R³ Devotional - Day 264

Zechariah wrote this book to give hope to God’s people by revealing God’s future deliverance through the Messiah.  This book is directed toward the Jews who had returned from their captivity in Babylon.  It seems that Chapters 1-8 were written approximately 520-518 B.C. and Chapters 9-14 were written around 480 B.C.

The exiles had returned from Babylon to rebuild the temple, but the work had been thwarted and stalled.  Haggai and Zechariah confronted the people with their task and encouraged them to complete it.

A prophet’s primary task was to proclaim the Word of the Lord, pointing out sin, explaining its consequences, and calling men and women to repentance and obedience.  Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, and Amos stand with scores of others who faithfully delivered God’s message despite rejection, ridicule, and persecution.  And at times were given prophetic visions foretelling coming events.

Nestled near the end of the Old Testament, among what are known as “minor prophets,” is the book of Zechariah.  As one of three postexilic prophets, along with Haggai and Malachi, Zechariah ministered to the small remnant of Jews who had returned to Judah to rebuild the temple and their nation.  Like Haggai, he encouraged the people to finish rebuilding the temple, but his message went far beyond those physical walls and contemporary issues.  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 in the drama of the end times and the ushering in of the messianic age.  Zechariah proclaimed a stirring message of hope to these ex-captives and exiles – their King was coming!
 
Zechariah encouraged the people to put away the sin in their lives and to continue rebuilding the temple.  His visions described the judgment of Israel’s enemies, the blessings to Jerusalem, and the need for God’s people to remain pure – avoiding hypocrisy, superficiality, and sin.  Zechariah’s visions provided hope for the people.  We also need to carefully follow the instruction to remain pure until Christ returns.

Besides encouragement and hope, Zechariah’s messages were also a warning that God’s messianic kingdom would not begin as soon as the temple was complete.  Israel’s enemies would be judged and the King would come, but God’s people would themselves face many difficult circumstances, before experiencing the blessing of the messianic kingdom.  We, too, may face much sorrow, disappointment, and distress before coming into Christ’s eternal kingdom.

Jesus is Messiah, the promised “great deliverer” of Israel.  Unlike Zechariah’s listeners, we look back at Christ’s ministry and mission.  As you study Zechariah’s prophecy, you will see details of Christ’s life that were written 500 years before their fulfillment.  Read and stand in awe of our God, who keeps His promises.  But there is also a future message that has not yet been fulfilled – the return of Christ at the end of the age.  As you read Zechariah, think through the implications of this promised event.  Your King is coming, and He will reign forever and ever.

God knows and controls the future.  We may never see more than a moment ahead, but we can be secure if we trust in Him.  Read Zechariah and strengthen your faith in God – He alone is your hope and security.