Today's passage: Zechariah 14

Helpful thoughts:

• This final chapter of Zechariah contains details of the second coming of Christ.
• The events that will occur during this time are such that there will be no debate or doubt as to whether Christ has come.  There have been and there could very well be more who come and claim to be Christ (Matthew 24:3-8).  But none of them will be able to accomplish all this.
• The phrase, “Holy to the Lord” (Verse 20) had been inscribed on the turban of the High Priest.  The phrase signified that he had been set apart for service to the Lord.  When Christ returns, everything will be considered “Holy to the Lord.”

Questions to consider:

1. What can we learn about the sovereignty of God in today's reading?  What does the first line of verse 2 teach us?
2. What aspects of Christ's return and the way things will be during his millennial reign caught your attention the most?  What do you look forward to seeing the most (We will be there!)?
3. Why will it make sense for the whole world to celebrate the Feast of Booths (Or “Tabernacles”) in that day?  To whom do all these feasts eventually point?  How will celebrating God's rescue of Israel out of slavery in Egypt teach the world about God's sovereignty in bringing about our redemption through Christ?

Today's passage: Zechariah 13

Helpful thoughts:

• There are two units in today's chapter:
  • Verses 1-6 – Israel is cleansed by the fountain of Christ's blood and the people will live in righteousness.
    • Public idolatry will cease.
    • False prophets will have no success deceiving people.
      • They will have to hide their idolatry and wicked practices from the rest of society (Verses 3-6).
  • Verses 7-9 – The Good Shepherd is struck for our sins and a remnant will be saved out of Israel.
    • Jesus refers to this prophecy in Matthew 26:31.

Questions to consider:

1. What does this passage teach us about the basis of everyone's salvation, whether they are saved now or at the second coming of Christ?  On what grounds must a person be saved?
2. What did we learn about the obedience of God's people during the millennial kingdom?  If people are not truly loyal to Christ, what will they have to do?  Will they succeed in hiding their rebellion forever (Revelation 20:7-10)?
3. How do these prophecies help us to think about obedience?  Christ died to pay the penalty for our sins, and now how are we to live before our holy and sovereign God? (Romans 6:1-4)

Today's passage: Zechariah 12

Helpful thoughts:

• Even when every nation on the face of the earth opposes God and His people, they still lose.  Our God will never know defeat.
• God will pour out His grace on the people of Judah, therefore they will look to Jesus (The one “whom they have pierced”) and repent with weeping.
  • The Holy Spirit will do a great work to bring those people to repentance and salvation in Christ when He returns.  In that day, Israel will be saved (Romans 11:25-27).
• The final verses declaring the repentance of the people is careful to explain that this repentance will not be a formality spoken by the heads of households, but an individual repentance.  Every individual soul will be brought to conviction, repentance and faith in Christ Jesus as Lord.

Questions to consider:

1. Why should we listen when the Lord declares truth in His Word?  What are His “credentials” listed in verse 1?
2. How do those credentials give assurance and legitimacy to His promises in this chapter?  Who alone could accomplish what God is promising here?
3. What is necessary for Israel to repent?  What is poured out before their hearts are broken in repentance? (Ephesians 2:8-9, Ezekiel 36:26)

Today's passage: Zechariah 11

Helpful thoughts:

• This chapter prophesies the Jews' rejection of Messiah and God's leaving them to their own destruction, even allowing an evil shepherd to come and treat them harshly (Antichrist).  The initial judgment expressed appears to be their defeat to the Romans in A.D. 70.
• The covenant which was broken was that of Deuteronomy 28:1-14.  This was a conditional covenant.  Israel did not obey and God discontinued His protection and blessing.
• In verse 12, the shepherd asks what he is worth.  The response of the Jews was 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16, Matthew 27:3-10).

Questions to consider:

1. Shepherds used a rod to ward off predators and protect their sheep.  They used their staff to guide and direct the sheep and keep them together.  How might these uses help us to better understand the illustrations of the two staffs being broken in two?  Why would the rod and staff bring us comfort in light of these typical uses (Psalm 23)?
2. When God's chosen nation (Israel) rejected the Lord, what happened to her unity (Verse 14)?  What should we then expect will be that which keeps us united as a church?
3. What will become of the worthless shepherd?  Will he succeed in his evil work?  Even in this sad prophecy about the future of Israel, what hope remains in the end?

Today's passage: Zechariah 10

Helpful thoughts:

• Because Israel knew what God had promised (Both in the present and in the distant future), they were to know whom to pray to for the rain.
  • It doesn't make sense to trust in God for our eternity and then pray to idols for temporary sustenance.
• The methods of false religion are these (From verse 2): Uttering nonsense (Delusions), lies, false dreams, and empty consolation (Vain comforts).
• God is not a provider who gives us all the things we think we need to achieve security, He is our security (Verse 4).  In Him we have everything we need, including Christ our Cornerstone.

Questions to consider:

1. How can we grow in being discerning so that when we hear false information and are encouraged to value the temporary more then the eternal, we are able to see the threat and stand firm in our faith?
2. Is it wrong to pray for rain, or for a job, or a raise in pay?  Why or why not?  What makes the difference in the request?  (James 4:3)
3. What would make those idols seem worth “trying out” to get what we want?  What are some values and/or some modern day idols that people run to in order to “manifest” their desires?  How does the truth set us free from these traps?

