Zechariah: Intro and Chapter 1

Introduction: Zechariah is a common Hebrew name, meaning “the Lord Remembers.” This one is the grandson of the Iddo, one of the priests who returned in the first wave under Cyrus’s decree. This make the prophet much younger than his tag-team partner, Haggai. The latter wrote short and rather blunt messages, while Zechariah is much more lyrical, with numerous visions in parabolic language.
Most of the early visions come in a single night. The latter chapters (9-14) appear to be written much later in the prophet’s life, and are loaded with Messianic promises. The objective was to fire a vision of what God could and would do with those building His Temple if they would only obey and remain faithful.
Chapter 1: The prophet dates himself (October 520 BC) and identifies himself as a priestly prophet. He plunges immediately into a message very like that of Haggai, his partner. He reminds the people they have been in trouble for a very good reason, and notes repeatedly He is the Sovereign Lord. They ignored the prophets and died, along with the prophets who warned them. But His Word has not died; His revelation is eternal and unwavering. The conditions under which they were punished remain the same, just as the promises for grand blessings.
A few months pass, and it’s mid-February 519 BC. Haggai is still around, but writes no more. Zechariah is paying attention to the Lord and receives a vision. In the vision, the prophet is down in the Kidron Valley and sees a rider on a red horse among the myrtle trees growing there. This rider is identified as the Angel of the Lord, whose signficance is he speaks directly for God. Behind him among the trees are more horses and riders. The rich symbolism is not meant to draw direct notice, but the message is: Regardless what mans sees, God’s angels report there is no political disturbance which can affect the folks living in Jerusalem. There is no excuse for slacking off on building the Temple.
This lead angel then addresses Jehovah, noting the Temple has been in ruins roughly seventy years (586-519 BC) and God has been quite angry with the Judeans. How much longer? The prophet reports knowing God answers His angel with pleasant words, and the angel reports God is now favoring Zion again. He granted some opportunities to the pagan nations around Judah, and it seems they had grown complacent about that, so He’s ready to stir things up again. He’s going to move His people to stretch the surveyor’s line over His Temple — to get serious about finishing the building — and restore a bustling and prosperous life to the cities of Judah.
That vision fades into another, as the prophet sees four horns, representing how Judah is surrounded by powerful enemies. Upon asking the Angel of the Lord what they mean, Zechariah is told they symbolize the nations which God used to correct His straying people. Then the Lord shows him four skilled workmen, symbolizing men who have studied the revelation of God. Like a skilled worker who can cut off those horns, they can terrorize the pagan nations if the people of God will simply learn and obey the Word. Again, God will back His Covenant if His people will simply walk in it. Nothing can frighten them if they stand in the shadow of Jehovah.
As always, the prophet speaks of what God wants to do. The actual results rest in the hearts of the people.