SOURCE FOR QUESTIONS
Zechariah 1:1 through 14:21

‍KEY VERSE FOR MEMORIZATION
“Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 1:3)

BACKGROUND

The Book of Zechariah contains messages delivered by the prophet Zechariah to the people of Judah. Beginning in 520 B.C., Zechariah joined the prophet Haggai in urging the post-exilic Jerusalem community to continue their task of rebuilding the Temple. However, the prophet’s messages went far beyond the importance of physical rebuilding. He reminded the people of their previous spiritual failures and called them to repentance, and also affirmed God’s continued commitment to them. 

Several Messianic prophecies are found in the Book of Zechariah. Zechariah’s inspired messages included that God would deliver and bless His people in a future kingdom in which the Messiah would reign throughout the world. Like many of his fellow prophets, Zechariah saw isolated glimpses of the future, so some events that were revealed to him in close succession (particularly those related to the Messiah) would actually occur thousands of years apart. 

The book’s fourteen chapters divide naturally into two sections. Chapters 1-8 describe eight visions that came to the prophet by night, followed by messages about the crowning of Joshua the high priest and answers to various questions; this portion was written while the rebuilding of the Temple was taking place. The second section, chapters 9-14, are messages delivered much later, after the Temple rebuilding was complete. These chapters contain multiple references to events beyond Zechariah’s day, including the first and second comings of Christ and His Messianic reign. 

The Book of Zechariah reminds us that while troubling circumstances exist in the world around us, God knows and controls the future. We cannot see even a moment ahead, but we can be sure that God keeps His promises, and He will never forsake His own.

SUGGESTED RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS‍

1. Zechariah delivered his first pronouncement to the apathetic and spiritually discouraged people of Jerusalem whose initial attempts to rebuild the Temple had been stalled for about ten years. What were the main points that Zechariah first conveyed at God’s direction? Zechariah 1:1-6
   
   Your group’s summary of verses 1-6 should include that God was “sore displeased” with the Jews’ forefathers who had not listened to the prophets in times past. The people of Zechariah’s day were exhorted to learn from their forefathers’ failure and not repeat the same errors. If the people of Judah would return to God, He promised to turn back to them. 
   
   Your group’s summary will give you an opportunity to briefly explain the background for the Book of Zechariah. (You may wish to list the following dates on a poster or whiteboard.)
      • In 586 B.C., judgment had come upon God’s people in Judah because of their rebellion against God. The Babylonians besieged Jerusalem, and when it fell, they burned the Temple, destroyed the city, and carried most of the remaining people into captivity.
      • In 539 B.C., the Babylonian Empire fell to forces of the Medes and Persians the night that Daniel interpreted the handwriting on the wall of Belshazzar’s palace.
      • In 538 B.C., the Lord stirred the new Persian King Cyrus to allow the Jewish people to go back to their homeland and rebuild God’s Temple in Jerusalem. The first group of returnees, led by Zerubbabel, came back to their native land in 537 B.C. The people had begun the rebuilding in 536 B.C., but had grown discouraged when they faced opposition.
      • In 520 B.C., nearly ten years after work on the Temple had ceased, Zechariah joined the prophet Haggai in encouraging the people in Jerusalem to finish the work of rebuilding. That is where today’s lesson begins.
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2. In chapter 1, Zechariah described the first two of a series of eight visions. These were vivid, God-given allegories that symbolized divine truths that Zechariah was to impart to the people. What did Zechariah see in these first two visions? Zechariah 1:7-11, 18-21
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   The first vision, verses 7-11, depicted a man on horseback in a grove of myrtle trees who was leading other horses and their riders. The second vision, verses 18-21, was of four horns and four carpenters. 
   
   You will need to explain the imagery and significance of the visions to your class. In the first vision, the interpreting angel near Zechariah explained that the horsemen had been surveying the earth and had brought back a report that the world was at peace. According to verses 12-17, this indicated that it was time for God to fulfill His promises to Israel. Although God had used Assyria and Babylon as tools to judge His people by taking them into captivity, He was angry with these nations for their oppression of Israel and was ready to judge them.
   
