[Faith-talk] {Spam?} Baffling Bible Questions Answered for Monday, August 15, 2016

[Paul Smith]

Hello and greetings to my astute Bible students.  I hope that your day 
is going well, by God's matchless grace and His providential care.

It is my suggestion, and only mine, that as you read this email about 
the prophet Zechariah and his messages, that, if possible, you read or 
listen to your Bible version of choice, as it will make the following 
answers to the questions come alive for you even more than just reading 
this email.  That's what I did when I first encountered this, and the 
Lord spoke to me in a mighty way.  Hopefully He will do the same for you.



Zechariah

Question:  Who wrote this book, and what themes and issues does it deal with?

Answer:  Zechariah ministered to the small Jewish community in Judah 
after the return of some of the Jews from the Babylonian captivity.  He 
lived at the same time as Haggai, and his preaching, too, was 
instrumental in encouraging the Jewish people to finish rebuilding the 
Jerusalem temple that Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed.

The first part of this book, chapters 1-8, contains messages given 
between 518 and 520 B.C.  These focus on the long period of time during 
which God's people would be forced to live as subjects to various 
Gentile world powers.  The final prophecy, founds in chapters 9-12, was 
given at a much later date.  Some estimate it as late as 480 B.C.  In 
this prophecy Zechariah looks far ahead and describes final judgment 
and the kingdom to be established by the Messiah at history's end.  A 
number of prophecies in this section clearly refer to the first coming 
of Jesus and His earthly ministry

Taking these sections together, we find that Zechariah's message is one 
of waiting and hope.  The future God intends for His people is not 
always reflected in our present experience.  But when it does come, it 
will be glorious indeed.



Zechariah 1-6

Question:  What does each of these eight night visions of Zechariah mean?

Answer:  The chart below describes and summarizes the message of each 
of these visions.  Remember that each vision, addressed to the 
postexilic Jewish community, was intended to encourage the Jews as they 
waited not just decades but centuries for God's promise of a Messiah to 
be kept.

THE VISION:
report the world is at peace (ch. 1)
IT'S MEANING:
is not yet shaking the nations.  It is not the time for Messiah to appear.

THE VISION:
hewn away by workmen, one after the other (ch. 1). Horns
ITS MEANING:
represent power.  The four world empires described by Daniel must come 
and go before Messiah appears.

THE VISION:
God sends an angel to survey Jerusalem (ch. 2).

ITS MEANING:
will protect the city with walls of fire until Messiah appears.

THE VISION:
The high priest is cleansed and restored (ch. 3)

ITS MEANING:
coming messiah will be God's annointed priest remove Israel's sin.

THE VISION:
God shows Zechariah two gold lampstands and two olive trees (ch. 4)

ITS MEANING:
God will provide the poverty-stricken community with the resources 
needed to finish the temple.

THE VISION:
Zechariah sees a flying scroll (ch 5).

ITS MEANING:
God will judge those who violate His Word.  Gentiles may rule the Holy 
Land, but God is still in charge.

THE VISION:
A woman is placed in a basket and removed from Judea.

ITS MEANING:
The woman is a personification of wickedness, which God will remove 
from the land after Messiah comes.

THE VISION:
The high priest is crowned (ch. 6)

ITS MEANING:
The Messiah is destined to be both priest and king.



Zechariah 7:5

Question:  What did God mean when He asked through Zechariah, "When you 
fasted and mourned ... was it really for me that you fasted?"

Answer:  The fasts mentioned in this chapter commemorated the 
initiation of the siege of Jerusalem and the fall of that city to the 
Babylonians.  For nearly 70 years the Jews had remembered that terrible 
time with days of fasting and weeping.  Now that the city was populated 
again, some residents of Judea were asking whether it was necessary to 
observe these traditional fast days.  God's response was a pointed 
question.  Were these fast days an indication of genuine repentance, or 
simply expressions of self-pity? Did the people fast for God, or for 
themselves? As the passage goes on, we see an important principle laid 
down.  If real repentance is involved, the best way for God's people to 
display it is not by holding fast days but by commitment to a truly 
moral lifestyle:  "Administer true justice, show mercy and compassion 
to one another.  Do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the alien or 
the poor.  In your hearts do not think evil of each other" (7:8-10).  
This is still the kind of fasting that God requires.

And now you know as much about Zechariah's message as I do.  Of course, 
many commentaries have been written on this, but at least this is good 
start.  Hope your reading of the above plus reading of all Scriptures 
cited was a blessing for you.

And that will do it for today.  Until next Monday when, Lord willing 
another week of this column will be posted, may the God of Abraham, 
Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and collectively, in 
these last days in which we live.  Your Christian friend and brother, Paul