Zechariah

Zechariah: A Prophet’s Visions and Messages of Hope

Zechariah was a prophet who lived during a tough time for God’s people. They had been taken away from their home and were finally allowed to return, but things were still difficult. Imagine having to rebuild everything from scratch! That’s the situation Zechariah and his people faced.

What’s in the Book of Zechariah?

Zechariah’s book is full of interesting visions and messages from God. He had eight main visions, kind of like dreams but more powerful. These visions gave the people hope and helped them understand what God wanted them to do. Here are some key points from Zechariah:

• God’s Promise: God promised to be with His people and help them rebuild their city and temple. He wanted them to know He hadn’t forgotten them.
• The Importance of Obedience: Zechariah reminded the people that it was important to obey God’s commands and not fall back into their old ways of doing things.
• The Coming Messiah: Zechariah talked about a special leader, the Messiah, who would come in the future to bring peace and justice. This gave the people hope for a better future.

Why Should You Care?

Even though Zechariah was talking to people a long time ago, his message is still relevant today. Here are some reasons why Zechariah’s book is important for young people:

• God’s Faithfulness: Zechariah reminds us that God keeps His promises, even when things seem difficult. We can trust Him to be there for us, no matter what we face.
• The Importance of Hope: Even in tough times, Zechariah’s message offers hope for a better future. This reminds us to keep our eyes on God and trust that He is working everything out for good.
• Jesus is the Messiah: Zechariah’s prophecies about the Messiah point to Jesus. Learning about Zechariah helps us understand how Jesus fulfils these prophecies and brings hope to the world.

Questions for Reflection

1. How do you think Zechariah’s visions helped the people during their difficult time?
2. What does Zechariah’s message teach us about God’s character?
3. How can we apply Zechariah’s teachings to our own lives today?
4. What are some ways we can hold onto hope, even when things seem tough?
5. How does learning about Zechariah help us understand Jesus better?

Challenge

Take some time this week to read parts of Zechariah and think about what God might be saying to you through his message. Remember, even though this book was written centuries ago, its message of hope and God’s faithfulness is just as relevant today.

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Like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, Zechariah was not only a prophet, but also a member of a priestly family. The chief purpose of Zechariah (and Haggai) was to rebuke the people of Judah and to encourage and motivate them to complete the rebuilding of the temple.

This prophecy is suitable to all, as the scope is to reprove for sin, and threaten God’s judgments against the impenitent, and to encourage those that feared God, with assurances of the mercy God had in store for his church, and especially of the coming of the Messiah, and the setting up his kingdom in the world.

Matthew Henry