   In the second vision, horns symbolize the threatening power of a nation. Thus, the prophesy indicated that God would judge the nations that had victimized God’s people. The four “carpenters” in verse 20 referred to craftsmen who used different tools to force material into submission, signifying those God would use to conquer the nations that had overthrown Israel.
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3. Verses 16-17 of chapter 1 indicate that God had turned back to Israel with mercy. The scope of His commitment is seen in Zechariah’s description of future events: God’s house would be rebuilt, Jerusalem would be restored, the nation would be rebuilt and prosperous, and “the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.” The third vision, described in chapter 2, was of a man with a measuring line (verses 1-2) and towns without walls (verses 4-5). Seemingly, the future Jerusalem was measured to ensure that it would be large enough for the multitudes God would bring to it. What is the key message of both verse 5 and the final phrase of verse 8? How does that message apply to believers of our day?
   
   The key message behind these verses is that God will protect His people. In verse 5, the “wall of fire” that God will be to those in Jerusalem indicates His protection of them. In verse 8, the phrase “apple of his eye” refers to the pupil of the eye, thus denoting something precious, easily injured, and carefully preserved. 
   
   In response to the second question, your group should conclude that God still promises to protect believers. Physical protection is not guaranteed: we know the righteous also suffer affliction. However, believers are guaranteed spiritual protection. Though we face an enemy who is constantly attempting to destroy us, God encompasses, covers, and shields us, making us able to withstand any assault against us.
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4. Beginning in chapter 3, Zechariah’s visions began to deal with Judah’s moral condition. In the fourth vision, Zechariah saw Joshua the high priest (representing all of Israel) standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan at his right hand to accuse him. What took place in this vision, as described in verses 1-7?
   
   A summary should include the following.
      • Verse 2 – The Lord rebuked Satan before he could make an accusation.
      • Verse 4 – The angel of the Lord commanded that Joshua’s filthy garments, representing Israel’s iniquity, be taken away and Joshua reclothed with a change of raiment.
      • Verse 5 – Zechariah asked that a “fair mitre”—the headpiece of the high priest—be put on Joshua’s head. This was done and Joshua was reclothed.
      • Verses 6 and 7 – The Lord of hosts commissioned Joshua and defined his duties as high priest.
   
   You may wish to amplify verses 6-7. The Lord of hosts promised that if Joshua would “walk in my ways” (follow God in obedience), and “keep my charge” (perform his duties as instructed), then he would be allowed to “judge my house” and would have unhindered access to God like “these that stand by” (the angelic beings in the presence of God). 
   
   Ask your class to parallel this summary of Zechariah’s vision to how we obtain God’s mercy. Discussion should bring out that we stand before God clothed in the “filthy garments” of sin. God reveals His mercy by taking away our sins and clothing us with new, clean garments of righteousness. When God saves us, we must purpose to walk in His ways and obey the instructions given to us. When we do so, we too will have unhindered access to God.
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5. Zechariah’s fifth vision, described in chapter 4, was of a seven-branched golden candlestick—a menorah. This symbolized the Divine Presence in Jerusalem. On either side of the candlestick were two olive trees, representing Joshua (the high priest and religious leader) and Zerubbabel (the civil leader of the Judean exiles). Encouragement was offered in verses 6-10 to Zerubbabel, who had been given the responsibility of rebuilding the Temple. How do God’s words to Zerubbabel in verses 6-7 offer encouragement for us?
   
   Begin discussion of this question by reading verses 6-7 aloud. Verse 6 makes clear that Zerubbabel’s task would not be accomplished by “might” (denoting effort by a collective force such as an army) nor by “power” (indicating individual strength), but by God’s Spirit. Verse 7 indicates that the task of rebuilding seemed to be a mountain, but through the Spirit of God, all obstacles would be leveled like a plain. 
   
   Verses 6-7 offer encouragement for us when we face spiritual challenges that seem impossible. For example, we may be acutely aware of our own inability to break through the spiritual darkness around us. We may feel ill-equipped to accomplish a particular task that has been given to us in God’s service. However, we can be assured that any assignment from God will be accompanied by His enabling grace.
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6. Chapters 5 and 6 describe Zechariah’s final three visions, which disclosed details of God’s intent for Israel’s future. After these visions, God directed Zechariah to crown Joshua the high priest in a foreshadowing of the triumphant Messiah, Priest, and King who will one day reign. God concluded His directions by giving Zechariah a conditional promise. What was required of the people in order to see its fulfillment? Zechariah 6:15
   
   The requirement was to “diligently obey” God’s instructions. Remind your students that many of God’s promises are conditional. Just as the successful rebuilding of the Temple required careful obedience, we too must consistently obey God to receive His promises.
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7. Two years after Zechariah’s night visions, while the Temple was yet incomplete, the prophet received another message from the Lord. In it, God explained what He required of His people and why it had been necessary to punish them with exile. The people had become discouraged because of their situation, but in chapter 8 God described future changes that would take place in Israel. What specific hope did God offer the people in Zechariah 8:11-15?
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   In verses 11-15, God promised that the coming days would be different. The people and the land would be prosperous. While Israel had been despised by her neighbors, their nation would become a blessing to nations around them, because God’s purpose for Judah was to “do well” toward His restored people.
   
