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Zechariah-Detailed Outline
 
A. Introduction, The Call to Repent
 
Zechariah 1:1-1-6 Introduction: (October-November 520 BC). The Word of the Lord came to Zechariah. Lessons from the past are given… a call for repentance. “Return to me and I will return to you”. The Lord had turned away from their covenant-breaking ancestors. They had been warned to turn from their evil ways. They had not listened; and now where are they? God implores: Do not be like your forefathers; God’s words will be fulfilled. Zechariah pleads for wholehearted response to the Lord.
 
B. The Night Visions of Zechariah
 
Zechariah 1:1-17 Vision of the Horses and Riders
First Vision…Horseman Among the Trees: Rider on a red horse, with three other horses behind him. Horsemen are scouts sent by God to patrol the earth. World was at peace, but God heard the cry of Jerusalem. Nations had punished Jerusalem excessively. God will have compassion on Jerusalem; he has not abandoned them.
 
Zechariah 1:18-21 Vision of the Horns and Artisans
Second Vision…Four Horns. Four horns represent the four nations that had scattered Jerusalem (Possibly Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome). Four craftsmen were approaching to overthrow the “horns”. Their job is to punish the powers that went beyond. God’s limits in dealing with Jerusalem are told.
 
Zechariah 2:1-13 Vision of the Surveyor
Zechariah 2:1-5 Sees a surveyor with a measuring stick. Plan is to measure Jerusalem. City will have huge population and will be protected by God. City will have no need for walls (Might have been in response to those who worried that they should fix the city walls before working on the temple).
Zechariah 2:6-13 International homecoming for those who had been scattered is seen in the future. Exiles will return from all corners of the world.
 
Zechariah 3 Vision of Joshua the High Priest
Fourth Vision…Joshua (current High Priest) and Satan: Courtroom scene…High priest stands before God and Satan. Joshua stands before them in filthy garments. Garments are representative of the suffering people. God states people have suffered enough. Orders angel to clothe Joshua with clean, rich apparel. Prophecy to Joshua: observe the law and you will rule with authority. Basically people are given a brand new start, past sins are wiped out.
 
Zechariah 4 Vision of the Golden Lampstand
Fifth Vision…Lampstand of Pure Gold: Lampstand had a bowl with seven lamps each having seven spouts. Two trees stood one on each side. “Seven” symbolized perfection. God’s perfect eyes (lamps) are watching them. Seven spouts might indicate limitless supply of oil. (God’s power is unlimited). Two trees represent the two leaders, Joshua and Zerubbabel. Both will have a role in new government. Purpose of vision was to provide encouragement for completion of temple. Once again, God will supply the Spirit for the work.
 
Zechariah 5:1-4 Vision of the Flying Scroll
Sixth Vision…The Flying Scroll: It was thirty feet long and fifteen feet wide (big enough for all to read). An indication of need for spiritual renewal is seen. Those who break the covenant will continue to suffer. The scroll is apparently related to third and eighth commandments. Third: keep holy the Sabbath. Eighth: do not bear false witness. Both are central to the keeping of the covenant.
 
Zechariah 5:5-11 Vision of the Woman in the Ephah
Seventh Vision…A Woman in a Basket: Wickedness (personified by a woman) was covered in a basket. Two winged women take basket to Babylon. God takes initiative in removing wickedness from the land. Basket is permanently sealed. Wickedness must be removed, not “managed”.
 
Zechariah 6 Vision of the Chariots
Eighth Vision…Four Chariots: The mission of the four horses id described. Four horses are different colors, about to set off on worldly mission. Go to the four corners of the earth. Mission is to establish God’s peace over the earth (All these visions still involve building of the temple. Idea seems to be that by rebuilding the temple, the Kingdom of God will be renewed throughout the world).
 
C. The Crowning of Joshua
A prophecy regarding Joshua: Zechariah was to take gold and silver brought by Josiah. Fashion a crown for Joshua (like a coronation). Then Joshua would crown Zerubbabel. King and Priest together would rule. Only value was symbolic. Persia would not allow a real “king”
 
D. Questions Concerning Fasting
 
Zechariah 7:1-7:3 The Question
 
Zechariah 7:4-7:14 The Lesson From History
Involves fasting in remembrance of destruction of Jerusalem. Does this involve having a pity-party or true repentance? Fasting should be directed to a spiritual goal and not self- satisfaction. Ritual without moral integrity is meaningless. Remembering the reasons for the exile. Recalling the past will be understood as warning for the present. Obeying the letter of the law without the spirit. Listed four tests for spiritual reality. Are they administering true justice? Are they showing mercy and compassion? Are they oppressing others – widows, poor, or foreigners? Are they thinking evil? Ancestors refused to obey these commands, were scattered. It could happen again.
 
