August 17, 2005

 

Intro:  Zechariah is one of the three last prophets of the Old Test. (along with Haggai and Malachi) who builds his revelation from the Lord upon previous teaching (see “former prophets in 1:4, 7:7).

 

I. Setting- Zechariah’s ministry must be understood in the light of events occurring as part of what is called the “Exile of the people of Israel and Judah”—which is an event of major consequence in the OT.

  722- exile of the people of Israel (northern tribes) to the Assyrians

    606- exile of the people of Judah (southern tribes) to the Babylonians

     586-fall of city of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar after rebellion- Dan.7:3-4

       539- Persian empire rises –Dan.7:5

         538- Cyrus issues edict for Jews to return to Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1-2)

                  Zerubbabel leads first return of Jews

           458- Ezra leads second return of Jews

            444- Nehemiah leads third return of Jews.

* all of this is part of the “times of the Gentiles”- Luke 21:24 where Jerusalem

will be under Gentile dominion

 

   While the foundation of the restored Temple is laid under Zerubbabel – see

Ezra 3:8-13- work was delayed for 16 years until in 520, God raised up

Haggai (ch.1:1) to encourage the Jews in rebuilding.  Shortly afterward, God

sends Zachariah (1:1) to do two things:

  1)  Move the returned exiles to moral & spiritual reform

  2)  Move them to rebuild the Temple by revealing God’s plans for the future of

Israel

   The returned Jews of Jerusalem do complete the Temple in 515 BC –note

Ezra 6:15.

 

II.  Background to this restoration/rebuilding in Ezra-Nehemiah-Zechariah-

1)  Israel, as a people, receive the benefits of the Abrahamic covenant of

ownership of the land called by their name, Israel- Gen.13:14-15, 17.

This Covenant contains other blessings and provisions as well.  Along with this, is the Palestinian covenant amplifies the land  features of the Abrahamic covenant—see Deut.30:1-10.  These two covenants are supported by two

Others—Davidic and New. 

2)  The Palestinian covenant assures Israel of possession of the land- see Ezekiel 16:53-65 for restoration and reference to everlasting covenant.  Yet, the Palestinian covenant , while unconditional as seen in Deut. and Ezekiel, it did provide conditions for remaining in the land with subsequent curses and blessings—see Deut. 28.

 

Page 2

 

Vs.1-6- promise of blessings due to “diligent obedience”-

  > protection- vs.7          >provision- vs.8        >preservation- vs.9

  >prosperity- vs.11-12     >prominence- vs.13

 

vs.15-68- warning of cursings- vs.15-19-general

  >disease vs.21-22         

  >drought & defeat vs.23-25 

  >disease and despair vs.26-29    

  >deprivation of land, family- vs.30-33

  >disease, defeat & dispossession vs.34-52

  >degradation vs.53-57     

  >debilitation and deterioration vs. 59-61

  >decimation and dispersion  vs.62-64     

  >despondency vs.65-67

  >deportation vs.68

These “deuteronomic” conditions reveal how chastisement for disobedience will be carried out upon Israel and are witnessed in Israel’s history at the end of

II Kings and II Chronicles culminating in the Exile.  All was conditioned upon

“if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments….” -28:1  and “you return to the LORD your God and obey his voice……with all your heart…all you soul” -30:2.