The Message of Zechariah: God’s Zeal for Zion
I. REVIEW
A. God raised up Zechariah and Haggai to encourage the people of Judah in their work of rebuilding the Temple after
the exile to Babylon. The people had started building with great zeal but had given up quickly because of negative
circumstances and the apparent insignificance of what they were doing. Only two years after they had begun to build they
gave in to apathy and indifference, focusing their time and energy on building their own houses and businesses.
B. The Lord raised up Zechariah to re-envision the people. They were burnt out and discouraged. They had forgotten
the significance of what they were doing. They needed fresh vision of God’s affections for them and understanding of why
they were doing this project in the first place. God knew that they would never get the project finished unless they were
doing it out of desire rather than duty.
C. As we build the House of Prayer it is critical that the prophetic anointing is in our midst, to give us vision for why we
are doing what we are doing. It is important to be reminded continually of our “prophetic history” (the promises God has
spoken over us personally, corporately and through understanding the prophetic end-time scriptures). We must give
ourselves to understanding God’s affections (growing in intimacy with God) and understanding God’s end-time plans
(eschatology).
D. The Apostle Paul was consumed with a hope for the future. It was what sustained him through the pressures and
opposition of the moment and enabled him to endure suffering with joy.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which
shall be revealed in us….24For we were saved in this hope. (Romans 8:18;24)
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:57-58)
E. God gave Zechariah eight visions over a period of one night full of encouragement for His weary people. They
were messages that reminded the people of God’s prophetic promises to them and his continuing commitment to fulfill
those promises. The visions are distinct but contain a single overarching message: “God Remembers!”
F. Zechariah’s visions contain as much encouragement to God’s people today who are seeking to build the House of
Prayer as they would have given to the people of Judah in Zechariah’s day. The key to understanding the visions is being
able to make sense of the symbols contained in them.
G. All eight visions contain symbols which were would have been meaningful and highly significant to the people of
Zechariah’s day. To get the most out of each vision we must put ourselves in the position of Zechariah and his audience
and ask, first, “what did these visions mean to them?” We then ask the question, “How do they apply to us?
II. THE VISION OF THE HORSEMEN
7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius,
the word of the LORD came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet: 8 I saw by night,
and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees in the hollow; and behind him
were horses: red, sorrel, and white. …"These are the ones whom the LORD has sent to walk to and fro
throughout the earth." (Zechariah 1:7-10)
A. Historical Context
1. Darius I came to the throne of Persia amid a period of great instability and social upheaval in the Persian Empire.
He spent his first two years in power putting down revolutions in various places throughout the empire that had erupted as
a result of a coup against the previous king of Persia. The inhabitants of Judah must have anticipated an imminent
overthrow of world power and the establishing of God’s kingdom on the earth as foretold by the former prophets.
2. Darius, however, was quickly able to restore order to the empire and towards the end of his second year in power
(Feb 519 BC), every insurrection had been successfully put down and the empire was “at rest” (cf. Zechariah 1:11). The
Persian Empire was stronger than ever and Darius had a sophisticated intelligence system in place to ensure that he was
aware of everything that was going on in every corner of the empire.
3. Darius had divided his empire into twenty states (satrapies) and linked them with a 1,500 mile highway that
stretched from Susa (Iran) to Sardis (Turkey). Mounted patrols known as the “eyes and ears of the king” toured the
empire and reported on local conditions. The sight of these patrols reminded the subject peoples who was in charge and
that they were being watched.
B. In light of Darius’ seeming iron grip on power and oppression of the peoples under him, the people are asking,
“Has God forgotten us?” “Doesn’t God care about the acts of injustice that are being committed against us?” “Why do the
wicked prosper?” “How long until you judge Your enemies and fulfill your promises to us?” Hope deferred makes the heart
sick (Proverbs 13:12) and their hope had been deferred.
C. The biggest temptation was to give up and conclude that either God had forgotten his promises or they were not
true in the first place. This was a people who were living in a season of “divine delay” and the visions given to Zechariah
were designed to be an encouragement to a people living in the “now but not yet” of God’s purposes for Israel.
