Day 264 – Zechariah 5-9

Talking Points

• God continues to speak to Zechariah through a series of complex visions. The message is still an encouragement to complete the temple.
• The first high priest after the return to Jerusalem is Joshua, a descendant of Aaron. Zechariah is told to fashion a crown from gold and silver and to crown him. This was revealing a prophecy of the coming Messiah, the Branch who would build the temple and unite the offices of High Priest and King in one Person.
• Again, God is calling for spiritual renewal as well as a physical restoration of the temple. God tells His people their fathers had been hardhearted, neglecting His Word. In judgment, because they did not heed His Word, He did not hear theirs.
• Calling for a renewal of the people’s hearts, God makes clear His expectation of justice, honesty, and righteousness.
• God questions the motivations for the fasting days — were they done in His honor or were they man-made and observed in self-righteousness? A good question for us today: Do we seek to bless God, or do we seek something from God? True worship is always God-focused. Is it actually for Him?
• Instructed by God and encouraged by His promises of hope, the people are exhorted to, “let [their] hands be strong” (Zechariah 8:9,13). Committed action follows convinced hearts!

Thoughts

Sometimes, when I sin, in my stubbornness and shame, I will delay in coming to God quickly, confessing my offenses and seeking His forgiveness. I fear that in those times I’m operating in a wrong understanding of God’s character, thinking of Him as angry and ready to punish.

And, then, I read His Word. Look at how God deals with His people. He is angered over their sin — rightfully so. He does render His righteous judgments on them. Yet, His Word is full of the record of His patience, His pleading, and His promises. He just wants them to turn to Him. He promises to relent and restore.

So, even in His frustration and anger with a people who keep rejecting Him, God has an eye for the future of hope, peace, and joy that they will experience because of His grace, work, and faithfulness.

This will all be realized in the coming of the Messiah, God’s grace, work, and faithfulness on full display!

“Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey…” (9:9)