The book of Zechariah begins with the word of the Lord coming to the prophet Zechariah. Zechariah was a contemporary of Haggai the prophet, who we talked about last week. During their lifetimes, God’s people had begun returning from exile after having been conquered and scattered throughout the Babylonian empire.
During the exile the Israelites saw their holy city, Jerusalem, completely destroyed. The wall that kept the city safe from attack was leveled. Their homes and possessions, which gave them a sense of security, were destroyed. The glorious temple, that inspired the Jews to worship and caused people’s jaws to drop in awe, was also destroyed. Their identity as a nation and as God’s people had been stripped away.
A new day was dawning for the Israelites.
During the exile, God had used the evil Babylonian empire to discipline his people for their idolatry, immorality, arrogance, dishonesty, and misplaced priorities. In Babylon the Israeliteshad been aliens and strangers, but now, as he had promised, God was restoring their city, their lives, their fortunes, and his temple. A new day was dawning. With great faith, God’s people had begun returning to the city of Jerusalem. They had aspirations of rebuilding everything that had been destroyed.
Toward this end, God began raising up extraordinary leaders to shepherd his people. God raised up Nehemiah, the great leader, to rebuild the wall around the city. The wall gave the people a measure of security. They could go to sleep at night knowing that the city gate was closed and that their enemies wouldn’t come and attack them in the night. God raised up Ezra the scribe to begin teaching the law. The people had not heard God’s law read for decades! A whole generation was coming up that neither knew God nor understood his decrees.
As the Israelites returned to the city, they quickly lost touch with this national revival God had in mind for them and they got caught up with other priorities. So God raised up the prophet Haggai. Haggai criticized God’s people for rebuilding their own houses while completely neglecting God’s house, the temple.Because of Haggai, a new foundation was laid for the temple and the work of rebuilding the temple began.
And along comes Zechariah the prophet. Zechariah came from a priestly family. As a priest, Zechariah was passionate about the temple and passionate about revitalizing Israel’s worship in the temple. It would make no sense for entire city of Jerusalem to be rebuilt if people didn’t get the priority of worship in place first. The whole reason the city was destroyed in the first place was because Israel had lost its spiritual soul. They had turned away from God. Zechariah refused to let the same patterns of spiritual apathy settle in. Why let history repeat? The book of Zechariah opens up with a strong and sober warning.
A warning from Zechariah.
Zechariah asks God’s people to learn the lessons of the past and to repent of their old ways.In Zechariah 1:1-6 (NIV) we read, "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: 'The LORD was very angry with your forefathers. 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. 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. Where are your forefathers now? And the prophets, do they live forever? 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.' "
Something we should learn from the Israelites is that we should not lose our spiritual souls. Life is an endless parade of attractions. This fall there are a gazillion things competing for our time, energy, and affection. We can get so wrapped up with living life, raising kids, earning a living, establishing our households, saving for retirement, traveling and vacationing, or recreating, that we lose our spiritual center and God is edged out.
Of equal concern is the power of sin in our lives. As the Israelites got preoccupied with other things, they began a gradual slide toward wickedness. They lost their heart for worship. Religion became little more than going through the motions of prayer and fasting. They became dishonest and increasingly self-serving. They neglected justice. They began worshiping idols and false gods.
Have you ever noticed that when you edge God out of your life, you also begin this gradual slide toward evil? To all of us God says, "Turn from your evil ways and practices. Pay attention to me. Listen to my words and decrees. Understand my anger."
Zechariah received a series of dazzling visions.
One of Zechariah’s chief concerns, in addition to the Israelites' repentance, was that people would renew their confidence in the Lord and wait on Him. In Zechariah1 - Zechariah 6,Zechariah receives a series of dazzling night visions from God. For your reference I have listed those visions in your sermon outline. The temptation is for us to get sidetracked by the mysterious elements in these night visions. These visions include things like a man and a horse among myrtle trees, four horns and four craftsman, the gold lampstand and the two olive trees, a flying scroll, a woman in a basket, and four chariots. We face the same temptation while reading a book like Revelation. We can get caught up in all the signs and symbols, but then miss the big picture.
With each vision Zechariah receives, he also receives an interpretation of the vision. And you’ll notice that every one of these visions is designed to encourage God’s people. Take a look at that list of visions in your outline and let me briefly explain the context in which Zechariah was living and for what reason he had received the visions from God. (Note to reader. The list of visions is further down in this text.)
