Zechariah 10 &11 - Restoration of Judah and Israel

 

Zechariah 10 – Restoration of Judah and Israel

 

Cornerstone…tent peg…battle bow…ruler are terms that emphasize the strong, stable, victorious, and trustworthy nature of God’s rule, as opposed to the wicked ways of the previous shepherds of Israel (Jer. 50:6). The Lord would reassemble and restore His people by divinely empowering both the kingdoms of Judah and Joseph (Israel) to conquer like mighty men.

 

Nothing, not even opposing powers like Assyria and Egypt could prevent God’s purposes for His people, who would return to their own land.

 

Zechariah 11- Desolation of Israel

 

After his tender promises to the flock, Zechariah returns his focus to the shepherds he had addressed. He spoke of how the leaders will lose their glory when God delivers His people. Zechariah portrays a shepherd whom the sheep reject, signifying how Israel will one day treat Jesus. He plays another role, that of a foolish shepherd who does not care for the flock. This speaks of the anti-Christ who will come and not care for the people, but the people will receive him. He will promise peace to all nations, and he will become a world leader.

 

Thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave, the price Judas took to turn Jesus over to the people.

 

Right now, the world is not blessed with great leaders and is ripe for someone to come along and offer us peace. Many will be gullible enough to believe him and won’t even think to ask their self if he is of God or Satan. We must always stand ready and trust in God alone. God alone can bring peace to the world. No human being can do this no matter how they try to convince us.

 

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.      J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.

 

Zechariah 9 - Israel Defended Against Enemies

 

Zechariah 9 – Israel Defended Against Enemies

 

Zechariah speaks prophecies against specific nations, and in due time, these prophecies were fulfilled. But He also foretells the Messiah’s arrival and the salvation of His people. Those prophecies were fulfilled in Christ but will culminate in His second coming.

 

God would center His judgment on one of Israel’s longstanding enemies to the northeast, with its capital (Damascus) as the bull’s eye. Judgment would also fall on the Phoenicians to the north and the Philistines to the west. During his short reign, Alexander the Great conquered all the territories mentioned here.

 

Zechariah compares powerful human rule with the peaceful first coming of the Messiah and the eternal rule of the Prince of Peace upon His second coming. Kings were often arbitrary and unfair in their actions, but the Messiah’s reign would be just because He would do God’s will and have God’s law within His heart. In His kingdom, the injustices of this world would be eliminated, and equity would prevail (Isa. 11:1-10).

 

Donkeys were royal mounts in the ancient Near East, but the fact that the messianic King is pictured riding one of these into Jerusalem, rather than a war horse or chariot, signals that His ultimate purpose was to inaugurate a worldwide kingdom of peace (Matt. 21:5).

 

Prisoners in ancient times were often kept in dry wells like Joseph was (Gen. 37:24,28). The exiles of Israel pictured in a cistern of captivity, suffering, and despair would be freed because of God’s unbreakable covenant with them. Christ offers that freedom to all who believe in Him (Gal. 5:1).

 

Devour and subdue with slingstones could mean God’s people would easily subdue their enemies, as David did Goliath (I Sam. 17).

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary. The Jeremiah Study Bible.

 

Zechariah 8 - The New Jerusalem

 

Zechariah 8 – The New Jerusalem

 

If we judge our self we will not be judged. If we confess our sins we will be forgiven. When Christ comes He will dwell in the New Jerusalem, and it shall be the capital of the earth. It shall be called the City of Truth. We do not live in the City of Truth today. There are too many cults and false religions. This kingdom will be established, and no one can change God’s plan. It will be a place for the elderly to live. There will be no more rest homes and retirement centers. They will be safe and welcome there. Boys and girls will be playing safely in the streets. There will be no cars or pollution. The elderly and the young will live together in peace. If you think you have it good here, just think of what it will be like in New Jerusalem. This is nothing compared to there.

 

All God’s people from the East to the West will travel there. This is not only the obedient Jews, but the obedient Gentiles also. We will live in truth and righteousness. God is not recognized in Jerusalem today, but in the New Jerusalem all will be made right. We will share in the prosperity of the fruit and vegetation of the land. If we want to enter the New Jerusalem, God tells us to speak the truth to our neighbors, not to believe in false promises and to not think evil in your heart against your neighbor. Those things God hates, so we must be honest and truthful and live peaceably with each other. There will be no fasting, but only days of feasting. The events of the past will be forgotten in the glory of the worship of the Lord. Jesus came to bring us joy, not sorrow (Matt. 9:14-17).

 

 

 Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better. If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary. J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible. Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.

 

Zechariah 7 - God's Compassion

 

Zechariah 7– God’s Compassion

 

Although the Israelites had rebelled against God and had been exiled to Babylon, God had brought a small group of them back to Jerusalem. The exiles knew what it was like to experience God’s compassion. Now, through Zechariah, God asked them to “show mercy and compassion” to each other. What did that mean? To look after widows, orphans, the poor and those who were strangers in the land.

