He is Zealous for Zion!

These next couple of weeks we will be spending time in the Book of Zechariah. This book is a challenge and only in part because the "Z" on my keyboard is broken. Zechariah is the longest of the Minor Prophets and with that also comes the notoriety of being one of the most obscure and difficult books in the Old Testament to understand. Zechariah was preaching at the same time as Haggai with the purpose of encouraging the people to rebuild the temple.

Zechariah however, has a completely different feel to it from Haggai. It is Apocalyptic in nature; filled with symbolic visions much like Ezekiel and Daniel. These visions also lend the book to be very messianic in nature similar to Isaiah. This complexity leads to us spending more time here than we have on the other Minor Prophets. We must approach Zechariah with humility and ask God to help us to understand the contextual meaning of the book, or what it meant for those who were hearing of these visions first hand. There is also a message for us in those very same lines which is why we search its pages today.

The basic message and theme of the book are clear enough: "I am extremely zealous for Jerusalem and Zion" (Zech. 1:14).

When you place Zechariah and Haggai side by side you find that Zech's visions came in between Haggai's second and third prophecies or while the temple was being rebuilt. Haggai had led the people through a period of repentance prior to the start of the work (Haggai 1:12-15). So as Zechariah shares his visions with the people we are reminded that repentance is not just a one-time act.

Following this first message, three months later Zechariah has a series of eight visions in one night. The first four of which we will cover this Sunday and the next four next week. First, we see the rider and the horses, Zechariah sees a man riding on a red horse among Myrtle trees in a hollow, followed by red, sorrel, and white horses (Zech 1:7-9). The horses are further explained as sent by the Lord to patrol the earth to report back to the Lord. Their report to the Angel of the Lord is that“we have patrolled the earth, and right now the whole earth is calm and quiet.” Then "Angel of the Lord," asks how long will God not show mercy on Jerusalem and Judah (Zech 1:12). The Lord's response is comforting words Zechariah is told to proclaim: (Zech 1:13-17)

"The Lord replied with kind and comforting words to the angel who was speaking with me.

14 So the angel who was speaking with me said, “Proclaim: The Lord of Hosts says: I am extremely jealous for Jerusalem and Zion. 15 I am fiercely angry with the nations that are at ease, for I was a little angry, but they made it worse. 16 Therefore, this is what the Lord says: In mercy, I have returned to Jerusalem; My house will be rebuilt within it”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts—“and a measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.

17 “Proclaim further: This is what the Lord of Hosts says: My cities will again overflow with prosperity; the Lord will once more comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.”


Praise the Lord for His zeal for His people! He is just as zealous for you and I as He is in these verses for Jerusalem and for Zion!

As the explanation continues, however, we see that, while may seem the nations are "at ease" their judgment is forthcoming and God will show mercy to Jerusalem. This vision and the next both confirm the promise made to Zerubbabel by Haggai in Haggai 2:20-22.

"20 The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: 21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah: I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. 22 I will overturn royal thrones and destroy the power of the Gentile kingdoms. I will overturn chariots and their riders. Horses and their riders will fall, each by his brother’s sword."

The other three visions, the four horns and four craftsmen, the man with the measuring line, and Joshua the High Priest each follow suit, with the goal to stir up the people to complete the temple, and exhorting them to repentance.

As we approach these visions (and the next four) it would be easy for us to simply skim them and point to Christ as the final fulfillment but as with all scripture, we must be cautious in seeking to understand these visions. Unless we have an inspired interpretation provided in the New Testament we should use caution and humility when interpreting them outside their original context!

Hope this helps to lay a foundation for you for this next miniseries through the book of Zechariah!

See ya Sunday!