What is Zechariah on about? I’m not sure I know.
The Lord promises deliverance
Zechariah 10:1-12
Destruction to come
Zechariah 11:1-3
The two shepherds
Zechariah 11:4-17
Punishment of Israel’s enemies
Zechariah 12:1-9
Israel’s repentance and sorrow
Zechariah 12:10-14
Israel’s cleansing
Zechariah 13:1-6
The command to kill God’s shepherd
Zechariah 13:7-9
Jerusalem and the nations
Zechariah 14:1-15
Israel’s restoration
Zechariah 14:16-21
We read the rest of the words of Zechariah today, and they are puzzling. Most of what he has said so far has been promises of hope for Israel, and judgement on her enemies. But today, he seems to be losing the plot a little. It’s becoming incoherent, like a radio station plagued by interference. We can’t make out a clear message. There are words of hope again, there are messages of judgement and promises of the destruction of enemies , but Israel seems threatened too in the disjointed dreams and visions he presents.
Zechariah himself seems to be weary of his task as prophet. Being a leader is thankless, and he would give it up if he could. He talks about shepherds who do not care leading the flock, he talks about losing faith in his calling. Like the waves of a stormy sea, he seems to see simmering destruction boiling around Jerusalem, but the city itself remains safe, protected by God.
This is very much a vision of Israel as a righteous remnant, the faithful few, protected by God and holding on to the truth, while the rest of the world can go hang. It’s a vision of a man who’s tired of life, who doesn’t care about the rest of humanity so long as the centre of his hopes remains safe.
Whatever the future holds for Israel, if Zechariah has seen it right, it’s not going to be a steady upwards march to glory, that’s for sure.
The Lord promises deliverance
Zechariah 10:1-12
Destruction to come
Zechariah 11:1-3
The two shepherds
Zechariah 11:4-17
Punishment of Israel’s enemies
Zechariah 12:1-9
Israel’s repentance and sorrow
Zechariah 12:10-14
Israel’s cleansing
Zechariah 13:1-6
The command to kill God’s shepherd
Zechariah 13:7-9
Jerusalem and the nations
Zechariah 14:1-15
Israel’s restoration
Zechariah 14:16-21
We read the rest of the words of Zechariah today, and they are puzzling. Most of what he has said so far has been promises of hope for Israel, and judgement on her enemies. But today, he seems to be losing the plot a little. It’s becoming incoherent, like a radio station plagued by interference. We can’t make out a clear message. There are words of hope again, there are messages of judgement and promises of the destruction of enemies , but Israel seems threatened too in the disjointed dreams and visions he presents.
Zechariah himself seems to be weary of his task as prophet. Being a leader is thankless, and he would give it up if he could. He talks about shepherds who do not care leading the flock, he talks about losing faith in his calling. Like the waves of a stormy sea, he seems to see simmering destruction boiling around Jerusalem, but the city itself remains safe, protected by God.
This is very much a vision of Israel as a righteous remnant, the faithful few, protected by God and holding on to the truth, while the rest of the world can go hang. It’s a vision of a man who’s tired of life, who doesn’t care about the rest of humanity so long as the centre of his hopes remains safe.
Whatever the future holds for Israel, if Zechariah has seen it right, it’s not going to be a steady upwards march to glory, that’s for sure.
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