The book of Zechariah was written in 520
B.C. by Zechariah, the son of Berechiah and the
grandson of Iddo.
Zechariah was murdered between the sanctuary and the altar (Matt.
23:35). Much of the book is apocalyptic
and great care must be taken in interpreting it. In order to understand the figurative
language, one must look carefully at the immediate context; just because one
symbol means something in one book does not mean it means that in each book. And one may not be able to understand every
detail about an apocalyptic story, although its basic meaning can be
understood.
There is much in the Book of
Zechariah that can be understood clearly and easily. Many lessons in Zechariah need
to be understood by modern Christians. Let’s
examine some of those lessons:
1. The
Lord wants people to come to him. “Thus
says the LORD of hosts: Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return
to you, says the LORD of hosts” (1:3). The
fact that God was pleading with these people shows us that he wants people to
come to him. The Lord is not a cruel God
who wants people to be lost, but he wants people to be saved. Peter said, “[The
Lord is] not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance” (2 Pet.
3:9).
2. The
Lord removes guilt. “I will remove the guilt of this land in a singleday”
(3:9). “On that day a fountain shall be
opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them
from sin and impurity” (13:1). Not only doesGod
want people to be saved, but he is able to do something about it. God can
remove guilt. All one must do is turn to
God in faith and obedience and his guilt will be removed.
3. The
Lord does not hear the prayers of the rebellious. “Just as, when I called, they would not hear,
so, when they called, I would not hear, says the LORD of hosts” (7:13). These people would not listen to the Word of
God; therefore, God would not listen to their words. They called out to God, but because they were
rebellious God would not honor their prayers. This does not mean that God could not hear
their prayers; it means that he would not honor their prayers; he would not
answer them. God does not hear the prayers
of those living in rebellion.
4. The
Lord does what he has promised. “Thus says
the LORD of hosts: Just as I purposed to bring disaster upon you, when you
ancestors provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the LORD of hosts, so
again I have purposed in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of
Judah; do not be afraid” (8:14-15). God
promised to bring disaster, and he did so. He planned to do good in Jerusalem, and he did
so. God still does what he has promised.
God promised to save those who obey, and
he will. God promised to destroy the world with fire, and he will. God keeps
his promises.
5. The
Lord protects his people. “The LORD of
hosts will protect them, and they shall devour and tread down the slingers;
they shall drink their blood like wine, and be full like a bowl, drenched like
the corners of the altar” (9:15). When
oppressors came, God would stand with his people and protect them. The oppressors could not prevail, for God was
with his people. Today, God still
protects his people. We cannot be
tempted beyond our ability (1 Cor. 10:13). The Lord’s enemies cannot win (Rev. 17:14).
6. The
Lord hates false teaching. “If any
prophets appear again, their fathers and mothers who bore them will say to
them, ‘You shall not live, for you speak lies in the name of the LORD’; and their
fathers and their mothers who bore them shall pierce them through when they
prophesy” (13:3). Here God shows the
fate of false prophets--their parents would kill them. God does not wink at the teaching of those
who lead his people astray. God hates
false teaching. We need to understand
that God hates false teaching today.
Zechariah wrote in symbolic language; therefore, much of the book is difficult to understand. But, much can easily be understood. To today’s reader, Zechariah says much about God, his nature, and what he expects from his people.