God of Focus

What do you do in times of despair?

Who do you look to when your world falls apart?

Who do you seek when you feel all alone?

When the weight of life is oppressive and full of despair and disappointment, when evil has done its worst, take courage. God is still God, He is your God, Who knows you, wants you, and waits for you.

Be of good courage, God sees you.

Take heart, God cares for you.

Rest assured, God will not waste your hardship, but has good planned for you.

Zechariah ministered to a people who from every human perspective had aver reason for despair and disappointment.

Douglas Mangum, ed., Lexham Context Commentary: Old Testament, Lexham Context Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020), Zec.

Zechariah encourages the people to look away from their despairing circumstances and to look for the blessings that the Lord has planned for them.

Israel was in a stage of existence where God’s blessing seemed to be just a fairy-tale of good promised. It seemed impossible, but whimsical to consider, but not for the average Israelite.

In the midst of their despair, God sent 8 visions of hope, glimpses into the very plan of God for their lives, so that His people could learn, even in the midst of their most dire circumstances, that there is hope in the Lord and His Word.

The transcendent God is working out his eternal purpose for Judah and Jerusalem, equipping his covenant people to fulfill the spiritual role for which he chose them (Zech. 1:7–6:15).

There is no room in Zechariah’s thinking for glib optimism, but when evil has done its worst the Lord remains King, and will be seen to be King by all the nations.

Joyce G. Baldwin, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 28, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1972), 62.

If you would allow me, come with me to Zechariah’s book as we explore the God of focus, the God who sent 8 messages, 8 visions of hope to his people in despair. Can we, for this short time we have together, bring God back into focus, in the midst of this blurry world in which we live?

Hope #1 - God is Jealous for you! (Zechariah 1:7-17)

“A man, his horses, and Myrtle”

Hope #2 - God fights for you! (Zechariah 1:18-21)

“Four horns, four craftsman, and the enemy”

Hope #3 - God is with you! (Zechariah 2:1-13)

“Two angels, two Ho Ho’s, and the apple of God’s eye”

Hope #4 - God restores you! (Zechariah 3:1-10)

“Satan, our filth, and a filthy land”

Hope # 5 - God is strong for you! (Zechariah 4:1-13)

“Lamps, the Spirit, and the eyes of the Lord”

Hope #6 - God judges evil around you! (Zechariah 5:1-4)

“The flying scroll, the purging, and setting things right”

Hope #7 - God removes injustice! (Zechariah 5:5-11)

“The barrel, wickedness, and the wings of a stork”

Hope #8 - You can trust God to end evil! (Zechariah 6:1-8)

“Horses, chariots, and peace”

Even in the midst of their most dire circumstances, there is hope in the Lord and His Word, which tells you that God is for you and no one can stand against you.

Look away from despair and look to God, who sees you, wants you, and promises to save you.