An Old Testament prophetic book that portrays the coming glory of the MESSIAH. Prophet Zechariah describe as "the most Messianic of all the Old Testament books" describe by many scholars, academic, intellectual person as "the most Messianic of all the Old Testament books" because it contains many specific references to the Messiah in its brief 14 chapters. The 14 chapters of Zechariah fall naturally into two important chapters, that is, the prophet's encouragement to the people to finish the work of rebuilding the Temple, and in chapters 9 to 14, Zechariah's picture of Israel's glorious future and the coming of the Messiah.
In the first section, Zechariah introduces himself as God's prophet and calls the people to repent and turn from their wicked and evil ways. Part of their sin was their failure to finish the work of rebuilding the Temple after returning from the Captivity in Babylon. In a series of eight symbolic night visions that came to the prophet. Zechariah encourages the people to finish this important task. These visions are followed by a coronation scene. In which a high priest named Joshua is crowned as priest and king, symbolizing the Messiah who is to come. This is considered one of the classic Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament.
- A summons to conversion - In the second year of Darius, in the eighth month, the word of Yahweh was addressed to the prophet Zechariah (son of Berechiah), son of Iddo, as follows, Cry out to the remnant of this people and say to them, "Yahweh Sabaoth says this: Return to me, and I will return to you, says Yahweh Sabaoth. Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the prophets in the past cried: Yahweh Sabaoth says this: Turn back from your wicked and evil ways and deeds. But - it is Yahweh who speaks - they would not listen and pay attention to me. Where are your ancestors now? Are those prophets still alive? Did not my words and my orders, with which I charged my servants the prophets, overtake your ancestors? Yahweh was stirred to anger against your ancestors." This reduced them to such confusion that they said, 'Yahweh Sabaoth has treated us as he resolved to do, and as our ways and deeds deserved.' - Zechariah 1:1-6b -
In Chapters 7 and 8 also continue another important element of the Messianic hope: the One to come will reign in justice from Zion, the city of Jerusalem. - Zechariah 8:3; 15-16 -
The second major section of Zechariah's book: chapters 9 to 14, contains God's promises for the new age to come. Chapter 9 has a remarkable description of the manner in which the ruling Messiah will enter the city of Jerusalem: "Behold, your King is coming to you: He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. - Zechariah 9:9 - These were the words used by Saint Matthew to describe Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem about 400 years after Zechariah, made this startling prediction - Matthew 21:5; Mark 11:-7-10 -
Other promises for the future in this section of the book include the restoration of the nation of Israel (Chapter 10) and Jerusalem's deliverance from her enemies (Chapter 12) as well as her purification as the holy city (Chapter 13). Like the Book of Revelation, Zechariah closes on the theme of the universal reign of God. All nations will come to worship Him as He extends His rule throughout the world (Chapter 14).
Most conservative scholars agree that the entire Book of Zechariah was written by the prophet of that name, who identifies himself in the book's introduction as "the son of Berechiah" - (1:1) But some scholars insist the second major section of the book, Chapter 9 to 14, was written by an unknown author. These scholars believe this section was added to the book about 30 or 40 years after Zechariah the prophet wrote Chapters 1 to 8.
It is true that these two sections of the Book have their own unique characteristics. In the first section Zechariah encourages the people to finish the Temple, while in the second section he is more concerned about the glorious age of the future. The language and style of these two sections of Zechariah are also quite different. And the prophecies in these two sections seem to be in different times.
Chapter 1 to 8, Zechariah tells us, were delivered as prophecies "in the eighth months of the second years of Darius" - 1:11 - and "in the fourth year of king Darius" - 7:1 - These references to Darius I of Persia (ruled 521-486 B. C.) But chapters 9-14 contain a reference to Greece (9:13), probably indicating it was written after 480 B.C., when the balance of world power was shifting from the Persians to the Greeks. How can these major differences between these two sections of the book explained unless we accept the theory that they were written by two different people?
One possible explanation is that Zechariah was a young man when he delivered his prophecies in the first section of the book. The book itself contains a clue that this may have been the case. In one of his visions, two angels speak to one another about the prophet, referring to him as "this young man" (2:4). Thus it is quite possible that Zechariah could have encouraged the Jewish captives in Jerusalem in the early part of his ministry and could have delivered the messages about the future, contained in the second section of the book, during his final years as a prophet.
After all the evidence is examined, there is no convincing reason to dispute the traditional view that Zechariah the prophet wrote the entire book that bears his name. These prophecies were first delivered and then reduced to writing over a period of about 45 years - from 520 to 475 B.C.
