Zechariah 7:1-14

 

Zechariah 7:1-14

Do Not Become Adamant to the Voice of the Logos

Zec 7:1  And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chisleu; 

Zec 7:2  When they had sent unto the house of God Sherezer and Regemmelech, and their men, to pray before the LORD, 

Zec 7:3  And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years? 

Zec 7:4  Then came the word of the LORD of hosts unto me, saying, 

Zec 7:5  Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? 

Zec 7:6  And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves? 

Zec 7:7  Should ye not hear the words which the LORD hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain? 

Zec 7:8  And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying, 

Zec 7:9  Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: 

Zec 7:10  And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. 

Zec 7:11  But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. 

Zec 7:12  Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts. 

Zec 7:13  Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts: 

Zec 7:14  But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate. 

 

           1.     A Delegation Comes to Jerusalem to Inquire About the Observance of Fasts – vs. 1-3*

a.      This is during the time of the construction of the new temple; everyone is hard at work with coordinating a difficult task. – vs. 1*

b.     The approach of the delegation seems innocent enough. They are there to “pray.” The group of men approach in good faith but are filled with insincere intentions. – vs. 2*

c.      The delegation is there to meet with the prophets (like Zechariah and Haggai) and the priests (many of whom are mentioned in the previous chapter) – vs. 3*

                                               i.     The question regarding fasts is certainly not a bad one. Unfortunately, the timing was poor, and judging from the Lord’s answer, one that was intended to cause division and disunity. The fasts they were asking about commemorated the fall of Jerusalem 70 years earlier.

1.     In the 10^th month – commemorated the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem

a.      2 Kings 25:1 

2.     In the 4^th month – commemorated the fall of Jerusalem

a.      2 Kings 25:3-4 

3.     In the 5^th month – The burning of Jerusalem

a.      2 Kings 25:8-9 

4.     In the 7^th month – Commemorated the murder of Gedaliah and the last of Jewish self-governance

a.      2 Kings 25:23-25 

          2.     Beware of Legalism – vs. 4-7*

a.      The Word of Lord returns to speak to Zechariah and give an answer to the delegation – vs. 4*

b.     It is possible that the delegation was harboring secret hopes that their diligence in keeping the fasts would force God to free them from Babylonian rule. Whatever their motivation was, they were not fasting for the sake of true worship. – vs. 5*

                                               i.     Colossians 2:16-18 

c.      Their worship nor their lifestyle was honoring to God – vs. 6*

                                               i.     Isaiah 1:9-14 

d.     Even when an Israelite king ruled all of Palestine they did not honor God – vs. 7*

                                               i.     Isaiah 66:1-2 

        3.     Beware of the Hardening of Your Heart – vs. 8-14*

a.      The Word of the Lord Comes Again to Zechariah to Explain what a broken and contrite heart looks like – vs 8*

                                               i.     A broken and contrite heart loves equal justice for all – vs. 9*

1.     Amos 5:10-14; Micah 6:8; James 2:1 

                                             ii.     A broken and contrite heart puts others first – vs. 10*

1.     Philippians 2:1-4; James 1:27 

                                            iii.     A broken and contrite heart does not pull away from God’s loving touch – vs. 11*

1.     Hebrews 10:38-39 

                                            iv.     A broken and contrite heart is not hardened to the things of the Lord – vs. 12*

1.     Hebrews 3:7-14 

                                              v.     A broken and contrite heart listens to the voice of the Shepherd – vs. 13*

1.     John 10:25-28 

                                            vi.     A broken and contrite heart abides for ever – vs. 14*

1.     1 John 2:17 

Zechariah 6:9-15

 

Zechariah 6:9-15

Jesus is the Messiah!

 

Zec 6:9  And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 

Zec 6:10  Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah; 

Zec 6:11  Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest; 

Zec 6:12  And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: 

Zec 6:13  Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. 

Zec 6:14  And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the LORD. 

Zec 6:15  And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God. 

 

          1.     The Word of the Lord Comes Again to Zechariah – vs. 9

a.      Although Zechariah has seen his last vision, there is still more for Zechariah to understand. So, Jesus comes to speak to him again.

          2.     Zechariah is to Tell the People to Take Up a Collection – vs. 10

a.      Ezra 7:12-16 

          3.     The Collection Was to be of Silver and Gold to Make a Crown for the Coronation of Joshua – vs. 11

a.      This crown was different from the mitre given to Joshua as described in chapter 3

                                               i.     Zechariah 3:5 

         4.     Zechariah is Given Another Message from the Logos (Who is Jesus) for Joshua – vs. 12-15

a.      The Word of the Lord tells Joshua what to look forward to when the Messiah comes

                                               i.     The Messiah will be a man – vs. 12b

1.     Zechariah 1:8 

2.     Philippians 2:6-8 

                                             ii.     The Messiah will be a Branch who seemingly comes from nowhere – vs. 12c

1.     Jeremiah 23:5-6 

                                            iii.     The Messiah will rebuild the temple – vs. 12d-13a

1.     Jesus is going to help Zerubbabel and Joshua rebuild the temple in their time

a.      Ezra 6:14-15 

2.     Jesus rebuilds the temple in His time

a.      John 2:19-22 

3.     Jesus will someday rebuild a temple that will eclipse the glory of the one that Zerubbabel and Joshua built

a.      Haggai 2:7-9 

                                            iv.     The Messiah will bear the Glory of the Father – vs. 13b

1.     John 1:14 

                                              v.     The Messiah will be a King who sits on a literal throne in Jerusalem – vs. 13c

