SCRIPTURE: ZECHARIAH 1
INTRODUCTION:
Zechariah means “God remembers”. Zechariah warned the people to listen to God’s message through the prophets. He ministered with Haggai as the Jewish remnant started to rebuild the temple. God gave Zechariah 8 visions covering Judah and Jerusalem, the nation’s future and fasting. He offered encouragement to the builders when they were about to give up. He comforted them by telling them that God had a long range plan for Israel. He told the people to obey God by acting fairly and mercifully to one another. He told of coming of Messiah who will rescue His people, judge the world and reign over the earth. He gave detailed Messianic references that were fulfilled in the life of Jesus Christ.
A CALL TO RETURN TO THE LORD (vs. 1-6)
The Lord said: “Return to me and I will return to you. Turn from your evil ways and practices.” (vs. 3-4) Then the people repented.
THE MAN AMONG THE MYRTLE TREES (vs. 7-17)
Zechariah saw a vision of a man riding a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle tress in a ravine. Behind him were red, brown and white horses. Then Zechariah asked: “Who are these?” He answered: “They are the ones the Lord had sent to go through the earth.” The angel of the Lord asked the Lord Almighty: ‘How long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah, which you been angry for 70 years? So the Lord Spoke comforting words to the angel saying: “I will return to Jerusalem with mercy and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem. My town will again overflow with prosperity and the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem. (vs. 16-17)
FOUR HORNS AND FOUR CRAFTS MEN (vs. 18-20)
Zechariah looked up and saw 4 horns which represents horns that were scattered in Judah, Israel and Jerusalem. The 4 craftsmen represents men who came to terrify and throw the horns who came to scatter the people of Judah.
THOUGHT:
God’s anger was directed against the following victims:
- The previous generation – Their forefathers would not listen to God’s call for repentance.
- The present generations – They felt God’s anger and recognize their sins.
- The complacent nations – Foreign nations were cruel to Israel, so God would break their power.
God’s people had lived for 70 years during their captivity in Babylon. But now, God spoke words of comfort and assurance. If you feel wounded and crushed by the events of your life, turn to God so that he can heal and comfort you.
Although God use pagan nations to punish His people, but when the nations went beyond his plans by trying to destroy Israel, He intervened.