Pentecost 6 Sunday School

Context is King!

The History of God’s People (Past, Present, Future)

Past: Garden ==> Abrahams Family==> Exodus/Desert ==> Jerusalem ==> Exile ==> Return ==> Christ.

Present (Church age): The church age does not have historical narrative in the Bible, but it does have have general eras. Early Church ==> Post Nicene Church ==> Medieval Church ==> Reformation ==> Enlightenment ==> Modern Church

Future (End of all things): Ironically the church at the end is much described than the church here and now.

Zechariah: Prophet to the Post-Exile Jews.

Prophetic Office: The instruments of God’s word

Noah: Preaching ministry while building the Arc.

Moses: Recording God’s word to Israel

Samuel/Nathan: God’s words to the king

Major Prophets: God’s messengers before and during exiles

Minor Prophets: Similar task to Major Prophets. Also speak to God’s people after returning from the Exile.

John the Baptist: The bridge from the Old Testament Prophets to the Christ who is God’s word.

Prophetic office of the church.

Zechariah 9

3 Major sections

Prophetic utterance against those who currently have rule in different parts of the Promise Land. These are utterances of judgement and warning. They are not an invitation to repent but a sentencing for what has already been.

An utterance of hope to the People of Israel (Today’s Reading). The theme is the arrival of a Davidic king to lead Israel

An utterance of hope as to what God will accomplish. He will be victorious in light of the peaceful nature of the Davidic king.

Verses 9-12

Zechariah 9:9–12 “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout in triumph, Daughter Jerusalem!

The command from God to celebrate what he is doing. The Mountain set aside for the Temple, Zion, and the City of God’s presence Jerusalem are personified as Daughters. The king coming for his bride

Bridegroom/Bride Covenantal lense of the world.

Look, your King is coming to you; he is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

The arrival of the Victorious one, but not in a military triumph. Arrival in a state of humility.

Righteous, Victorious, Humble

I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem. The bow of war will be removed, and he will proclaim peace to the nations.

The implements of war are replaced with promised peace.

His dominion will extend from sea to sea, from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth. As for you, because of the blood of your covenant, I will release your prisoners from the waterless cistern. Return to a stronghold, you prisoners who have hope; today I declare that I will restore double to you.”