From a spiritual standpoint, the people of Israel were very discouraged. They had lingering questions after returning from exile. Put yourselves in their shoes!They thought,will God have mercy on us and forgive us after all the evil we’ve done? Will our enemies gather and return to conquer us again? Will we ever be safe in the city of God again? Will these walls truly protect us? Will God himself come and rescue us from our enemies and from the power of sin and death? Will God ever send his Spirit on us to bless our lives and our nation? Will dishonesty and evil prevail? Will God purge the wickedness from among us? Will there be justice? Will God judge the nations who destroyed our city, our temple, and our lives?
Zechariah's first vision- (Man and horse among myrtle trees) God's mercy on Israel.
Imagine all the questions you would be asking if you were an Israelite during this time. Without getting into the details of each vision, let me just highlight their meanings. The first vision is in Zechariah 1:8 (NIV). "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."
To interpret his first vision Zechariah 1:16-17 (NIV) says, "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. 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.' "
Zechariah's second vision- (Four horns and four craftsmen) Israel's enemies will be cast out.
The second vision is in Zechariah 1:18-20 (NIV) which says, "Then I looked up—and there before me were four horns! 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.' Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen."
To interpret the second vision Zechariah 1:21 (NIV) says, "… 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."
Zechariah's third vision- (A man with a measuring line) God himself protects Israel.
The third vision is in Zechariah 2:1 (NIV). "Then I looked up—and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand!"
About the third vision, Zechariah 2:3-5 (NIV) says, "Then the angel who was speaking to me left, and another angel came to meet him and said to him: 'Run, tell that young man, Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of men and livestock in it. And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,' declares the LORD, 'and I will be its glory within.' "
Zechariah's fourth vision- (Clean garmets for the high priest) God's servant saves.
The fourth vision is in Zechariah 3:4 (NIV) which says, "The angel said to those who were standing before him, 'Take off his filthy clothes.' Then he said to Joshua, 'See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you.' "
To explain the fourth vision Zechariah 3:8-9 (NIV) says, "Listen, O high priest Joshua and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,' says the LORD Almighty, 'and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.' " This is a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ thousands of years before Christ was born.
Zechariah's fifth vision- (Gold lampstand and two olive trees) The Lord sends his Spirit to bless them.
The fifth vision of Zechariah is in Zechariah 4:2-3 (NIV). "He asked me, 'What do you see?' I answered, 'I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights. Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.' "
About the fifth vision Zechariah 4:6 (NIV) says, "…'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty."
Zechariah's sixth vision- (The flying scroll) Dishonesty is cursed.
The sixth vision is in Zechariah 5:1 (NIV). "I looked again— and there before me was a flying scroll!"
Zechariah 5:3 (NIV) says this about the sixth vision, "And he said to me, 'This is the curse that is going out over the whole land; for according to what it says on one side, every thief will be banished, and according to what it says on the other, everyone who swears falsely will be banished."
Zechariah's seventh vision- (Woman in a basket) Wickedness will be removed.
Zechariah 5:6-7 (NIV) details the seventh vision. "I asked, 'What is it?' He replied, 'It is a measuring basket.' And he added, 'This is the iniquity of the people throughout the land.' Then the cover of lead was raised, and there in the basket sat a woman!"
Per the seventh vision, the woman in the basket symbolizes wickedness. And in the vision the basket is carried away by women with wings, two angels. In Zechariah 5:9 (NIV), Zechariah says, "Then I looked up—and there before me were two women, with the wind in their wings! They had wings like those of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between heaven and earth."
Zechariah's eighth vision- (Four chariots) Judgment on the whole earth.
In the eighth and final vision Zechariah sees four chariots in Zechariah 6:1 (NIV). "I looked up again—and there before me were four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze!"
In Zechariah 6:5-7 (NIV) Zechariah explains that the chariots are sent out to the north, the east, and south to bring judgment on Israel’s enemies. "The angel answered me, 'These are the four spirits of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world. The one with the black horses is going toward the north country, the one with the white horses toward the west, and the one with the dappled horses toward the south.' "
We miss blessings when we try to live without God.
These visions should make us realize what we miss out on when we try to do life without God. These visions overwhelm us with the sheer goodness and greatness of God. God promised to prosper them, protect them, be a wall of fire around them, send his servant Jesus Christ to save them, send his Holy Spirit to sanctify them, banish the dishonest and evil among them, and judge their enemies, including Assyria and Babylon.
