Here is my sermon on Zechariah. It’s part 1 because good grief this thing is already 45 minutes long and I only covered the first 3 chapters!
More Zechariah to come in the next few weeks. Enjoy.
I. Introduction to Zechariah
- A. Biblical Context: Zechariah is one of the last three prophets of the Old Testament, along with Haggai and Malachi.
- B. Historical Setting:
- The sermon is set in the second year of King Darius.
- Zechariah is the grandson of Iddo, a priest who returned to Jerusalem with Nehemiah and Ezra after the 70-year Babylonian exile. This is roughly 80 years after their return.
- C. State of Jerusalem:
- The city, temple, and homes are in ruins from war and looting.
- The people have returned physically but have fallen back into the same sins (idol worship, oppressing the poor) that led to their exile.
II. Zechariah’s Message: A Call to Return (Chapters 1-3)
- A. The Core Plea: The main message from God is, “Return to me… and I will return to you.” This is a call for a spiritual and heartfelt return, not just a physical one.
- B. Warning and Hope:
- Warning: The people must change their ways to avoid a worse fate. They are reminded that their ancestors ignored the prophets, who were often persecuted.
- Hope: The last part of Zechariah offers a promise of what will happen when the people truly return to God.
- C. God’s Promise of Restoration:
- God declares He is “exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion.”
- He is angry with the nations (like Babylon) that went too far in punishing Israel.
- He promises to return to Jerusalem with mercy, ensuring the temple will be rebuilt and the city will “overflow with prosperity.”
III. The Visions of Zechariah
- A. Vision 1: The Horses
- Description: Zechariah sees different colored horses sent to patrol the earth.
- Meaning: They report that the earth is “at rest,” signifying that God is in complete control, even if Jerusalem is in shambles.
- God’s Response: When Zechariah despairs, God answers with “gracious and comforting words.”
- B. Vision 2: The Four Horns and Four Craftsmen
- The Horns: Represent all the nations of the world that scattered the people of Israel.
- The Craftsmen: Symbolize a force sent by God to punish those nations for their excessive cruelty.
- C. Vision 3: The Man with the Measuring Line
- Description: A man measures Jerusalem.
- Meaning: Jerusalem will become so prosperous and populated that it will not need physical walls for protection.
- God’s Protection: God Himself will be a “wall of fire” around the city, and His glory will be in its midst. This is a call for all exiles to return, as whoever harms them “touches the apple of his eye.”
- D. Vision 4: Joshua the High Priest
- The Scene: Joshua, the high priest, stands before God in filthy garments, with Satan accusing him.
- The Cleansing: God rebukes Satan and calls Joshua a “brand plucked from the fire.” He commands that Joshua’s filthy clothes (representing sin/iniquity) be replaced with clean ones.
- The Messianic Prophecy:
- God promises to bring His servant, the “Branch” (interpreted as Jesus).
- He speaks of a single, perfect stone with seven eyes, symbolizing omniscience.
- Through this, God will “remove the iniquity of this land in a single day.”
- New Testament Connection (Hebrews 10): This single-day removal of sin is fulfilled by Jesus Christ’s one-time sacrifice, which perfects God’s people for all time.
- The Final Promise: A future of immense peace and prosperity, where everyone will invite their neighbor to sit “under his vine and under his fig tree.”
