This is week two in Zechariah.
This evening we looked at the first of the eight visions that the prophet had. These cover the first six chapters of the book.
In the first vision, Zechariah gives a very specific date, which by our calendar looks to be February 15, 519 BC.
There are several phrases repeated over and over in this book. God is most often referred to as the Lord of Hosts. This can be found some 50 times. The clear purpose behind this title is to state without hesitation that the God of Judah is the God of all. He is not a local god. He is THE GOD. The One who is mighty and sovereign over all.
Below is an outline of Zechariah:
A. Oracles and Visions (Zech. 1:1–8:23)
1. Introduction: return to me and I will return to you (Zech. 1:1–6)
2. Eight night visions and a sign-act (Zech. 1:7–6:15)
a. Vision one: the Lord’s hidden horsemen (Zech. 1:7–17)
b. Vision two: Judah’s oppressors oppressed (Zech. 1:18–21)
c. Vision three: Jerusalem unwalled (Zech. 2:1–13)
d. Vision four: the reclothing of Joshua (Zech. 3:1–10)
e. Vision five: the olive trees and the lampstand (Zech. 4:1–14)
f. Vision six: the flying scroll—wickedness judged (Zech. 5:1–4)
g. Vision seven: the flying ephah—wickedness removed (Zech. 5:5–11)
h. Vision eight: the Lord’s army on the move (Zech. 6:1–8)
i. A sign-act: the crowning of Joshua (Zech. 6:9–15)
3. From fasts to feasts (Zech. 7:1–8:23)
a. Ritual or reality (Zech. 7:1–14)
b. The promise of the future (Zech. 8:1–23)
B. The Return of the King (Zech. 9:1–14:21)
1. The first oracle: leaders and their people (Zech. 9:1–11:17)
a. The return of the king (Zech. 9:1–17)
1. The divine warrior comes (Zech. 9:1–8)
2. The king enters Jerusalem (Zech. 9:9–11)
3. The king’s enemies destroyed and his people redeemed (Zech. 9:12–17)
b. The shepherds and the flock (Zech. 10:1–12)
1. Judgment on Judah’s shepherds (Zech. 10:1–5)
2. The restoration of the flock (Zech. 10:6–12)
c. The shepherds and one shepherd (Zech. 11:1–17)
1. Judgment on Judah’s shepherds (Zech. 11:1–3)
2. A sign-act: the shepherd rescues his flock but is rejected (Zech. 11:4–17)
2. The second oracle: the people and their leaders (Zech. 12:1–14:21)
a. The restoration and renewal of God’s people (Zech. 12:1–13:6)
1. Jerusalem’s triumph and the nations’ doom (Zech. 12:1–9)
2. Mourning for sin (Zech. 12:10–14)
3. Cleansing from sin and idolatry (Zech. 13:1–6)
b. Judgment and transformation (Zech. 13:7–14:21)
1. The shepherd struck and the flock scattered (Zech. 13:7–9)
2. Jerusalem’s judgment, deliverance, and exaltation (Zech. 14:1–11)
3. The nations humbled and brought into submission (Zech. 14:12–21)