   Point out that the Temple rebuilding had begun many years earlier. During that time, the people had struggled in the land, and become disheartened by the hardships and the opposition of their hostile neighbors. But once more, God encouraged them with visions of future blessings. When we feel discouraged, we can ask God to give us a renewed focus on the blessed future that awaits us if we remain faithful to Him.
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8. Two groupings of prophecies (chapters 9-11 and 12-14) make up the remainder of the Book of Zechariah. Both are designated as “burdens”—messages that relate to a heavy judgment of God or a prophecy of a disastrous nature. These messages were given much later than those in the first section, and they include many references to the Messiah. What event does Zechariah 9:9 foretell? What does the fact that this prophecy was fulfilled tell us about prophecies of Christ’s Second Coming?
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   Zechariah 9:9 prophesies Christ’s Triumphal Entry when He rode into Jerusalem not long before His crucifixion (see Matthew 21:1-11). Remind your group that this prophecy was given about five hundred years before it happened. 
   
   In response to the second question, your students should conclude that just as this prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus came to earth the first time, so the prophecies of His Second Coming and Messianic Kingdom are certain to be fulfilled in exact detail.
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9. In Zechariah 11, Zechariah obeyed God’s instruction and enacted the role of a shepherd, foreshadowing the Good Shepherd who was to come. In verses 12-14, Zechariah requested compensation for the care he had bestowed upon the flock, leaving it to the recipients of that care to determine his value. In response they offered just thirty pieces of silver, which was the minimum price of a slave, or the required payment for the injury or death of a slave. This meager sum indicated their contempt for the shepherd’s favor and care. What did this enactment foreshadow?
   
   This foreshadowed the Jews’ rejection of the Greatest Shepherd, Christ the Messiah, who would come to earth, be despised and rejected by those He cared for, and be sold for the price of a slave. 
   
   Expand the discussion by pointing out that in verse 13, the Lord himself commanded the silver to be cast “unto the potter.” Zechariah obeyed, casting it to the potter “in the house of the Lord.” This was a prophetic action that was fulfilled when Judas attempted to return to the chief priests the money he had received as payment for his betrayal of Christ. When they refused it, he “cast down the pieces of silver in the temple,” and the chief priests then used the silver to purchase a potter’s field (see Matthew 27:5,7).
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10. Chapter 12 describes a time still in the future when adversarial forces will gather around Jerusalem, expecting to overthrow the city and divide up its resources. However, God will protect Jerusalem. He will enable the Jewish people to overpower their enemies quickly and supernaturally, in an indisputably divine deliverance. According to verse 10, how will the Jewish people respond after this amazing victory?
    
    Verse 10 records that the people will recognize that Jesus, the One they pierced and killed, is indeed their Messiah. This realization will cause them to mourn over their rebellion and ingratitude toward Him. Their grief will be so heartfelt and intense that it is likened to one who mourns over the death of an only son.
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11. Chapter 14 completes the prophecies of the Book of Zechariah. Verses 8-11 and 16-21 focus on the establishment of the Messiah’s Kingdom and the role Jerusalem will have during the Millennial Reign. As you review these verses, what aspects of Christ’s reign as described here do you look forward to and why?
    
    Answers to this question will likely vary, but they will give you an opportunity to summarize the blessings of the Millennial Kingdom that are described by Zechariah. These could include the following:
       • Verse 8 – The availability of “living water” for refreshment.
       • Verse 9 – The Lord will reign over the entire world.
       • Verse 11 – People will dwell in safety.
       • Verse 16 – All nations will worship Christ in Jerusalem.
       • Verse 20 – All things, even common objects, will be holy
    

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CONCLUSION

Zechariah, Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the people of their day did not live to see the fulfillment of all the glorious events promised in Zechariah’s prophecies. However, those prophecies teach the importance of faithfulness to God’s instructions and offer a glimpse into the glorious future for Israel and all of God’s children.