Today’s Tasting: Zechariah 1-4
Chapter 1: The word of the Lord comes to Zechariah and tells him to tell the people, “Return to me and I will return to you” (Zechariah 1:3 ESV). They had once again turned to evil ways forgetting to worship God.
Zechariah has a vision of a man mounted on a red horse, standing in a ravine of myrtle trees. The man among the trees was the angel of the Lord, who would be sent among the earth to restore peace. God’s people were captives of Babylon for 70 years. Here, God speaks words of comfort and assurance that when they return to Him spiritually, He will return to them.
Zechariah looks up from the man in the trees and sees four horns and four craftsmen. The horns symbolize the four nations that oppressed Israel – Egypt, Assyria, Babylon and Medo-Persia. The Craftsmen symbolize the nations God uses to overthrow Israel’s enemies.
Chapter 2: Zechariah sees a man with a measuring line and asks where he is going. The man says he is going to measure Jerusalem. The Lord declares for his people to return to Jerusalem and escape Babylon.
10 “Shout and be glad, Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord. 11 “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. 12 The Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”
Chapter 3: A vision of Joshua symbolizes Judah and the filthy clothes he wears symbolizes their sins. God reveals his mercy stating that he chose to save his people in spite of their sin. The “Branch” symbolizes the Messiah. This passage foretells of the coming of Jesus Christ, Messiah Savior.
Chapter 4:
Zechariah’s vision of a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, symbolize God’s power as a reflection in the light.. He also sees two olive trees, one on the right and one on the left of the lampstand. The olive trees represent a steady supply of oil. God’s power is everlasting! God declares to Zechariah that Zerubbabel will be the one responsible for rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem.
Today’s Nourishment: “With spectacular apocalyptic imagery and graphic detail, Zechariah told of the Messiah, the one whom God would send to rescue his people and to reign over all the earth. Zechariah is one of our most important prophetic books, giving detailed messianic references that were clearly fulfilled in the life of Jesus Christ. The rebuilding of the temple, he says, was just the first act of drama of the end of times and the ushering in of the messianic age. Zechariah proclaimed a stirring message of hope that these ex-captives and exiles – their King is coming!”
NIV Life Application Study Bible: Zechariah
The Old Testament has been difficult for me to read because of the state the world was in before Christ came. I think these messages in Zechariah leave us with inspiration and encouragement. The prophecies and visions in these chapters tell of the need for Israel to repent and renew their covenant with God, and the imminent coming of the Lord.
We live with the same needs: a need for repentance and a need to recognize the Blood Covenant between God, our Father, and God, the Son. I encourage you to “Shout and be glad, Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord” (Zechariah 2:10). Your King has come! Live like a daughter of the King!
- With hope because of no worries for the future
- With faith because of no fears for the present
- With love because of no guilt of the past
Live in faith, hope, and love today!
Humbly,
Vanessa Long
Salt Lake City, UT
Thanks, Vanessa for this encouraging word! Bless you and I choose to “Shout and be glad in my King Jesus!”