Zechariah 1:1-21
Q.1. What lesson were the readers to learn from the past? What point was God making about His angelic messengers? What was His message to the returned exiles? – (Zech.1:1-13)
Zechariah ministered during the time of the prophet Haggai, to the people who returned after the 70-year exile in Babylon. He was told to remind the people of how angry God was with the previous generations for refusing to listen to His prophets (Zech.1:1-4). He encouraged the readers that they were right to respond, when – … they repented and said, As the Lord of hosts purposed to do to us in accordance with our ways and our deeds, so He has dealt with us (Zech.1:6). He promised them – … “Return to Me,” declares the Lord of hosts, “that I may return to you (Zech.1:3). In a vision, Zechariah saw an awesome sight. It was explained – … “These are those whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth.” (Zech.1:10). They report back to the Lord, to indicate that He is intimately acquainted with all that pertains to the nations, and especially His own people. Though it seemed to the people that God had ceased to care for Jerusalem and the cities of Judah – The Lord answered the angel who was speaking with me with gracious words, comforting words (Zech.1:13).
Q.2. How did God feel about His people and their enemies? What was His promise to His people? How was God going to reverse their fortunes? – (Zech.1:12-21)
Contrary to what seemed to be, Zechariah was told – … “Proclaim, saying,Thus says the Lord of hosts, “I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and Zion (Zech.1:14). In fact, God was very angry with Judah’s enemies. Not only would He support the rebuilding of the temple, but He would again prosper the nation – 16 Therefore thus says the Lord, “I will return to Jerusalem with compassion; My house will be built in it … 17 Again, proclaim, saying, `Thus says the Lord of hosts, “My cities will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.” (Zech.1:16-17). Horns speak of power. They were used to scatter Judah. Describing their leaders, God was about to fill four craftsmen with His enabling grace, in order to accomplish this task of rebuilding the Temple and the city (Zech.1:18-21). God empowers and uses people to do His work.