Zechariah

BACKGROUND

Courson’s Application Commentary, Old Testament Volume 2 (Psalms–Malachi) Zechariah

The year was 520 B.C. The Jews had just returned from a seventy-year captivity where they were held hostage in Babylon. Zerubbabel, their political leader, and Joshua, their spiritual overseer, had led the first contingent of approximately 42,000 back from Babylon to Jerusalem. Upon their arrival, they set out to rebuild the temple. Yet, although they began well, after a year, they had given up on the project. Facing intimidation by their enemies and division within their own ranks, they opted to build their own houses instead.

So the Lord sent two prophets to spark their passion, to reignite their devotion, to jump-start their conviction. “What do you mean it’s not time to do the Lord’s work?” Haggai asked. Haggai was a very pointed and practical kind of prophet whose message consisted of only thirty-eight verses. Zechariah, however, was of a much different flavor and personality. Speaking with visionary imagery, he goes on not for thirty-eight verses but for fourteen chapters as he calls the people to consider the vastness of God’s program.

The Lord used both of these men in tandem to get His people going again. And in this we see once again the Lord’s tendency to put different kinds of people together to do His work. In

Zechariah 1:1 (NKJV)

1] In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,

Courson’s Application Commentary, Old Testament Volume 2 (Psalms–Malachi) Zechariah 1:1

Zechariah means “Jehovah remembers.” Berechiah means “Jehovah will bless.” Iddo means “At the appointed time.” Thus, in this very first verse, we see the prophecy that sets the stage for the entire book: Jehovah remembers and will bless at the appointed time. “God has not forgotten you,” Zechariah will say. “He remembers the plans and promises He made to you. He will bless you at the appointed time—so don’t give up.”