Zechariah Prophecy Study - Chapters 7-10 - Messianic Literary Corner

1.   Zech.7:1-3 "The people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-Melech   together with their men, to entreat the Lord by asking the priests of   the house of the Lord Almighty and the prophets, "Should I mourn and   fast in the fifth and seventh month as I have done for so many years.

a.   Judah in exile had instituted a fast to entreat the Lord during its 70   year exile. But, the Lord wasn't interested in the fast, but rather in   the true motivations of the people of Israel.

b.   In Chapter 7 the Lord is addressing the sin of Israel, which many   individuals hadn't yet fully recognized, even after those many years in   exile.

c.  Bethel wasn't  being singled out as being any more sinful than the rest  of the nation,  but rather its inhabitants were exemplary of many of the  returning  exiles.

2.  Zech. 7:4-7  When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months  for the  past seventy years, was it really for me that you fast and when  you  were eating and drinking were you not just feasting for your  selves.

a. references of falsely fasting (Is.1:11-20, Is. 58:1-5)

b. reference of true fasting (Is. 58:6-14)

c.   We see in these references that fasting is not considered an  acceptable  offering, until it is preceded by a humble, loving and  obedient  attitude by the believer. We also are accountable for our  actions  towards others in our walk of faith.

d.   Jer.17:19-27 Keep the Sabbath Day Holy - The Sabbath is an example of   how the Lord calls us not only to obey him in deed, but in our deepest   motivations behind our deeds.

3.   Zech. 7:8-10 This is what the Lord Almighty says, administer true   justice, show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the   widow, or the fatherless, the alien, or the poor. In your hearts do not   think evil of one another.

4. Zech. 7:11-14 "But they refused to pay attention" (Is. 9:10 the bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones.)

a.   It was not until the Messiah Yeshua walked the earth, that we truly  saw  these commands obeyed. Let us compare this portion of Zechariah to  the  Gospels. (Mt. 5:1-48, Mt. 6 : 16-18 (fasting), Mt. 7:1-6 (judging),  Mt.  8:14-17,...

b.  The Lord  is still dealing with the root of idolatry in Israel, after  the exile.  Pride and self concern are the root of sin. But sin must be  dealt with  and exposed before true repentance can take place,

c.   The returning exiles are again reminded of their sin, so as not to   dismiss its greatness and fall back into deceit and false religiosity.

1.   It does not appear initially, but chapter 8 is a continuation of   chapter 7, which is a warning against false religiosity and hard   heartedness. We shall see this as we progress.

2. Zech.8: 2-8 A prophesy of Jerusalem's blessing in the Messianic Age

a.   Zech. 8:2 This is what the Lord Almighty says, " I am very jealous for   Zion, I am burning with jealousy for her. (ref. Joel 2:18, Pr. 6:34,   2Co. 11:21)

   i.  Please  note: Human jealousy is not altogether unlike Godly jealousy, in  that  Godly jealousy and human        jealousy both desire to preserve the   bonds of faithfulness as in a marriage. Godly jealousy though, does         not  possess the destructive tendencies of the flesh, but rather  purposes to  lead back His beloved to her       "first love"  relationship with the Lord.

 b.   Zech.8:3 This is what the Lord says, "I will return to Zion and dwell   in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the "City of Truth" and the   mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain, (ref.   Is. 1:26, Joel 3:21, Zech. 1:16, Zech. 2:10-11)

 c.   Zech. 8:4-6 "Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the   streets of Jerusalem, each with cane in hand because of his age. The   city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there. (This   prophecy is not fulfillled in Zechariah's time, but is marvelously   fulfilled in the Messianic Age, due to a miraculous extension of   mankind's natural lifespan. (ref. Is. 65:20, Jer. 30:20, 31:13)

d.Zech.   8:7-8 " I will save my people from the countries of the east and the   west. I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my   people and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God. (ref.   Is. 11:11, 54:13, Ez. 1:19-20, 36:28, 37:12, Zech.10:10, Heb.8:10,   Rom.11:26-27) (This prophecy was partially fulfilled in Zechariah's   time, but it mostly points to the Messianic Age.)

3. Zechariah 8:9-13 (Let Your Hands Be Strong!)

a.   These verses are an encouragement from the Lord at the time of the   rebuilding of the temple (515 B.C.). This rebuilding foreshadows the   future Messianic Age.

b.   Zech. 8:11-12 But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people   as I did in the past, declares the Lord Almighty. (Is.12:1)

c.   Zech. 8:12 I will give all these things as an inheritance to the   remnant of this people, (ref. Is. 61:17, 60:21, Joel 2:22-27, Ge 27:28,   Ob. 1:17)

d.  Zech.8:13 As  you have been an object of cursing among the nations, 0  Judah and  Israel, so will I save you and you will be a blessing, (ref.  Is. 40:2,  52:1-3, 61:7)

4.   Zech.8:14-19 The Lord Instructs Judah To Seek The Welfare Of One   Another And To Turn Its Appointed Fast Days Into Happy Festivals.

a. The Lords instructions To Judah

  i. Don't be afraid,

 ii. Speak the truth to each other.

 iii. Render true and sound judgment in your courts,

 iv. Don't plot evil against your neighbor,

 v. Don't swear falsely,

 vi. Love truth and peace.

5. Zech.8:20-23 A Closing Prophecy Of Israel's Blessing In the Messianic Age.

a.   Zech.8:20-]2 "And many peoples and powerful nations will come to   Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat Him. (ref. Is.  2:2-3,  44:5, 45:14, 49:6, Zech. 2:11)

b.   Zech. 8:23 "In those days ten man from all languages and nations will   take firm the 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." (ref. Is.  60:14,  49:21-29)

1.   The Lord speaks of the judgment of Israel's enemies in the future. We   are not given a time frame for their judgment, but history ? indicates   the fall of many of these cities prior to the Common Era. An  apocalyptic  judgment is not negated in this prophecy, but it is not  stressed  either.

