Zechariah: The "closing" prophets (Part 2)

As part of the prophets who returned from the exile, Zechariah carried on from where Haggai left. It is interesting to note that Zechariah is a prophet who came from a family of priests. So it is not surprising that as you read through the book, there is emphasis on both proclamation and redemption. 

Unlike Haggai, the message of Zechariah also extends beyond the postexilic community to portray God's eschatological people and rule over the nations through the Messiah. That being said, you will find the genre of Zechariah quite similar to the last book of the New Testament, Revelation where it is apocalyptic in nature with picture, images and visions.

Oh yes, the returning Jews are still building the temple. It is not completed yet. 

Connecting the dots
There are two main parts to Zechariah. The first half (chapters 1-8) has encouragement for the present community while the second half (chapters 9-14) foretells the future of God's kingdom. Connecting these two sections is the pervasive them of the welfare and future of Jerusalem. Throughout the book, look out for the refrain, "and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you." The prophet not only proclaims but affirms God's presence and protection for His people. 

In chapter 6, we read of the crowning not of a king but of a priest - Joshua the high priest. The only other reference to a king-priest figure is that of Melchizedek in Genesis 14. What a wonderful picture of the kingly and priestly picture coming together in Christ as we read Hebrews 4:16 - "Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need." We see here that joining together the royalty of the king and the redeeming grace of the priest. 

Note that we are now at the tail end of Israel's 2,000 year history in the Old Testament under different leaders - the patriarchs (500 years), the prophets (500 years), the kings (500 years), and now the priests starting with Joshua (500 years). It is as if God is showing the different type of leadership to Israel, showing they need a leader who is a prophet, priest, and king. No one role alone is sufficient to lead them.

Activity idea
Consider Zech 2:8, "For thus said the LORD of hosts, after His glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye." The apple of the eye means the most sensitive part of the eye, the iris and if there is any threat to it, the eye lids will immediately shut to keep it safe. Consider how your eyelids automatically shuts over the iris to protect at any threat of impending harm. So, it is with you - you are the iris of God's eye! If anyone touches you, they are actually touching Him.

Christ in Scripture
Zechariah gives many explicit pictures of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, the gospel writers quote chapters 9-14 more than any other biblical source as they seek to explain Christ's suffering and death.

The Messiah is portrayed as the King who comes riding into Jerusalem in Zech 9:9, a passage quoted by Matthew at Jesus' triumphal entry (Matt 21:1-11). The reference to looking "on him whom they have pierced" in Zec 12:10 points to Christ's suffering and death on the cross (John 19:37). The promise of God's dwelling in the midst of His people, along with the Feast of Booths (or Tabernacles) celebrated in Zec 14:16-20, will find its fullest expression in the kingdom of the Messiah when the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven (Rev 21:1-3). Praise be to God!

May your hearts continue to burn within you as Jesus Christ explain the pages of Scripture to you on your road to Emmaus.

We welcome your comments, feedback and questions - please post them in the comments below


References
Sproul, R.C. Ed. (2015). The Reformation Study Bible. Sanford, FL: Reformation Trust.

David Pawson, Unlocking the Bible series.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Genesis 1-24 : God creates and continues to intervene

Image
For this coming week, the READ SCRIPTURE   mobile app will take us through Genesis 1-24 and Psalms 1-7. You will be covering 4-5 chapters a day - this may seem like quite a lot to take in but here are four tips to guide you so that your "Emmaus journey" remains a heartwarming one. The mobile app comes video narratives that introduces the flow and themes of the book. Watch it for an excellent "10,000 feet perspective" before you dive in. Consider listening to the audio version of the Bible - letting the sound of Scripture fill your waking hours sets you in the right "hearing mode." Your driving time can also be another opportunity for listening and reflection. Spread your reading throughout the day - a chapter before breakfast, another one after lunch, one after dinner and the final one before bed time. Going through the Word of God should be a  regular  conversational journey with the God of the Word. It is not a "check-list" event. If by this ti
Read more

Ezra & Nehemiah: Return and restoration

Image
For the coming week, both of Ezra and Nehemiah will be read one after another because they represent a different season in Israel's life as a nation. Up till Ezekiel, the emphasis was on the exile and repentance, now it is about the return from exile with restoration is the goal. Israel as a nation has faced various consequences for their failure in keeping their obligations to the covenant but none was as severe as the exile, the very promised land which was their dream since the exodus from Egypt is now taken forcefully away from them! Read Leviticus 26:31-35 which outlined the exile as a penalty for disobedience. Here's what's interesting - do you know why the Babylonian exile was for 70 years? Connecting the dots The Jews had been in the promised land for roughly 800 years, and for 490 years, they disobeyed his Sabbath rest and based on the law that the land is to be "rested" every 7th year (Lev 25:2-4; 26:33-35), there is an accumulated 70 years of "unfu
Read more

Haggai: The "closing" prophets (Part 1)

Image
In the next three postings, we will scan through the ministry of the final trio of prophets in the post-exilic period of the Jews - Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. They mark not only the closing of the Old Testament canon but also the beginning of a 400 year period of silence with no prophetic voice. Hence, the words from these three prophets are worth paying attention to. It is not surprising then, when John the Baptist appeared as "the voice of one crying in the wilderness" (Mk 1:2), "all the country of Judea was going out to him." (Mk 1:5).  Before the exile, the prophets speak of warnings and impending disasters. However, the post-exilic prophets like Haggai and Zechariah spoke mainly words of comfort and encouragement, especially in the rebuilding of the temple at Jerusalem after they returned in the six century BC from their exile in Babylon (Ezra 5:1, 6:14).  Connecting the dots Haggai consists of four messages headed by the phrase "the word of the LOR
Read more