Zechariah 8:1-8:23 God’s Purpose of Blessing for Israel
Zechariah 8:1-17 Restoration of Israel: Prophecy specifying God’s blessings. A new character for Jerusalem is seen…a land of peace where children can play. The people will be regathered; God will be their God, they will be his people. Point of all this is to encourage people to keep working on temple. Reasons for past discouragements have passed.
Zechariah 8:18-23 Joyful fasts, glad occasions, and happy festivals! Mourning and their position in the world will be reversed. Not only will they have joy, but they will also be source of blessing for Gentiles. All peoples will go to Jerusalem to participate in worship of one true God. “In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’” They will see the holiness and godliness of Jews and want to join with them. God’s saving work includes all
 
E. The Future of the Nations, Israel and Messiah's Kingdom
 
Zechariah 9:1-11:17 The First Burden The Coming of the King
Zechariah 9:1-10:1 Restoration of Davidic Kingdom
Zechariah Zechariah 9:1-8 A great military campaign: Judgments that will accompany the messianic age. Prophecies against various foreign nations are given. After crushing foreign nations, God will reside by Jerusalem.
Zechariah 9:9-10 The Coming of Jerusalem’s King: City will rejoice at the advance of its king. “Riding on a colt the foal of an ass”. Weapons will be abandoned in light of peace. Peace will extend throughout the world. Dawning of a new age.
Zechariah 9:11-10:1 Deliverance and blessing of the people. Before there can be peace, there must be full deliverance. God is up to the task – prisoners will be freed. Much battle terminology is given…bow, sword, arrow, and trumpet. But God will give them the victory. With deliverance comes blessing. God controls the fields, rain (crops will be plentiful).
 
Zechariah 10:2-12 Return to the homeland. Warning to the idolatrous leaders. Household gods, diviners are unreliable. God’s anger burns against the shepherds for not caring for people. Therefore, he will take care of them himself. “I will have compassion on them…I am the Lord their God”.
 
Zechariah 11:1-17 The Rejection By the Shepherds
Zechariah 11:1-3 Collapse of the shepherds is seen. A metaphor for collapse of the world’s powers is seen. Shepherds will wail because their glory will be spoiled.
Zechariah 11:4-14 Rejection of the good shepherd. Earlier shepherds neglected flock, let them flounder. Prophet tries to be good shepherd. Flock scorns him until he puts them out to pasture. Takes two staffs… and calls them Grace and Unity. The Good Shepherd got rid of other bad shepherds. Flock still didn’t appreciate anything good shepherd did. The shepherd broke his staff called Grace, which signified the end of the relationship…asked for his pay (30 pieces of silver). Broke his staff called Unity, which signified end of brotherhood.
Zechariah 11:15-17 Rise of worthless shepherd: People finally get what they deserve…a shepherd who doesn’t care about them. (Seems to be metaphor acknowledging that at one time they had bad rulers. But when a good ruler came, the people rejected him. So they got what they deserved…another bad ruler).
 
Zechariah 12:1-14-21 The Second Burden Deliverance of Jerusalem
 
Zechariah 12:1-13:9 Siege of Jerusalem
Zechariah 12:1-9 Cleansing of foreign invaders. “In that day” there will be an attack against Jerusalem. Unbeknownst to enemies, God will have made city impenetrable. Conquering armies will experience calamities. Victory will go to Judah. Those who attack Judah are really attacking God.
Zechariah 12:10-14 Mourning over beloved martyr whom they have “pierced”. God will give them a spirit of compassion. Entire city will mourn, even the very land will mourn. Individual houses will mourn.
 
Zechariah 13:1-9 Beginning of hope – Purification of People, Prophets, and Leaders
Zechariah 13:1 Inhabitants and house of David will have opportunity to purify themselves. An image of a fountain with continuous flowing water is described. Clean flowing water is the very symbol of cleansing.
Zechariah 13:2-6 Idols, false prophets will be cut out of the land. Prophecy will end because so many did it badly. People would avoid becoming prophets at all costs. Result would be a return to pure faith.
Zechariah 13:7-9 False shepherds would also be eliminated. Some of the sheep would be lost in the process with only 1/3 surviving. Those who survive will be like metal purified by fire…stronger. They will see the day when God claims them as his people
 
Zechariah 14:1-21 Return of the Messiah…Apocalyptic Finale:
Apocalypse puts Jerusalem at center of world history. Before God can appear in all His glory, earth must go through birth pangs.
Zechariah 14:1-2 The conflict gathers around Jerusalem. Nations of the world have united to destroy it
Zechariah 14:3-15 The Lord enters the battle. As the divine warrior (the Messiah), He will deliver His people. Cosmic upheavals turn tide. Victory will go to Jerusalem. The Lord will establish His kingdom over the whole world. Israel’s enemies will be punished.
Zechariah 14:16-21 Survivors will come to know the Lord. They will come to Jerusalem to participate in worship. The characterization of the messianic kingdom will be in holiness. All uncleanness will be removed; all will be clean. There will be no distinction between clean and unclean. People will have a new sense of God’s presence and power.
 
 

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