words so they would know that God was still with them and that he would do exactly what he said He would do if they were faithful to Him.

Chapter 1:1-6 starts with a call to repentance, a severe warning to not be like their forefathers, but to return to the true God and obedience to His commandments.

Then, in verses 7-11, Zechariah presents his first of eight visions, the vision of the Horses. These are the angelic watchers, and they are about to give a full report to the Lord, and that report is not a positive one. They announce that God’s plans and purposes have come to a halt, and the heathen nations surrounding them are at ease. God’s people are still suffering in captivity, and the command to rebuild the Temple may be reversed. But this will not last, for in verses 12-17 the Lord speaks with “good and comforting words” showing that His mercy and purpose for His people will be fulfilled, His temple will be rebuilt, and prosperity will return to Jerusalem, and His people will be God’s agency for the salvation of all people. And that did happen. God’s true church arose from all He had established back then, just as He had promised. “The Lord will again comfort Zion and will again choose Jerusalem.” Vs. 17, for He is jealous for Zion, with a great jealousy. Vs. 14.

He then gives further assurance through the second vision, verses 18-21, the vision of the Horns, that all who scattered God’s people will be dealt with and scattered themselves. One of those horns was Babylon, whom God was very angry with because of their evil intent” Vs. 15. For he saw four carpenters and a man with a measuring line. They were the agencies and people that God used to restore His people and His house of worship and defeat the enemies of God.

Chapter 2:1-5 brings further encouragement, for the Lord said, “Jerusalem will be again inhabited without walls, for the Lord will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.” And finally, verses 6-13 say, “Flee from the land of the North to Zion, escape you who dwell with the daughters of Babylon” “for he who touches you touches the apple of my eye.” “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold I am coming, and I will dwell in your midst says the Lord.”

These words are for us, for He, Jesus, is coming, and He will take possession and again choose Jerusalem, the New Jerusalem. Through encouraging words, God calls us back to the basics, the 3 Rs”. Just like the name Zachariah means, God remembers and wants us to Remember Him, to Return to Him, and to Repent. And there is a fourth R, to Rejoice! Be in awe and reverence to His name with praise and thanksgiving, for he will punish the wicked and save His people! “Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for He is aroused from His holy habitation.” Amen!