Outline+and+Summary+of+Zechariah

toc

=**Outline of the Book**=

A. Introduction/Call to Repentance (1:1-6) B. Zechariah’s Eight Night Visions (1:7-6:15) a. Man Among the Myrtle Trees (1:7-17) b. Four Horns and Four Craftsmen (1:18-21) c. Man With Measuring Line (2:1-13) d. Cleansing of High-Priest (3:1-10 e. Gold Lampstand and Two Olive Trees (4:1-14)  f. Flying Scrolls (5:1-4)  g. Woman in Ephah (5:5-11)  h. Four Chariots (6:1-8)  C. Appendix: Person of Assurance (6:9-15)  D. Four Messages of Zechariah (7:1-8:32)  a. Questions about Fasting (7:1-3)  b. Four Responses (7:4-8:23)  i. Rebuke for wrong motives (7:4-7)  ii. Repentance required (7:8-14)  iii. Restoration of favor (8:1-17)  iv. Fasts become feasts (8:18-23)  E. Two Burdens of Zechariah (9:1-14:21)  a. Messiah’s Rejection at First Advent (9:1-11:17)  b. Messiah’s Acceptance at Second Advent (12:1-14:21)[i]

=**Summary of the Book**=

**Background, Date, Settings, Facts**
The opening words of Zechariah say that Zechariah began his prophetic ministry in the second year of Darius of Persia (Zech. 1:1) and Darius’ rule is dated to begin in 522 B.C., [ii]therefore Zechariah is dated in the year 520 B.C.; however, because of literary style differences between chapters 1-8 and 9-14, the last 6 chapters indicate a date of 480-470 B.C. which is later in the prophet’s life.[iii] Zechariah is prophesying when the exiles were coming back to Jerusalem and rebuilding the temple.[iv] He was a contemporary of Haggai and prophesied for about the same time as Haggai.[v] Just before the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, Zechariah and Haggai were commissioned by the Lord to stir up the people to rebuild the temple.[vi] Zechariah relates to his immediate audience as well as the future, because the three major sections begin historically and then move forward to the time of the Second Advent, when Messiah returns to His temple to set up his earthly kingdom.[vii] Zechariah was murdered between the temple and the altar (Mt. 23:35). His book is the most messianic, apocalyptic, and eschatological in the Old Testament.[viii]

**Themes**
The first 6 chapters of this book are comprised of 8 night visions that are all very unique, but have similar themes running through them. Themes include God’s actions toward the world, then judgment on Israel, then the anointed ones with the spotlight on the Messiah. They all are in some way concerning Israel/Judah/Jerusalem/Zion, which are somewhat used interchangeably, and the theological significance of each of these terms should be discussed together.[ix] The visions have either judgment or promise towards Israel and also towards the nations. “The Branch” is also a theme running through this book. The Branch is another name for Christ (Zech. 3:8, 6:12). This introduces Christ as God’s servant, coming to execute His will. Zechariah 9-14 stresses various eschatological themes such as the Lord’s judgment of the nations, the Messiah’s role in administering God’s kingdom of peace and righteousness, the worship of the Lord by the nations that had formerly been God’s enemies, purification from sin, and the central position that God’s people Israel would enjoy in the kingdom.[x]

**Summary of the Sections**
Zechariah introduces the book with a call to repentance. The first vision is of a man on a red horse in the myrtle trees. The man patrolled the earth and decides that it is time for Israel to rebuild the temple of the Lord. The four horns and four craftsmen is the next one and it is to show that God will execute judgment on the nations for what they did to Israel. The Surveyor is the next vision and in this a man measures Jerusalem because one day Jerusalem will not need a wall, instead it will have a wall of fire, which is the Lord and His glory will be in her midst. In the next vision, Joshua the high priest is cleansed to show that God has taken away the iniquity of Israel. The Golden Lampstand and two olive trees show the Lord’s provision and safeguards Israel’s future.[xi] In the vision of the flying scroll, the Lord curses Israel for breaking the covenant. The vision of the woman in the basket depicts the Lord removing sin from Israel’s midst. And finally the four chariots show the Lord’s sovereignty over all creation. Then we see the man whose name is Branch (the Messiah); he comes and builds the temple of the Lord. Then Zechariah’s charge to the people to rebuild the temple is mentioned. The next chapter is an encouragement to endure to the coming of peace and prosperity to Zion. The last 5 are Messianic and prophetic. They focus on the Messiah, his coming into the world, and also his second coming. There will be battles, but in the end, God will be king over all.

[i] John MacArthur, //The MacArthur Study Bible: Revised & Updated Edition.// Revised. (Thomas Nelson, 2006).

[ii] I. E. S. Edwards, C. J. Gadd, and N. G. L. Hammond, //The Cambridge Ancient History Volume 1, Part 2: Early History of the Middle East//, 3rd ed. (Cambridge University Press, 1971).

[iii] John MacArthur, //The MacArthur Study Bible: Revised & Updated Edition.// Revised. (Thomas Nelson, 2006).

[iv] Ibid.

[v] Ibid.

[vi] Ibid.

[vii] Ibid.

[viii] Ibid.

[ix] George Klein, //New American Commentary Vol. 21: Zechariah// (Holman Reference, 2008).

[x] Ibid.

[xi] Ibid.

media type="custom" key="7800531"

media type="custom" key="7800533"