2. Zech.9:1 The word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrach. (the ancient name for Syria - Smith's Bible Dictionary)

a.   Hamath - principal city of upper Syria, in the valley of the Orontes   (near Antioch). Descendants of Ham (Canaanites). Solomon's reign   encompassed Hamath (1 Ki 4:21-24). The city is now called Hamtill .

b.   Tyre - The commercial city of Phoenicia. (Hebrew = Ty or - rock) and   its modern name is Sur in Lebanon. Tyre was laid siege by Alexander the   Great in 332 B C and razed. It was rebuilt and was prosperous when   Yeshua visited it in his ministry. (Mt 15:21).

c.   Sidon - Wealthy Phoenician city on the eastern coast (now Lebanon).  Its  Hebrew name (Tsidon = fishery) and its modern name is Saida,  Lebanon.

d. Ashkelon (or Ascalon) = (migration) One of the five major Philistine cities. Its a seaport 10 miles north of Gaza.

e.   Gaza - (the fortified, the strong) Another one of the five major   Philistine cities. The last town on the SW frontier facing Egypt.   Alexander the Great laid siege to it for 5 months, but he was not able   to subdue it.

f.  Ashdod -  (Azotus) = (a stronghold) Another of the five Philistine  cities,10  miles north of SW frontier, between Gaza and Joppa. It was  assigned to  Judah by the Lord in Joshua's rule, but it was never subdued  by Israel.  It is now an insignificant village called Esdud.

g.   Ekron - (torn up by the roots or emigration) Another Philistine city.   Most northern of all five cities. Was allotted to Judah, but was never   taken. Its modern name is Aki r , 5 miles SW of Ramleh, Syria.

3. The Coming Of Zion's King (Zech.9:9-13)

a.   Zech.9:9 Rejoice greatly, 0 Daughter of Zion. Shout, Daughter of   Jerusalem! See, your king comes to, righteous and having salvation,   gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (A  first  coming verse - ref. Mt . 21:5, John 12:15)

b.   Zech.9:10 "He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend   from sea to sea... (Messiah's future rule in the Messianic Age will be   over the entire earth.) (ref. Hos.l:7, Micah 4:3, Is.2:4)

c.   Zech.9:11-13 "Even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to   you. (A promise of blessing in the Messianic Age.) (ref. Joel 2:22-27,   3:16, Dt. 21:17, Is. 40:2, 60:21, 61:17, Gen.27:28, Ob. 1 : 17)

4. The Lord Will Appear In Judgment Over The Earth (Zech. 9:14-16)

a.   Zech. 9:14-15 Then the Lord will appear over them, his arrow will  flash  like lightning, (ref. Is. 31:5, 66:15, Hab. 3:11 Zech.14:3-4,  Mt.24:31)

b.  Zech.9:16-17  The Lord will save them on that day as the flock of his  people. They  will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown. (Is.10:20,  Jer.31:11)

1. The Lord's ever-present care for Israel is not taken to heart by its past spiritual leaders who practiced deceit (Zech.10:1-3)

a.   Zech.10:1 He gives showers of rain to men and plants of the field to   everyone. (Question? Is God only speaking of his provision of the   physical, or is he using the physical to emphasize how we are utterly   dependent on him for everything, especially the spiritual nourishment  of  the Lord, giving us righteousness and wisdom.) (ref. Psalm 104,   Lev.26:3-13)

2.   Zech.10:2-3 (The Lord Hates Deceit!) "The idols speak deceit, diviners   see visions that lie, they tell dreams that are false, they give  comfort  in vain. Therefore my people wander like sheep oppressed for  lack of a  shepherd." (ref. Is. 44:24-28, Jer. 23:16-18, 23:1-6,  25:34-36)

3. Zech.10:3-6 (The Lord Will Again Strengthen Judah! )

a. What is the Lord's purpose in initially speaking of his kindness and then judgment, followed again by kindness?

b.   Zech. 10:4 Front, Judah will come the cornerstone, from him the tent   peg, from him the battle bow. (Ref. Ps.118:22, Is. 22:23, 28:16-18,   Zech. 9:10)

c.   Zech. 10:6 "I will strengthen the house of Judah, I will restore them   because I have compassion on them. They will be as though I had not   rejected them, for I am the Lord their God and I "will answer them."   (ref. Ps. 102:13-18, Is. 14:1-2, Ez. 36:37 )

4.   Zech.10:7-8 I will signal for them and gather them in., Surely I will   redeem them, they will be as numerous as before, (ref. Jer. 33:22, Ez.   36:9,24-29)

5.  Zech.10:9-11 "Though I  scatter them among the peoples yet in distant  lands they will remember  me. They and their children will survive and  they will return. (In  reference to the post Babylonian exile and the  times close to the end  of this age.)

a.  We read that Israel will  return from both Egypt and Assyria, Does Egypt  and Assyria symbolically  represent demonic principalities in this  present age? Parallels in the  physical and demonic principalities:

  i. Both Egypt and Assyria sought Israel's total destruction or subjugation.

  ii. We refer to Rev.11:8, where Egypt is allegorically used as representing a demonic principality,

  iii. Egypt symbolizes the world in its demonic and seductive pleasures that lull one into becoming a slave         to it.

  iv.   Assyria symbolizes the utter depravity and hedonism the world offered   that once winning us over seeks our destruction. (2 Kings 18:51-32)

6.   Zech.10:12 I will strengthen them in the Lord and in his name they  will  walk. (A prophecy for Zechariah's time and of the time approaching  the  return of the Messiah Yeshua.) (Micah 4:6-8)

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