Zechariah
The book of Zechariah contains visions and prophecies from the Lord, urging the Israelites to turn from their evil ways and promising to return to them with mercy. The Lord declares His jealousy for Jerusalem and displeasure with the heathen, promising to rebuild His house and spread prosperity. The prophet Zechariah sees various visions, including a man on a red horse, four horns and four carpenters, a golden candlestick, a flying roll, and four chariots, each representing God's judgment and redemption. The Lord also promises to bring a future leader, the Branch, who will grow up and build the temple of the Lord, bearing glory and ruling on his throne as both priest and king. The book also contains messages of judgment on the nations, including Damascus, Tyre, and the Philistines, and promises of salvation through a humble king who will ride into Jerusalem on a donkey. Ultimately, the Lord will bring rain and fertility to the land, redeem and gather His people, and establish a dominion from sea to sea.
Chapter 1
The Lord expresses displeasure with the fathers of the Israelites for not heeding the prophets' calls to turn from their evil ways. The Lord urges the current generation to turn to Him, promising to turn to them in return. Zechariah has a vision of a man on a red horse among myrtle trees, accompanied by other horses, which the angel explains are those the Lord has sent to patrol the earth. The angel of the Lord asks how long the Lord will withhold mercy from Jerusalem and Judah, and the Lord responds with words of comfort, declaring His jealousy for Jerusalem and displeasure with the heathen. The Lord promises to return to Jerusalem with mercy, to rebuild His house, and to spread prosperity. Zechariah then sees four horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem, but also sees four carpenters who will cast out the horns of the Gentiles.
Chapter 2
A man with a measuring line is sent to measure Jerusalem, but another angel intervenes, saying the city will be inhabited without walls due to its large population, and God will be its wall of fire and glory. The people are called to flee from the land of the north and be delivered from the daughter of Babylon. God will shake his hand against the nations that spoiled them, and they will be a spoil to their servants. The Lord will come and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and many nations will be joined to him.
Chapter 3
Joshua, the high priest, stands before the angel of the Lord with Satan at his right hand, accusing him. The Lord rebukes Satan and orders Joshua's filthy garments to be removed, symbolizing the removal of his iniquity, and he is clothed with new garments and a mitre. The angel of the Lord then gives Joshua a message from the Lord, promising him a place of authority if he walks in God's ways and keeps His charge. The Lord also promises to bring forth a servant, the Branch, and to remove the iniquity of the land in one day, bringing peace and prosperity.
Chapter 4
The prophet Zechariah is shown a vision of a golden candlestick with seven lamps and two olive trees, one on either side. The angel explains that the vision represents God's word to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, that the rebuilding of the temple will be accomplished not by human might, but by God's spirit. The angel also says that Zerubbabel will complete the temple, and that the two olive trees represent the two anointed ones who stand before the Lord of the whole earth.
Chapter 5
A flying roll is seen, representing a curse that will cut off those who steal and swear falsely, and it will enter the houses of those who do such things, consuming them. An angel then shows a vision of an ephah, a unit of measurement, with a woman inside representing wickedness, and a talent of lead is placed on top of it. Two women with wings then lift the ephah and carry it away to the land of Shinar to build a house for it.
Chapter 6
The prophet sees four chariots with horses of different colors, representing the four spirits of the heavens that go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth. The chariots are sent to different parts of the earth, with the black horses going to the north country, the white horses following, and the grisled horses going to the south country. The Lord then instructs the prophet to take silver and gold and make crowns for Joshua, the high priest, declaring that the Branch, a future leader, will grow up and build the temple of the Lord, bearing glory and ruling on his throne as both priest and king.
Chapter 7
The people of Israel sent a delegation to the temple to ask the priests and prophets if they should continue to fast and mourn in the fifth month, as they had done for many years. God responded through Zechariah, saying that their fasting had been for their own benefit, not for Him, and that they had ignored the words of the former prophets to execute true judgment and show mercy to one another. The people had refused to listen to God's words and had hardened their hearts, leading to great wrath from the Lord, who then scattered them among the nations, leaving the land desolate.
Chapter 8
The Lord declares His return to Zion and Jerusalem, where He will dwell and the city will be called a city of truth. The city will be filled with old men and women, as well as boys and girls playing in the streets, and the Lord will save His people from the east and west. He promises to bring prosperity to the remnant of His people, and they will be a blessing to the nations. The Lord commands the people to speak truth to one another, execute judgment with truth and peace, and not imagine evil against their neighbors. He also promises that the fasts will be turned into joy and gladness, and people from many cities and nations will come to seek the Lord in Jerusalem.
Chapter 9
The Lord will bring judgment on the nations, including Damascus, Tyre, and the Philistines, and will ultimately bring salvation through a humble king who will ride into Jerusalem on a donkey. The Lord will cut off the chariots and horses of war and will speak peace to the nations, establishing a dominion from sea to sea. He will also deliver his people from captivity and will defend them against their enemies, saving them as a flock and making them a crown of beauty.
Chapter 10
The Lord will bring rain and fertility to the land, but the idols and false prophets have spoken lies and led the people astray. God's anger was kindled against the shepherds who failed to care for the flock, but He will strengthen and save the houses of Judah and Joseph. The people will be redeemed and gathered from various lands, and they will increase and live with their children, remembering the Lord. God will also bring down the pride of Assyria and the power of Egypt, and strengthen His people in His name.
Chapter 11
The Lord commands Lebanon to open its doors so that fire can devour its cedars, symbolizing judgment on the proud and powerful. The Lord then instructs the prophet to feed the flock of slaughter, which is being exploited by its owners and shepherds. The prophet acts out this role, cutting off three shepherds and eventually refusing to feed the flock, breaking his staff to symbolize the broken covenant with the people. The prophet is then paid 30 pieces of silver for his services, which he casts to the potter in the house of the Lord. The Lord then instructs the prophet to take on the role of a foolish shepherd, symbolizing the coming of a leader who will exploit and neglect the flock.
Chapter 12
The Lord will make Jerusalem a source of trouble for the surrounding nations, and all who try to take it will be severely punished. The Lord will protect Jerusalem and its inhabitants, making even the weakest among them strong like David. The Lord will also pour out a spirit of repentance on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, causing them to mourn for the one they pierced. A great mourning will occur in Jerusalem, with each family mourning separately.
Chapter 13
A fountain will be opened for the house of David and Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness. The Lord will cut off idols, prophets, and unclean spirits from the land, and false prophets will be punished by their own families. In that day, true prophets will be ashamed of their former visions and will deny being prophets, while the Lord's shepherd will be struck, causing the sheep to scatter. However, a third of the people will be refined through fire and will call on the Lord's name, and He will acknowledge them as His people.
Chapter 14
The day of the Lord is coming, and all nations will gather against Jerusalem to battle, but the Lord will fight against them and save the city. The Lord will stand on the Mount of Olives, which will split in two, creating a great valley, and the people will flee to the valley of the mountains. The Lord will be king over all the earth, and there will be one Lord with one name. Jerusalem will be safely inhabited, and the people will live in peace, but those who fought against Jerusalem will be punished with a plague that will consume their flesh. The nations that survive will go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord and keep the feast of tabernacles, and those who do not will be punished with no rain.
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