Zechariah 9:1-10

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Beginning of Zechariah’s First Prophetic Burden

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Alexander the Great would come as a conquering hero.

  2. Jesus the Greater would come as a humble servant.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Don’t practice the open and point method of biblical guidance.

QUESTIONS

  1. Which Old Testament books were written by post-exilic prophets?

  2. Why are they called minor prophets? Why are they called post-exilic?

  3. Under whose leadership did the Jews return from captivity? What work did the returning Jews begin under his leadership?

  4. Did this project go well?

  5. Which prophets did the Lord raise up to motivate the people? Did it work?

  6. In a series of prophetic visions, messages and burdens, how did Zechariah encourage the people?

ANSWERS

  1. The last three – Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

  2. Because they wrote smaller books. Because they were all written after Israel’s seventy-year captivity in Babylon.

  3. Zerubbabel. They began to rebuild Solomon’s Temple that had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.

  4. At first, but then the people became discouraged and they quit building.

  5. God raised up Haggai and Zechariah to minister to the people and motivate them to finish the job of rebuilding the temple. Yes, it worked. The people returned to the work of rebuilding the house of the Lord and the rebuilt temple was completed in 516 B.C.

  6. He encouraged them in view of the great future that was in store for the nation of Israel.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Read Zechariah 9:1-8. Trace the march and conquests that Alexander the Great of Greece would take in 332 B.C. There is a promise amidst these conquests that God made to the Jewish remnant that He Himself would protect them. Indeed, Alexander the Great did not conquer Jerusalem and did not destroy the temple. Alexander the Great came as a conquering hero, but it was by God’s choice in order to judge the evil practices of the people. Archaeology has confirmed the destruction as predicted. Even amidst times of war, God gives a grace note to His people. Do you see God’s grace note amidst the terrorism of our day?

  2. Read Zechariah 9:9-10 and note the contrasts between Alexander the Great and the Lord Jesus, the Greater. Alexander the Great came riding on a mighty stallion; Jesus the Greater came riding a lowly donkey. Alexander the Great came as rich and powerful; Jesus the Greater came as poor and meek. Alexander the Great brought fear and dread; Jesus the Greater brought joy and peace. Alexander the Great came as a slayer of his foes; Jesus the Greater came as a Savior of His foes. Alexander the Great came as a foreign king; Jesus the Greater came as the rightful king, Israel’s Messiah. Both Alexander and Jesus died at age thirty-three. Alexander the Great was a burned-out war hero; Jesus the Greater is Savior of the world. What a contrast! Aren’t you thankful that Jesus the Greater is your Savior and Lord and coming King?

CHALLENGE

  1. How do you make decisions? How do you look to the Lord for an answer? Beware of the open and point method. Beware of taking scripture out of context. God does use the Bible as guidance in making decisions, but use the Bible as God intended.

KEY VERSES

  • “The eyes of men and all the tribes of Israel are on the Lord.” Zechariah 9:1

  • “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, you King is coming to you.” Zechariah 9:9

  • “He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be from sea to sea.” Zechariah 9:10



Old Testament, Zechariah, TalksDeb Harmszechariah 9:1-10