This week, we shall continue the study
of the book of Zechariah in the Old Testament.
6:1-8—The 8th Vision—The Four Chariots (This is last of the night visions by Zechariah.)
(1) The 1st vision is about horses that are being sent out by the Lord to survey the earth (1:7ff) while the last vision is about chariots. What might be the difference in connotation between chariots and horses?
(2) These chariots are being sent out between two mountains of bronze (v. 1): Why are the two mountains described as bronze (or copper) mountains? (see Note 1 below)
(3) The colors of the horses of the four chariots: While we certainly cannot find direct references to the horses in Revelation 6:1-7, we can, however, get a sense of the use of colors in the Apocalypse. In (a-d) describe the commission of these horses.
a. The white horse (Rev. 6:1-2)
b. The red horse (Rev. 6:3-4)
c. The black horse (Rev. 6:5-6)
d. The pale horse (Rev. 6:7-8; the last chariot in Zechariah’s vision has dappled horses)
e. Given the use of color in Revelation 6, what might the four chariots with “powerful horses” in Zechariah’s vision be sent to do throughout the whole world? (v. 7)
f. At the time of the vison, the angel specifically mentions what the black horses have accomplished (v. 8).
i. What does having “given My Spirit rest” mean?
ii. What is its relevance to the immediate audience of Zechariah? (see Note 2)
6:9-15—A Crown for Joshua, the High Priest
(4) It appears that the three men have recently returned from Babylon (v. 9). What have they carried with them and what is it for?
(5) The word for "crown" is different from the word "turban" in 3:5. Such a crown is usually meant for a king. What two roles are now said of Joshua, the High priest?
(6) We have to remember that the Lord has earlier made it plain that Joshua and his associates are merely “men symbolic of things to come” (3:8).
a. Whom does he now symbolize with his two roles? (v. 12)
b. What do you know about this “Branch” from other passages in the OT? (see Jer. 23:5; 33:14-16; Isa. 11:1-5, 10)
c. What does this passage add to our knowledge about this “Branch”? (vv. 12-13)
d. How does our Lord Jesus Christ fulfill this prophecy of the Branch in Zechariah?
(7) After having crowned Joshua, where will that crown be laid and why? (v. 14)
(8) What would this crowning of Joshua mean to the people and Joshua?
(9) How has the promise in 6:15 come to be fulfilled in our time?
(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note 1:
While most commentators opine that the two mountains are likely the Mount of Olives and Mount Zion, there is no proof at all for this speculation. However, to describe them as mountains of bronze does convey a sense of their firmness and immovability apart from other spiritual implications it might have.
Note 2:
It is interesting to note that only the lands in the north, west and south are mentioned in the vision, and the angel only mentions the judgment of the land in the north which is implied by the rest given to the Lord’s Spirit. Since the commission is for the chariots to go “throughout the earth” (v. 7), it seems that the immediate concern of those who have returned from captivity and are seeking to rebuild the temple is that God will contain and deal with their enemies who are mainly from the south (Egypt), west (the Philistines) and the north (the Persians). The report that God’s Spirit has found rest in the north reminds the remnant that God has put an end to the Babylonian Empire, although these prophetic words likely also point to events in the End-time.
(1) The Date of the event:
a. When does this current event happen? (v. 1)
b. When did they re-lay the foundation of the temple? (Hag. 2:10, 18)
c. When will they eventually complete the rebuilding of the temple? (Ezr. 6:15)
(2) Presumably their fasting on the 5th and 7th months have to do with the destruction of their nation (as the Lord points out that they have been observing these in the past 70 years, i.e. during the time of their exile):
a. Why would they choose to fast on the 5th month? (see 2 Ki. 25: 8)
b. What about the 7th month? (see 2 Ki. 25:25-26)
(3) Designating these months for fasting (vv. 2-3):
a. What was the original purpose?
b. The people of Bethel now want to inquire if it is necessary to continue to do so.
i. Do they think that they may not need to be observed anymore?
ii. If so, what changed to make them think so?