 

All who have experienced God’s mercy, the forgiveness Christ freely offers need to show that same type of compassion to others. Zechariah’s prophecy is like Haggai’s prophecy. These people mentioned here in this chapter is from Ephraim and they came from Bethel to the House of God. They came asking if the ritual of fasting and weeping was right or wrong. They had fasted and wept for many years, but God did not bless them because of their disobedience. God gave the Israelites a religion which was very ritualistic, but they became bored of it and so did God.

 

God asked the Israelites if they fasted for Him or for themselves. God never gave them days of fasting and weeping but he did give them days of feasting. He asked them where their heart was when they did fast. He told them that when their heart is right the ritual would be right. When it was wrong the ritual would be wrong. God’s purpose is never changed by a ritual. God never approves or condemns the ritual but asks to know where your heart is.

 

Whatever we do we must do it to the glory of God. Our repetitious prayers can become a ritual and if our focus is not from the heart in communicating with God it will not only become boring for us, but for God also. He doesn’t want to hear the same words repeatedly. He wants to know what your heart is saying. The same can be said in going to church, in taking communion, and in singing worship songs. It must be from the heart if you want God’s attention.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible

 

Zechariah 5 & 6 - Vision of the Flying Scroll

 

Zechariah 5 – Vision of the Flying Scroll

 

The scroll was fifteen feet by thirty feet, so it could easily be seen and read. God condemned the thieves and the liars. (Satan is both; John 8:44). These sins are violations of the third and the eighth commandments and are still condemned by God (Eph. 4:25-28).

 

In the end times, there will be a concentration of evil at Babylon, that last expression of the evil world system (Rev. 17-18). The word wickedness is feminine in Hebrew, which explains why a woman was used as the illustration.

 

Zechariah 6 – Wickedness Controlled

 

This is a reminder that God’s angelic servants patrol the earth. The Jews frequently were invaded from the north, but God was keeping those nations at rest so the remnant could build the temple.

 

Three Jews from Babylon came to Jerusalem with gold and silver for the temple. But God told Zechariah to make a crown and put it on Joshua and make him a king-priest! No Jewish priest had ever reigned as king, and no king was permitted to serve as a priest (2 Chron. 26:16-21). All of this was symbolic of the coming Messiah. (Ps. 110:4; Heb. 7:1-3) who would reign from the future glorious temple. Just as the three men brought gifts from afar, so the Gentiles would bring gifts to help build the future temple (Isa. 60:4-7).

 

As Haggai encouraged the people in their daily work, Zechariah urged them to live “in the future tense” and work because they were a part of God’s glorious future. A “blessed hope” is a great motivation for service and faithfulness (Titus 2:11-15).

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary. J Vernon McGee Thru the Bible

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.

 

Zechariah 4 - God Provides Power.

 

Zechariah 4 – God Provides Power

 

Zechariah ministered to discouraged people attempting to accomplish a difficult task. If you find yourself ready to quit, consider the assurances God gives His workers.

 

Oil is symbolic of God’s Holy Spirit, and He alone can give us the power to finish His work. Are you depending on Him or on your own strength and expertise? (Eph.3:20-21).

 

Unbelief makes mountains out of molehills, but faith in God makes mountains into plains! The leaders faced all kinds of obstacles, but God would open the way for them. (Isa 4115; Matt. 17:20).

 

God finishes what He starts (Phil 1:6), so we can trust Him even amid opposition. The temple project was delayed for many years, but God eventually helped them finish it.

 

To the eyes of men, the temple project was but a small thing (Hag. 2:3); but to the eyes of God, it was a source of great joy. Do your work to please God and let Him be the final judge (I Cor. 4:5).

 

Grace simultaneously extols God’s freely given blessing on the work now complete and implores Him to continue to look with favor on the temple and all that it represented.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible

Zechariah 3 - God Rebukes, Removes, Restores

 

Zechariah 3 – Rebukes, Removes, Restores

 

When we come to God to be forgiven, what does He do for us?

 

He rebukes the enemy. Satan is the accuser (Rev, 12:10), but Christ is the Advocate (I John 1:9-22). We are chosen by God and belong to Him, and the enemy cannot condemn us (rom. 8:31-39)/ the Spirit convicts in love to woo us back to God. Satan accuses us in hatred to make us despair of God’s help. Be sure to distinguish these two voices.

 

He removes the Iniquity. The dirty garments symbolized the sinfulness of the nation, for the high priest was to keep himself clean before the Lord. God removes our sin and clothes us anew because Jesus died for our sins and lives to intercede for us.

 

He restores the ministry. God did not set Joshua aside, for the purpose of restoration is ministry. God told him to go back and minister to the people and tell them about the coming Messiah, the Branch. Just as Joshua was cleansed and restored, so Israel will be cleansed and restored when Messiah comes to reign.

 

Joshua would preside over the temple and the ministry of the priests. Israel’s future peace and redemption rest in the messianic figure foreshadowed in My servant the Branch.

 

The Branch is the Davidic ruler to come (Jer. 23:5). In Zechariah’s time, this promise was attached to the governor Zerubbabel, who was descended from David, but he foreshadowed a greater one to come: The Messiah.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible.