Zechariah 1
September 29, 2007
1 In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo: 2 ”The Lord was very angry with your forefathers. 3 Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty. 4 Do not be like your forefathers, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the Lord. 5 Where are your forefathers now? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6 But did not my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your forefathers? “Then they repented and said, ‘The Lord Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to do.’”
7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo. 8 During the night I had a vision–and there before me was a man riding a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, brown and white horses. 9 I asked, “What are these, my lord?” The angel who was talking with me answered, “I will show you what they are.” 10 Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the Lord has sent to go throughout the earth.” 11 And they reported to the angel of the Lord, who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have gone throughout the earth and found the whole world at rest and in peace.” 12 Then the angel of the Lord said, “Lord Almighty, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah, which you have been angry with these seventy years?” 13 So the Lord spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me. 14 Then the angel who was speaking to me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, 15 but I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they added to the calamity.’ 16 ”Therefore, this is what the Lord says: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 17 ”Proclaim further: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘My towns will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.’”
18 Then I looked up–and there before me were four horns! 19 I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these?” He answered me, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.” 20 Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen. 21 I asked, “What are these coming to do?” He answered, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise his head, but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter its people.”
this alot to take in and its late so I will have to come back tomoorow when I am not so tired but one thing stuck out right away….‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. ….God is straight to the point…I love that! He pulls no punches…I will add more tomorrow
some background I found….the meaning of Zechariah’s name is “the Lord has remembered”
In the opening vereses Zechariah warns those who have started rebuilding the temple that they need to listen to God’s message through the prophets and maintain that relationship with Him. Zechariah’s night visions assures the builders that God has a long range plan for Israel.
In verses 1-4 the Lord seems to be sending a message that if the people will go back to obeying Him,then He will return to them…..same as Ezekiel 33:11 “As I live, says the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel”.
To me, it seems like in the following verses, in Zechariah’s visions he is being told that God had been angry and jealous with the people but their actions ( or maybe even lack of correct action) had angered Him even more. God says he will show compassion (kindness and mercy) to Jerusalem, that His house will be built there. His cities will be great again! Then Zechariah saw the 4 horns which represented power. He then saw 4 workmen–one to beat down each of the horns.
I really am not sure if I interpreted this one right, I have read and reread and looked up some things online…anyone else care to elaborate for me?
Like Daniel, God spoke to Zechariah in a dream. I am sure other books of the Bible has parts where God talks to them but I just kind of wanted to state that. As of right now, I cant really tell if Zechariah was as strong of a believer in Christ as Daniel was, but it does seem that he believed, which is off to a start.
But the only thing that really caught my eye was Verse 4:
Do not be like your forefathers, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the Lord.
It says to turn from your evil ways and your evil practices, which a lot of us can relate to. If we practice ungodly practices, actions, personalities, then we are gonna become those ungodly people. But, if we practice those godly practices, actions, and personalities, then we are gonna become those godly people. Which would you rather be? Well, thats your choice. But if you decide to practice those godly characters then god will put blessings upon your life, but if you decide to practice those ungodly chracters then god will not put blessings on your life and you will have those practices of evilness, wickness, and all those ungodly character traits that Satan wants you to be, and not what God wants you to be. Its your decision to pick who you worship and praise, but its also your choice to have eternal life with Christ in Heaven or burn with Satan in hell for eternity. Its your choice, you pick.
Good job GP on your research and study.
God definetely uses His relationship with Israel to show that He is a God of purpose and order. His numerical choices (four horsemen so one can go to each corner of the earth and each color also represents a purpose) are always by design and reveal the deeper meanings of prophecy. God shows that His compassion always returns to Israel (which represents HIs love or His bride [us]) but He can not and will not tolerate their (or our) sin.
He also designed and created the horns which scattered or punished Israel which verifies that He will not tolerate sin and will punish and correct to make us into the image of the one we claim as Saviour.
In the opening scriptures God is letting the people know they need to come back to him and he shows us what happened to those that didnt listen…I immediately thought this thought “LISTEN TO THOSE WHO ARE OLDER”…you maybe thinking WHAT…well here is my point, these people recognized the errors of their forefathers way and learned from them and repented…learn from the errors of your leaders and parents…we made mistakes and because of God’s grace we were able to make our relationship with God better and because our God is a GOd that is able to take all things and work them for the good for those that are called according to his purpose…God uses the past failures of others to work Good…God is able to use those who are older and more mature in their relationship with God to teach you from their past failures and mistakes….