As for the prophet himself, very little is known about him beyond the few facts he reveals in his book. He was a descendant, perhaps the grandson of Iddo the priest (1:1) - one of the family leaders who returned from the Captivity in Babylon - Nehemiah 12:16 - This means that Zechariah probably was a priest as well as a prophet - an unusual circumstance because most of the prophets of Israel spoke out against the priestly class. Since he was a young man when he began to prophesy in 520 B. C., Zechariah was probably born in Babylon while the Jewish people were in captivity. He probably returned with his family with the first wave of captives who reached Jerusalem under Zerubbabel, that is, about 536 B.C.
The setting at the beginning of the Book is the same as the setting of the Book of Haggai. The prophet Haggai spoke directly to the issue of the rebuilding of the Temple, encouraging those whose returned from captivity in Babylon to finish the task. Zechariah spoke to that issue as well, according to the Book of Ezra 5:1. But Zechariah wished to bring about a complete spiritual renewal through faith, hope and love in God. He spoke about the nature of God love and of the hope which God promised to those who were faithful to Him.
The second portion of Zechariah was written in the period between the times of the prophets Haggai (520 B.C.) and Malachi (450 B.C.) The Persian empire was ruled by two great kings during these years, Darius 1 (552-486 B.C.) and Xerxes 1 (585-465 B.C.) This was a period when the Jewish people in Jerusalem were settled in their new land with a walled city and their beloved Temple. But they were unhappy and dissatisfied. Some of the people had expected that Zerubbabel, governor of Jerusalem, might be the Messiah, but this had proven to be false. The people needed a new word concerning God's future for them. This message from God was given in a most dramatic fashion by the great prophet Zechariah.
One of the greatest contribution of the Book of Zechariah is the merger of the best from the priestly and prophetic elements in Israel's history. Zechariah realized the need for both these elements in an authentic faith. He called the people to repent and turn from their sins. He also realized that the Temple and religious ritual played an important role in keeping the people close to God. He brought these elements together in his own ministry, Zechariah helped prepare the way for the Christian community's understanding of Christ as both priest and prophet.
Zechariah is also noted for his development of an apocalyptic-prophetic style - highly symbolized and visionary language concerning the events of the end-time. In this, his writing resembles the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation. The vision of lampstands and olive trees, horsemen and chariots, measuring lines and horns place him and these other two books in a class by themselves. Zechariah also has a great deal to say about the concept of God as warrior. While this was a well-established image among scriptural/biblical writers, Zechariah ties this idea to the concept of the Day of the Lord (cf. Joel chapter 2) His description of the return of Christ to earth as the great Warrior in the Day of the Lord - 14:1-9 - is one of the most stirring prophecies of the Old Testament.
On that day, according to Zechariah, Christ Jesus will place His feet on the Mount of Olives, causing violent changes and throughout the land (14:3-4). The day will be changed to darkness and the darkness to light (14:5-8). The entire world will worship Him as the Lord spreads His rule as King "over all the earth" - 14:9 -
Zechariah 12:10 is a remarkable verse that speaks of the response of the nation of Israel to Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. It describes a day in the future when the Jewish people (the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem) will recognise the significance of the death of Jesus. This recognition will lead to mourning, repentance and salvation (cf. Romans 11:25-27)
But the most startling thing about this verse is the phrase: "Then they will look on Me whom they have pierced." In speaking through the prophet Zechariah, the Lord Jesus identifies Himself as the one who will be pierced. Along with Psalms 22 and Isaiah 53: these words are a wonder of inspiration as they describe the result of Jesus' death as well as the manner in which He died to deliver us from our sins. Amen! Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ! Thank be to God! Alleluia!
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Wishing you, 'Happy Reading', and may God, the Father, the Son of the living God, Jesus Christ, fills your heart, mind, thoughts, and grants you: The Holy Spirit, that is, Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Counsel, Piety, Fortitude, Fear of the Lord, and also His fruits of the Holy Spirit, that is, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Trustfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. Amen! God blessing be upon you!
Why do you call Me, "Lord, Lord" and not do what I say?' "Everyone who comes to Me and listens to My words and acts on them - I will show you what he/she is like. He/She is like a man/woman who when he/she built his/her house dug, deep, and laid the foundations on rock; when the river was in flood it bore down on that house but could not shake it, it was so well built. But the one who listens and does nothing is like the man/woman who built his/her house on soil, with no foundations: as soon as the river bore down on it, it collapsed; and what a ruin that house became!" - Luke 6:46-49 -
If we live by the truth and in love, we shall grow in all ways into Christ Jesus, who is the head by whom the whole body is fitted and joined together, every joint adding its own strength, for each separate part to work according to it function. So the body grows until it has built itself up, in love." - Ephesians 4:15-16 -
I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you now. But when the spirit of truth comes, he will lead you to the complete truth, since he will not be speaking as from himself, but will say only what he has learnt; and he will tell you of the things to come. He/She will glorify me, since all he/she tells you will be taken from what is mine. Everything the Father has is mine; that is why I said: all he/she tells you will be taken from what is mine." - John 16:12-15 -