(4) God’s immediate reply (vv. 4-7)
a. If they have not been fasting “for God”, what have they been fasting for?
b. How does their attitude in observing the holy feasts reveal their true attitude in fasting? Why? (v. 6)
c. What words were proclaimed to them before the fall of Jerusalem? (They have failed to hear these words and have continued failing to do so as shown by their attitude in feasting and fasting.) (v. 7; see 2 Ki. 17:13ff)
(5) Their past sins reiterated (vv. 8-14)
a. While observing holy feasts and fasting are obviously acts of external religion, what does the Lord require of them? (vv. 9-10)
b. What is the common denominator of these requirements and how do they relate to the Greatest Commandment? (see Matt. 22:37-40; Deut. 6:5; Lev. 19:18)
c. How did the former generations treat the proclamation of the prophets? Why? (vv. 11-12)
d. What judgment had they faced as a result? (v. 14)
e. What is the implication of v. 13 to these people who inquire of the Lord now?
(6) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
The Promise of Restoration
(1) The Lord reiterates that He is “very jealous for Zion” (see 1:14)
a. What do you understand by God being jealous for Zion (and Jerusalem)?
b. Why does the Lord reiterate it again? (v. 2)
(2) What will He do because of this jealousy? (vv.2-3a)
(3) Jerusalem
a. What is it like at the time of this message?
b. What will it be called when the Lord dwells in it?
c. What does it mean?
(4) Mount Zion
a. What is it like at the time of the message? (presumably the temple has yet to be completed)
b. What will it be called when the Lord returns to it?
c. What does it mean?
(5) The Faithful City (vv. 4-5)
a. What does the filling of the streets with the aged men and women signify? (v. 4; see Isa. 65:20)
b. What kind of a scene is depicted by the girls and boys playing on the streets? (v. 5)
c. What does this message mean to the immediate audience of Zechariah?
d. What about the Jews of today?
(6) A true miracle (vv. 6-8)—Consider these questions if this promise is meant for the “Millennium”:
a. Why will the remnant (i.e. those who survive the Great Tribulation) at that time find it marvelous?
b. Why does the Lord imply that it is after all not a surprise to Him? (v. 6b)
c. What will God do to make this happen? (v. 7a)
d. God promises that He will be faithful and righteous to them (v. 8)
i. Who has not been faithful and righteous: God or Israel?
ii. What does God mean that this promise will have the following characteristics?
1. Faithfulness (see Isa. 16:5; 42:3; 1 Jn. 1:9; Rev. 19:11)
2. Righteousness (see Jer. 23:6; Rom. 3:25; 1 Cor. 1:30)
(7) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
8:9-19—A Direct Message to Zechariah’s People
(1) “Let your hands be strong” acts as an inclusio of this message, beginning with v. 9 and ends with v. 13:
a. To whom is this message now addressed? (v. 9)
b. In your opinion, what might cause their hands not to be strong?
c. What it was like before (v. 10):
i. What must it have been like for people to work and not be able collect wages, and for animals to be hired out yet without pay? (v. 10a)
ii. What was the reason for this? (v. 10b)
iii. What kind of a society was it?
d. What it will be like in the future (vv. 11-13):
i. How will such blessings bring about a different society? (v. 12)
ii. How will they be a blessing to other nations? (see vv. 20-22 below and Gen. 22:18)
e. How might this message be an encouragement to them to be strong “so that the temple may be built”? (v. 9)
(2) Additional words of caution (vv. 14-17)—As much as the Lord has promised good instead of harm, He had further words for them:
a. What are the things the Lord require of them? (v. 16)
b. How similar are these words to the requirement in 7:9-10?
c. Why are they being reiterated?
(3) Turning fasts to feasts (vv. 18-23)
a. Fasts are meant for mourning (and for repenting). Why would they become a time of joy? (see the Note below)
b. What will truly turn these fasts into joyful and glad occasions? (v. 19b)
c. To love truth is understandable, but why is the love of peace being paired with it?
d. How has the blessing in vv. 20-22 been fulfilled today and how will it be fulfilled in the future in Christ Jesus? (see Rev. 7:9)
e. Do people have to go all the way to the physical Jerusalem to find God? Why or why not? (see Rom. 10:8-13)
f. How are people attracted to believers? (v. 23)
g. What lesson can we learn from this?
