Zechariah (Letter 38, Larry Crabb’s 66 Love Letters)
If you could see right now what is happening in the unseen world, you would be filled with hope. You must trust me for whatever taste of glory I choose to provide in this life as you continue to build the temple. You have become a prisoner of hope. The hope I provide answers answers a weary, empty, troubled soul in My plan. Beneath difficult feelings, hope encourages by giving you reason to persevere with the joy of anticipation. Happiness depends on present blessing, which I do not guarantee. Joy depends on future hope, which I do guarantee.
Book Name: ZECHARIAH – from Ray Stedman
Click here for entire Bible Summary from Ray Stedman
You Return To Me, … I’ll Return To You!
Here, we have three names that are very significant.
Zechariah means “God remembers”
Berechiah, his father’s name, means “God blesses”
His grandfather’s name Iddo, means “At the appointed time.”
The book of Zechariah is a book of encouragement to the people of Israel.
Zechariah was a contemporary with Haggai, one of the prophets who ministered to the remnant who had returned from captivity in Babylon. Although they were back in Jerusalem rebuilding the temple and the city, they were still vassals of abylon, still subject to the Gentile nations around them, without much hope for the future. It was a discouraging, depressing time, and a spirit of dark pessimism gripped these people. And Zechariah comes to them in the midst of their depression, with this announcement that is even wrapped up in his name and ancestry: Jehovah blesses, Jehovah remembers at the appointed time. What an encouragement those names must have been.
Every commonplace thing is made to be holy unto the Lord.
Do you know that that is what God is promising to you?
Every moment of your life, every commonplace thing is touched with the glory of his presence when he is in the center of your life. It
will be visibly true on the earth someday. It can be spiritually true right now
ZECHARIAH – David Jeremiah (Understanding the 66 Books of the Bible)
Key thought: Rebuilding the post-exilic temple was nothing less than a vital and visual preparatory step for the coming Messiah and the ultimate Day of the Lord.
Key Verse: This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of Grace, Grace to it! Zachariah 4:6-7
Key Action: Never be discouraged when the work seems small or slow, for God’s Spirit uses little events and unknown people in powerful ways.