1.     Revelation 20:4-6 

                                            vi.     The Messiah will be the true Priest-King of Jerusalem – vs. 13d

1.     No king of Israel dare assume such a role

a.      2 Chronicles 26:18-19 

2.     Yet David foresaw such a Priest-King

a.      Psalm 110:1-3 

3.     Jesus can only be the rightful Priest-King

a.      Hebrews 6:20 

                                           vii.     There will be permanent peace between the church and state – vs. 13e

1.     The Priest-King will destroy all the rebellious governments on earth

a.      Psalm 110:4-7 

2.     The Church will submit to His headship

a.      Colossians 1:18 

                                         viii.     The crown will be placed in the temple as a symbol of that future reign of the Priest-King – vs. 14

                                            ix.     All the peoples of the earth will come to submit to the Messiah’s reign and assist in the building of the Temple – vs. 15a

1.     The Gentiles will submit to Him

a.      Isaiah 60:10-14 

2.     Israel will finally submit to him

a.      Zechariah 12:8-10 

                                              x.     The rebuilding of the Temple and the establishment of His Kingdom will be proof of the rightful Messiah – vs. 15b

1.     Micah 4:1-3 

                                            xi.     This will happen if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord – vs. 15c

1.     Psalm 132:11-18 

 

 

Seven Qualities of Powerful Preaching

 Please check out Matthew Everhard's wonderful explanation of good preaching...

Zechariah 6:1-8

 

Zechariah 6:1-8

The Lamb Who Was Slain Will Conquer All

Zec 6:1  And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass. 

Zec 6:2  In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; 

Zec 6:3  And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses. 

Zec 6:4  Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? 

Zec 6:5  And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth. 

Zec 6:6  The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country. 

Zec 6:7  And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth. 

Zec 6:8  Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country. 

          1.     Zechariah Receives His Eighth and Final Vision – vs. 1a*

a.     This vision tells us what Jesus is going to do in response to Babylon’s rebellion.

                                               i.     Zechariah 5:11 

                                             ii.     While this rebellion is great no one can stop the power of Jesus’ decretive will

1.     Psalm 66:3-5 

b.     The horses symbolize power and judgment

                                               i.     Job 39:19 

                                             ii.     Zechariah 9:9 

         2.     Zechariah Sees Chariots Coming Out from Between Two Mountains – vs. 1b*

a.     It has been thought by many scholars that the two mountains are Mount Zion or Mount Moriah (Where Jerusalem is) and the other is the Mount of Olives (the place where we are told Jesus ascended into heaven and where He will return to). This would fit with where Zechariah told us to look for Him, in the ravine which is between the two Mountains, the Kidron Valley.

                                               i.     Zechariah 1:8

         3.     The Chariots are Pulled by Powerful Horses – vs. 2-3*

 

a.     The four chariots are the same as the four Spirits, who are also the four beasts who reveal the coming judgement on the earth

                                               i.     Revelation 6:1 

b.     The first chariot is pulled by red horses – vs. 2a*

                                               i.     Revelation 6:3-4 

c.     The second chariot is pulled by black horses – vs. 2b*

                                               i.     Revelation 6:5-6 

d.     The third chariot is pulled by white horses – vs. 3a*

                                               i.     Revelation 6:2 

e.     The fourth chariot pulled by speckled or roan horses – vs. 3b*

                                               i.     Revelation 6:7-8 

f.      The final color that is mentioned here is bay, but it is possible that is a descriptor word that refers to all the horses. Many translations render this word as strong or powerful – vs. 3c*

                                               i.     This description tells us that the judgment will be incredibly powerful, the like of which we have yet to see on the earth

1.     Revelation 6:15-17 

           4.     Zechariah is at a Loss for the Meaning of What He is Seeing and Asks His Angel Interpreter for the Meaning of the Vision – vs. 4*

a.     The Holy Spirit is the one that reveals the truth of God’s word to us

                                               i.     1 John 2:20 

           5.     Zechariah is Told that these are the Four Spirits that Stand Before the Lord of the Whole Earth – vs. 5*

a.     The Lord of the whole earth is the Logos or the Angel of the Lord who has been the subject of all the visions in Zechariah. He is Jesus!

                                               i.     Revelation 5:5-9 

          6.     The Horses, Who Symbolize Judgement, are Released Go Forth into All the World – vs. 6*

a.     Revelation 6:12-14 

          7.     Once Released the Horses are Unstoppable and there is No Corner of the Globe that is Left Unaffected by Their Judgement – vs. 7*

a.     Revelation 19:1-5 

          8.     The Judgement of Babylon (the North Country) Will Be Complete – vs. 8*

a.     The Babylon of Zechariah’s time will eventually be left to become a wasteland

                                               i.     Jeremiah 51:37 

b.     The Babylon that is representative of the rebellion against the Lord Jesus will also be destroyed completely.

                                                              i.      Revelation 14:6-12