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“I Am Zealous for Zion” Part 4

Explore the book of Zechariah, which contains visions, questions, and burdens that urge God's people to rebuild their lives with truth and righteousness. Discover the significance of fasting and the lessons we can apply to our lives today.

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“I Am Zealous for Zion” Part 4

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  1. Zechariah “I Am Zealous for Zion” Part 4

  2. Outline • Introduction (1:1-6): a call to return to God • Visions of Zechariah (1:7 – 6:15) • Questions of Zechariah (7:1 – 8:23) • Burdens of Zechariah (9:1 – 14:21)

  3. Zechariah the Prophet • 1:1 – 520 B.C. – God’s people need stirring up to rebuild the unfinished Temple with toil (compare Haggai 1:1-2:9). • 7:1 – 518 B.C. – God’s people need stirring up to rebuild their unclean lives with truth (compare with Haggai 2:10-19) .

  4. Zechariah the Prophet • 7:8-9 “Execute true judgment...” • 8:3 “The city of truth…” • 8:8 “In truth and righteousness” • 8:16-17 “Speak the truth…” • 8:19 “Love truth and peace”

  5. Question About Fasting • Question: “Should I weep in the fifth month?” (7:1-3; 8:19) • This is not the required fast of the 7th month connected with the Day of the Atonement (Lev. 16:29; 23:27; Num. 29:7) • These are additional fasts added by the Jews during the Babylonian captivity

  6. Question About Fasting • Question: “Should I weep in the fifth month?” (7:1-3; 8:19) • 10th month (2 K. 25:1-2): city besieged • 4th month (2 K. 25:3-7): walls breeched • 5th month 2 K. 25:8-21): temple burned • 7th month (2 K. 25:22-26): Gedaliah killed

  7. Question About Fasting • Answer (7:4 – 7:14): the past 1. Fast to me, not to yourselves; follow my word, not your man-made tradition (7:4-7) 2. Stubborn refusal to follow God’s word led the Jews into the Babylonian captivity: the why of the captivity is more important (7:8-14)

  8. Question About Fasting • Answer (8:1 – 8:23): the present 3. The Lord and his people will return to Jerusalem (8:1-8) 4. The inhabitants of Jerusalem will live in peace and be a blessing (8:9-13) 5. The Lord will do good and the people need to do good (8:14-17)

  9. Question About Fasting • Answer (8:1 – 8:23): the present 6. Replace your fasting with feasting (8:18-19) 7. Many people will come to seek the Lord’s favor in addition to the Jews (8:20-23)

  10. Lessons for Today • Our religious actions need to be directed to the Lord, not to self (7:1-6; Rom. 12:1; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:23; Heb. 12:28; 13:15) • We need to follow God’s word over human tradition (7:7; Mt. 15:8-9)

  11. Lessons for Today • Proper inward attitude must accompany proper outward action (7:8-10; Mt. 23:23; Lk. 18:11-12; Tit. 1:16) • When we do not listen to the Lord, he does not listen to us: hear the word of the Lord (7:11-14; Prov. 28:19; Isa. 1:15; Jas. 4:8; 1 Pet. 3:12)

  12. Lessons for Today • God’s people are to be known for their truth and righteousness (8:1-8; Eph. 4:24; 5:9; 6:14) • Fear not and be strong (8:9-13; Deut. 31:6; Josh. 10:25; 1 Chron. 22:13; 28:20; Isa. 35:4; Dan. 10:19)

  13. Lessons for Today • The Lord will do good, but will we do good (8:14-17; Eph. 4:25ff)? • Love truth and peace (8:19; Prov. 23:23; 2 Thess. 2:10; 1 Pet. 3:11) • “Let us go … I will go … we will go” is a great attitude (8:21, 23; Isa. 2:3)

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