About This Book
Zechariah prophesies to the same post-exilic community as Haggai, providing eight night visions, messianic prophecies, and promises of future restoration to encourage the returned exiles. Beginning two months after Haggai, Zechariah calls the people to return to God, warning them not to be like their fathers who refused to listen to former prophets. Zechariah then receives eight symbolic visions in one night. First, a man riding a red horse among myrtle trees reports that the whole world remains at rest while Jerusalem lies in ruins—God promises to return to Jerusalem with mercy.
Second, four horns representing nations that scattered Judah are destroyed by four craftsmen. Third, a man with a measuring line learns Jerusalem will be so populous it cannot be contained by walls—God Himself will be a wall of fire around it. Fourth, Joshua the high priest stands in filthy clothes before the angel, representing Israel's sin; Satan accuses him, but God rebukes Satan, removes Joshua's filthy garments, and clothes him in rich robes, symbolizing forgiveness and restoration. Fifth, a golden lampstand with two olive trees represents God's Spirit accomplishing His purposes—not by might nor power but by His Spirit.
Zerubbabel will complete the temple. Sixth and seventh visions show a flying scroll pronouncing curses on thieves and liars, and a woman in a basket representing wickedness being removed. The eighth vision shows four chariots going throughout the earth as God's spirits. A crown is made for Joshua, but prophetically represents the Branch who will build the temple and bear royal honor.
Questions about fasting lead to God's message that He desires justice and mercy, not ritual. The book's latter portion contains messianic prophecies quoted in the New Testament: the King coming gentle and riding on a donkey, thirty pieces of silver as His price, piercing the one they have pierced, striking the Shepherd and scattering sheep. Zechariah also prophesies about the Day of the Lord when nations will attack Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives will split, the Lord will come with His holy ones, living water will flow from Jerusalem, and the Lord will be king over all the earth.