by Rev. Toby Amodeo [DCXA at GU]
The book of Zechariah is a prophetic book written after the exile to Babylon. It deals with an important question the Israelites must have been asking: "Now what?"
Zechariah is a Levite born in Babylon during the exile. Once the Babylonian empire falls to the Persians, the new rulers allow the Jews to return home to Israel. Zechariah, along with the prophet Haggai, are among the first wave to go back. Together, they encourage the people to repent and rebuild the temple.
Earlier, the prophets told the people that though the exile would be longer than they anticipated (see Daniel), one day God would gather the Jews back to Israel. Then, God would restore the temple and send the messiah, a new King David, to lead a new Israel. Yet once the Israelites get back to Jerusalem, they're met with hardship. It seems as if none of God's promises come to pass. Zechariah clarifies what God is doing, while challenging the people to live differently than their ancestors and be faithful to Yahweh alone.
The book contains visions and prophecies likely written from around 520 BC until near the end of Zechariah's life. The book begins with eight visions, plus a bonus at the end. The visions begin with Zechariah encountering a messenger of God (an angel). The angel shows him a world that is quiet under the new Persian empire. Yet it won't stay that way - God is displeased with the superpowers of the world. He allowed them to conquer Israel to punish them for their disobedience, but God says they took it too far. Now, he'll send others to tear down Israel's oppressors.
Zechariah then goes on to describe Jerusalem being scrubbed clean by a scroll, transformed by God's Word. It will become a beacon to the nations, pointing them to the forgiveness and love of God, should they choose to humble themselves and receive it.
Next, Zechariah describes the role of two key leaders among the exiles. The first is Joshua, the high priest. He is called to point the people to God's forgiveness and lead them in purity. If he is faithful, Zechariah says, he'll lead the people as a symbol of the coming messianic king . The second ruler is Zerubbabel, heir to David's throne. Zechariah says the coming kingdom won't be a result of political maneuvering . Instead, the new kingdom will come as a result of God's Spirit moving in the world.
Zechariah avoids any mention of a timeline. He refuses to say exactly when this will happen, simply saying that the current generation of Israelites must be faithful to Yahweh. It's not about when the messiah will arrive, but how the people live until he does. God answers their question of "when?" with his own question: "When will you repent and put aside the ways of your ancestors and be faithful?
The end of the book clarifies this promise of the messiah. God will once again show care for Israel. Soon, He'll send his faithful servant to restore His kingdom. This servant-king will arrive humbly, riding on a donkey. He'll be rejected by God's people, but after that, will be adored. God will lead the people himself, sending on them a spirit of grace and repentance. The prophecies end by describing how, in the new kingdom, God's presence surrounds and infuses everything.
Interestingly, Zechariah indicates that this whole messianic kingdom won't come unless the people remain faithful to God. This comes as a surprise to followers of Jesus - it sounds scandalous. How can God allow the Israelites, with their terrible track record of faithlessness, to have such a huge responsibility? And if we fast-forward in the story, Israel really doesn't remain faithful for very long. So why does the messiah ultimately come?
There's a lot to ponder here, and there are some things that take time to understand. However, when we examine the life of Jesus, we see him fulfill the covenant God made with Israel. Jesus himself perfectly lives out God's commands by loving the Lord with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength, and by loving his neighbor as himself. Though the Israelites stumble over and over again, God remains committed to sending the savior. The Messiah doesn't come in the way the people expected. But Jesus' life and work began the growth of this new kingdom. In the already-not-yet nature of our faith, we know Jesus is already King. Now, he is implementing through us the kingdom Zechariah envisioned.