D. In the first vision God answers resoundingly. He has not forgotten! While Darius has his surveillance network, God
also has His. The horses in the vision have returned from having walked to and fro (patrolled) throughout the earth (v. 11)
and they have returned to the rider on the red horse (the Angel of the Lord) to report on the condition of the nations.
E. The Angel of the Lord is stationed in a valley (or deep place) filled with myrtle trees. The low growing, fragrant
myrtle is used by Isaiah to represent new life coming to Israel out of a period of great tribulation and persecution at the
hands of the nations (Isaiah 41:19; 55:13). We could say that the myrtle trees in the vision are representative of Israel
and God’s promises of life and hope for her.
F. Though a degree of new life has come to Israel since the decree of Cyrus to rebuild the temple 16 years earlier,
the nation is still situated “in the depths”. The nation is destined to be under Gentile dominion and oppression for several
thousand more years until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (Luke 21:24). However, the encouragement to the people
of Judah is that the Lord (represented by the rider on the red horse) is stationed in their midst. He has not left them.
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. 2When you pass through
the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through
the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. 3For I am the LORD your God, The Holy
One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:1-3)
G. Contrary to what many scholars and theologians may say, God has not and will never cast off Israel and fail to
fulfill all His promises to her despite her sin and disobedience to Him throughout history. Paul confidently affirms this:
1 I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not!... 2God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew
(Romans 11:1-2)
H. The returning patrols bring a negative report that “all the earth is resting quietly” (1:11). This arouses an
intercessory cry to the Father from the Angel of the Lord (Israel’s chief advocate). It is not acceptable to Him that the
nations are “at ease” while little Israel suffers under cruel oppression from the enemies of God and there is no symbol
of God’s presence in their midst (the Temple).
I. An answer comes from the throne that is described as both good and comforting
"Proclaim, saying, "Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I am zealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with great zeal.
15I am exceedingly angry with the nations at ease; for I was a little angry, and they helped -- but with evil
intent." 16"Therefore thus says the LORD: "I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be
built in it, says the LORD of Hosts (Zechariah 1:14-16)
J. God is declaring that the little piece of real estate where they are building is not insignificant, rather it is the object
of his fiery affection. He is telling them, “I have not forgotten! Everything within me is fixed on this piece of property”
(see also Isaiah 62:1). Restoring Jerusalem is at the heart of God’s plan to establish His Kingdom on the earth and fill
the earth with His glory (Isaiah 11:9)
K. If Jesus is going to rule literally on the earth then He must rule from a geographic location. Scripture is clear that
the Messiah will rule over David’s Kingdom (kingdom of Israel) and that He will sit on David’s throne (in Jerusalem). For
Jesus to fulfill biblical prophecy, both the nation of Israel and the City of Jerusalem must exist forever.
L. God has established Jerusalem as His choice for Jesus’ global headquarters on the earth in the Millennium. Jesus
called it the City of the Great King (Matthew 5:35) for it is the city from which God’s appointed Messiah will rule over the
earth (Isaiah 9:6-7)
13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place: 14"This is My resting place
forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it. (Psalm 132:13-14)
M. God encourages Judah by declaring that he has no “plan ‘B’”. He is fully committed his chosen people and city.
He is going to return to Jerusalem (in the person of Messiah), His house will be built there (Temple) and the nation of
Israel will once more be the head and not the tail (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). What they are doing now in building the House
of Prayer, is a critical part of preparing for the breaking in of God’s Kingdom at Jerusalem in the days to come.
N. In contrast, God’s anger is directed not towards little Israel, but towards the nations that are “at ease” and who
have been oppressing God’s people. He declares he has been a “little angry” with Israel but he is exceedingly angry at
the nations who have oppressed the inhabitants of Jerusalem. In the second vision God elaborates on his plan to
destroy His enemies and the significant role that God’s people have in that process.
O. Through Zechariah’s visions God is giving His people His perspective on events. It is critical that, like the psalmist,
we give ourselves to meditating on God’s prophetic promises and His faithfulness so that we do not lose hope and cast
our lot in with the wicked.
12Behold, these are the ungodly, who are always at ease; they increase in riches. 13Surely I have cleansed
my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence. 14For all day long I have been plagued, and chastened
every morning. …16When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me-- 17Until I went into
the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end. (Psalm 73:12-16)