Year 6, Day 260: Zechariah 1

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Discipleship Focus: Prophet

• Prophet: A prophet is one of the fivefold ministry categories that is used throughout the Bible and especially lifted up in Ephesians 4:11. The prophet is primarily concerned with whether or not the people are hearing the voice of God.  The prophet is also concerned about whether or not the people are responding to God’s voice.

Zechariah is a prophet who happens to be a contemporary to Haggai and Zerubbabel.  While Haggai largely focuses on the people and their attention to the construction of the temple, Zechariah is concerned about the people and their righteousness before the Lord.

The introduction of this book is profound.  The first thing that we hear is a warning from Zechariah.  He tells the people to not be like their fathers, who ignored the messages that the prophets brought to them and went into captivity under the nations.  Zechariah desires that the people would be in genuine relationship with their God, caring about His ways and living a life that is in life with God.

Zechariah’s honest message continues.  Zechariah reminds the people that all of their ancestors are dead.  In fact, even the prophets are dead.  The only thing that remains after the time of captivity is His Word.  Where is it that we should put our faith?  God’s Word, of course.

Zechariah wants to make sure that as the people are returning from the exile that they are bringing a right mindset with them.  He doesn’t want them to come back and be solely focused on what they can make for themselves.  Even through the message of the four horses we hear that it is God who will prosper Jerusalem again and it is only through relationship with Him that we will find a life truly worth living.  This is the message that the prophet desires to drive home to his people.

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