Today's passage: Zechariah 9

Helpful thoughts:

• These first eight verses are believed to speak of Alexander the Great's conquest through the regions surrounding Israel.  Alexander never fought against Jerusalem (Verse 8a).  And Christ the King will ensure no one ever defeats her again once He begins His reign (Verse 8b).
• Chapters 9-14 give prophecy concerning the first and second advents of Christ.
  • The triumphal entry is depicted in verse 9 (Matthew 21:5).
• The Jewish people were told in advance that their Messiah would be from the line of David, just, bringing salvation, and humble (Verse 9).
• In Christ's second coming, He will bring the final victory (Verse 15, Revelation 19:11-21)

Questions to consider:

1. Why will God save His people (Verse 11)?  Is it because of their ability to obey?  Whose word/promise and whose blood makes our salvation sure?
2. What is the stronghold to which God had called His people to return?  Where/Who was and is their safety?
3. If we look to other things or people in this world for safety, what will we find?  Who is our place of refuge and peace? (Psalm 46:1)

Today's passage: Zechariah 8

Helpful thoughts:

• The prophecy of this chapter continues the response to the question from those who had come from Bethel in the beginning of chapter 7.  (Compare verse 19 with 7:3)
• God promises future blessing to Israel and bases the commands for righteous living on these promises.
  • This is NOT, “Do good or else…”
  • It is, “I am surely going to do these things, therefore you should live in light of it.”
• The word is truth (John 17:17), Jesus is the truth (John 14:6), the Spirit is truth (John 14:17), and God's city will be the city of truth (Verse 3).

Questions to consider:

1. Though the number ten is probably figurative in verse 23, what is the ratio given of Gentiles to Jews in the millennial kingdom?  What is the implication of what the worship of Christ will look like in Jerusalem “in those days?”
2. Why would it make sense to look forward to God's promises as motivation for obedience?  How is that different (Other than timing…) than looking back at His previous faithfulness?  If God's future promises are absolutely certain, what does that teach us about His sovereignty?
3. We are motivated to lie and fight because we want something, or we fear the results are not going to go our way.  How does God's control of the outcome free us to love peace and truth (Verse 19)?  How can we apply that to our relationships today?

Today's passage: Zechariah 7

Helpful thoughts:

• Different fasts had been observed by the Jews during the time of exile.  This fast in the fifth month was specifically ordered to mourn the burning of the temple.  At the time of this prophecy the temple was still two years away from being completed.
• The motive of the fasting is called into question.
  • It should have been an act of contrition and repentance.
  • Instead it had become an act of self-pity.
• When the chief end of man is to benefit self, wrong-doing and empty religious rituals will feel “right.”  We justify our wrongs by considering the end goals and God even becomes a means to our own ends.
  • When our end goal is to worship and glorify God, we read verses 9 and 10 with a humble heart and a desire to act accordingly.

Questions to consider:

1. In what ways are verses 9-10 so very similar to Micah 6:8?  How is God calling us to live in a world that is not characterized by these virtues?
2. What changes must take place in our own hearts to cause us to live in this way?  (Ephesians 2:8-10)
3. There is a great challenge given to measure the sincerity of our hearts in this chapter?  Why do I give?  Why do I treat people the way I do?  Why do I serve?  Why do I go to church?  (1 Corinthians 10:31)  Thinking honestly about the motives of our heart gives us an even greater appreciation for the work of Jesus Christ on the cross in our place!

Today's passage: Zechariah 6

Helpful thoughts:

• This vision from verses 1-8 connects to the first vision (1:8).
  • These horses and chariots are working out God's judgment on the nations and preparing the way for the Messiah to reign (“The Lord of all the earth”).
• It is believed the two mountains of bronze represent the Mount of Olives and Mt. Zion.  The valley that lies between is called the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
  • The name, “Jehoshaphat” refers to the judgment of God.
• The crowning of Joshua pictures the future truth of a priest-king.  A “Branch” who will unite the offices of priest and king, Jesus Christ.

Questions to consider:

1. Jesus is our Great High Priest, our King, He will rule as the Lord of all the earth, and He will bring judgment with Him when He comes.  What is the only right response to these truths?  How then should we live?
2. Can you find different persons of the Trinity in this chapter?  What are they doing? (Or, what will they be doing?)  How is their shared essence put on display?
3. With whose blood has King Jesus made the once-and-for-all priestly atonement for our sin (Hebrews 9:12)?

Today's passage: Zechariah 5

Helpful thoughts:

• There are two separate visions in today's chapter:
  • The scroll
    • This scroll measured 30 ft. by 15 ft. and contained God's word against sin.
    • Lying and theft are mentioned specifically, it is believed that these two specific references were representative of all God's commands.
  • The woman in a basket
    • This vision continues the idea of God's commitment to deal with and remove sin.
    • The land of Shinar is that of Babylon (Revelation 17-18).
    • The use of the phrase “Build a house for it” is used as religious terminology.  This would be a place of worship, idolatry.

Questions to consider:

1. What is true of our standing in relation to the contents of that scroll?  What prevents us from being cleaned out or expelled? (2 Corinthians 5:21)
2. What else happened that might come to mind when we think about Shinar (Genesis 11)?  How would this use of Shinar and Babylon continually point us to the idea of rebellion against God?
3. When people reject and rebel against God, they might feel like they have great liberty, but if God is able to show these visions to Zechariah ahead of time, and if this all is within the providential plan of God for the ages, could there ever be a truly successful rebellion against God?  Is God ever not in control?  Instead of liberated, what are people who are rejecting God (John 8:34)?