(4) What is the message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note:
We have considered the fasts in the 5th and 7th months in chapter 7; the “fast of the 4th month lamented the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Ki. 25:3-4; Jer. 39:2), while that of the 10th month mourned the beginning of Nebuchadnezzar’s siege of Jerusalem (2 Ki. 25:1; Jer. 39:1; Ezek. 24: 12).” (Archaeological Study Bible, 1535)
The oracle about the restoration of Israel is now followed by the judgment of some of the neighboring nations. It appears to have both present and future aspects:
(1) Against Syria (vv. 1-2a)—Hadrach, Damascus and Hamath refer to the kingdom of Aram or the present-day region of Syria.
a. While no specific judgment is pronounced, it is clear that the Lord is “against" them (see Note 1 below).
b. The reason for the judgment of these nations (which starts with Syria) is given as “for the eyes of men and all the tribes of Israel are on the Lord”. What does it mean?
(2) Against the Phoenicians (vv. 2b-4)
a. By the time of Zechariah, Tyre and Sidon had been destroyed by the Babylonians, and the more powerful Tyre had retreated to its island stronghold, less than a mile west of the mainland (see Scriptural Reflection and Meditative Reflection of Ezekiel 26:1-21, Day 257 of Year 5 of the Devotional Guide).
b. What was Tyre’s condition even after the defeat by Nebuchadnezzar? (vv. 2-3)
c. What will their fate be eventually? (v. 4)
(3) Against the Philistines (vv. 5-6)—All the cities mentioned in these verses are major cities of the Philistines along the western coast of Palestine; they have been enemies of Israel for a long time.
a. What impact will the eventual destruction of Tyre have on these cities? (v. 5)
b. Can they avoid the same fate? (In general, they were all destroyed at the hand of Alexander the Great in 332 B.C., although some of them, like Ashkelon, were rebuilt somewhat later in history.)
(4) Salvation extended to them (vv. 7-8)
a. However, this oracle prophesies that the Philistines would follow the footsteps of God’s people in obeying the Law of Moses by not eating blood (i.e. the commands given in Lev. 11). What does it signify?
b. The reasons are given as follows:
i. They (i.e. those who are left at the time) will belong to the God of Israel: What does that mean? (see Rom. 9:25; Hos. 2:23)
ii. They will even become leaders in Judah: How can it be?
iii. Ekron (likely as a representative of them) will be like the Jebusites: What does that mean? (see Note 2 below)
(5) What is the message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note 1:
Damascus was the capital city; together with Hamath and Hadrach, it denoted the region of present-day Syria. Historically, Syria was mainly at war with Israel, the Northern Kingdom (1 Ki. 20; 22; 2 Ki. 9:14-15; 10:32-33; 12:17-18; 14:23-29; 16:5-9 etc.) In the days of Nebuchadnezzar, these Aramean troops were sent with others to punish Judah (2 Ki. 24:2). Their more specific sins against Israel were mentioned by Amos 1:3-5 and Jeremiah 49:23-32. (See Meditative Article of Jeremiah 49:23-39, Day 310 of Year 4 of this Devotional Guide.)
Note
2:
“The Jebusites were native to the region of Jerusalem at the time of the
conquest of the land under Joshua. They
continued to control Jerusalem for the centuries of the Judges up to the
conquest of Jerusalem by David. There
are a few textual indications that they were absorbed into Israel rather than wiped out (see 2 Sam. 24:18).”
(The IVP Bible Background Commentary, OT)
The promise of salvation that will befall both the Jews and Gentiles is further explained by the coming of the Messiah King:
9:9-10—The Lowly King
(1) The people in Zion and in Jerusalem are told to rejoice greatly and even to shout: What is the reason for such excitement and joy? (v. 9a)
(2) Attributes of Their King (v. 9b)
a. Righteous:
i. Given the preceding prophecy in this chapter against the nations, what would the immediate audience of Zechariah expect of this “righteous king” of theirs?
ii. According to the prophecy of Isaiah, how will this king administer His righteous justice? (see Isa. 42:1-7)
iii. How has it been fulfilled in Jesus Christ? (see Matt. 12:15-18; 1 Cor. 1:30; 1 Pet. 3:18)
b. Victorious
i. What will Zechariah’s immediate audience expect of this “victorious king?
ii. What victory has Christ already achieved for us? (1 Cor. 15:54-57)
iii. How will He also fulfill the victory over the nations of earth? (Rev. 19:11-16)
c. Lowly
i. According to Zechariah, how will this king exhibit his lowliness?