Good things come to those who wait on the promises of God.
The message here is that good things come to those who wait on the promises of God. Do you have the courage to wait on God? Do you have the courage to trust in God’s promises? Do you have the courage to trust in God’s goodness and greatness and in his holy character? I myself can be a rather impatient person. In ministry, this can be a real liability. On a number of occasions Lara’s dad has said to me, "God is seldom early, but never late." I hate it when Lara is right, but I especially hate it when her father is right! I’m kidding. God wants us to trust in him. Trusting means waiting and hoping. Hebrews 11:1-2 (NIV) says, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for." So, are we repenting and acknowledging God? Are we waiting on his goodness and greatness?
The crown and the thorn are established.
Now we get to the really exciting part of Zechariah where God speaks of establishing his crown and thorn among his people. In Zechariah 6:9-11 God tells his people to take silver and gold and make a crown and set it on the head of the high priest. The crown symbolized what God was about to do among his people. Not only was God going to rebuild the temple, but he was going to raise up a branch, a descendent of the high priest, who would be crowned king and priest of Israel. And people from all over the world, from far away, would come before this king and priest and build the temple of the Lord.
This all refers to Jesus Christ the king, who would come to establish his reign in the hearts of men. This all refers to Jesus Christ the high priest, who would lay down his own life as a sacrifice for sin and open up a way to eternal life. This all refers to the church, to the individual believers, who together from all around the world would form a living temple in which God would live by his Holy Spirit. God wasn’t concerned about their rules and rituals. He wanted their authentic worship. God didn’t want them to be afraid. He wanted to bless them like never before.
The coming king.
In Zechariah 9- Zechariah 13Zechariah describes how Jesus Christ, the king and priest, is coming! In Zechariah 9:9-10 (NIV) God says, "Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth."
Right when the people were ready to give up on God, God was preparing to do his greatest work ever, in sending his Son Jesus Christ into the world to establish peace among men, and peace between man and God.In these chapters of Zechariah, the Lord describes how the Christ would be pierced, and how the land would mourn for his death, but then how God would pour out his cleansing on his people like a fountain, removing their sins and impurities, refining them like silver, and testing them like gold.
The final beginning.
The book of Zechariah climaxes with what I’ll call the final beginning. In Zechariah 14 we have a picture of the Lord coming to establish his kingly reign. That day will be final because the Lord will come down and fight against those nations who have rebelled against him. But that day will also be a new beginning because Christ will establish his reign in the lives of his people for eternity.
In Zechariah 14:5-11 (NIV) we read, "… Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. On that day there will be no light, no cold or frost. It will be a unique day, without daytime or nighttime— a day known to the Lord. When evening comes there will be light. On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter. The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name. The whole land, from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem, will become like the Arabah. But Jerusalem will be raised up and remain in its place, from the Benjamin gate to the site of the First Gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower Hananel to the royal winepresses. It will be inhabited; never again will it be destroyed. Jerusalem will be secure."
We need to crown Jesus as our king.
We have all seen the Burger King commercials that feature the Burger "King". At the beginning of the service, our ushers gave you a Burger King crown. That crown symbolizes your life right now. What you do with your crown determines your eternal destiny. Instead of crowning ourselves, God wants us to crown Jesus Christ as our great high priest and king for eternity. Right now, God wants us to repent of our sins and acknowledge him alone as Lord. Instead of trusting in ourselves, God wants us to trust in him and wait on his promises. Through Christ’s blood, God wants to cleanse us of our sins. He wants to pour out his Holy Spirit on our lives, to refine us and purify us, and make us like his Son Jesus.
God wants to establish his reign in our lives. He wants to take our individual lives and build us into a temple through which he lives by his Spirit, bringing glory to himself, for now and for eternity. God wants us to put our hope in the New Jerusalem, that secure place, our heavenly dwelling where Christ will reign with his people for ever and ever.
Just now, we're going to celebrate communion. The Jews mockingly put a crown of thorns on Christ’s head, rejecting his claim on their life. But for us the bread reminds us Christ’s body that was pierced and broken for our sins. The juice reminds us of Christ’s shed blood that purifies us.
Laying our crown before the cross symbolizes our recognition that Jesus Christ deserves to be the King of kings and Lord of lords, but especially King and Lord over our lives. As you come up to take communion, lay down your crown.