ii. In the time of Jesus, do you know how the great kings of the Rome would ride into their royal cities? (see Note below)
(3) How did our Lord Jesus Christ fulfill this prophecy of a lowly king? (Matt. 21:1-7; Lk. 19:29-36)
(4) How did the people greet Him at His entrance into the city of Jerusalem? (Matt. 21:8-11; Lk. 19:37-38)
(5) Why did the Pharisees greet Him differently? (Lk. 19:39)
(6) How did the Lord’s response echo that of Zechariah 9:9? (Lk. 19:40)
9:10-17—The Salvation of the Lowly King
(7) The proclamation of peace (vv. 10-12)
a. Because of His rule, what will happen to Israel (Ephraim denotes the former northern 10 tribes, and Jerusalem the tribes of Judah and Benjamin)? (v. 10a)
b. How far will His rule extend to? (v. 10b)
c. “As for you” (meaning Zion):
i. What will happen to all his prisoners? (a waterless pit refers to an empty cistern often used as a detention cell)
ii. What is the cause for the gaining of freedom by the prisoners? (v. 11a)
iii. What does this “blood of My covenant” refer to? (see Matt. 26:28)
iv. What kind of freedom and peace is prophesied by Zechariah? (see Lk. 4: 17-21)
(8) The proclamation of judgment and victory (vv. 11-17) — The imagery uses weapons known to the immediate audience of Zechariah (that bow, sword and slingstones).
a. Should they be afraid of the rising power of Greece at the time?
b. How will they be able to gain victory over their enemies with such things as slingstones? What does this image remind them of? (1 Sam. 17:41-49)
c. What does the use of the imagery of a drink offering at the altar depict? (v. 15)
d. What other imagery is used to depict the deliverance by this lowly King? (v. 16)
e. In summary, what will become of those who are saved by this King? (v. 17: see Jn. 10:10)
(9) What is the message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note:
The entrance of a conquering ruler in Roman times was called “triumphus”, a ceremony that included the wearing of a crown, the riding of a four-horse chariot, followed by his army, captives and the spoils of his war. (You can learn more from Wikipedia.)
With the coming of the lowly king, God will restore both Judah and Ephraim—meaning all the tribes of Israel:
(1) Seek the Lord, not idols (vv. 1-2)
a. Why does the Lord speak particularly about praying for rain?
b. From whom, therefore, should they seek help?
c. Why should they not seek idols?
d. What happened when the people sought idols instead? (v. 2b)
(2) Promise to care for Judah as His flock (vv. 3-5)
a. Because of the condition of the people, against whom does the Lord’s anger burn? Why?
b. In promising to care for the people of Judah as His flock, God also promises them victory over their enemies. What does each imagery below depict?
i. A proud horse in battle
ii. Warriors in battle
iii. From Judah comes
1. The cornerstone (which is needed for the foundation of a building)
2. The peg (which is needed for holding up a tent)
3. The bow
4. Every ruler
5. What will all of the above do “together” (NIV)? (v. 5)
iv. What is the key to their victory? (v. 5b)
(3) The whole house of Israel—Judah and Joseph (v. 6)
a. Why would the Lord strengthen, save and restore them?
b. What is meant by “as though I had not rejected them"?
(4) Promise to redeem Ephraim (vv. 7-12)
a. What will they become militarily that is similar to Judah? (v. 7a, v.5)
b. What will their lives be marked by? (v. 7b)
c. As the Lord redeems them (vv. 8-9)
i. Where have they been scattered to?
ii. Will they and their children be able to survive in distant lands and why? (v. 9)
iii. From where will the Lord bring them back? (v. 10a: Babylon is not mentioned because the ten tribes, as represented by Ephraim, were taken captive mainly to Assyria and some also likely to Egypt at the time.)
iv. To where will they be brought back? (v. 10b; these places were once inhabited by the northern tribes of Israel)
v. How does the Lord describe their future prosperity? (v. 10c)
vi. How does the Lord describe their journey home? (v. 11a)
vii. Should they then be afraid? Why or why not? (vv. 11b-12)
viii. Read v. 12 carefully: Who is that Redeemer who will lead and strengthen them?
(5) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?