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Zechariah is a contemporary of Haggia - their initial message was to call the Jewish people into completing the task of building the temple. Zechariah’s initial word are a call back to ‘the Lord of hosts’ which means the God of all heavens and Earth's armies. Ch1:3 “Return to me,” Says the Lord of hosts. Zechariah has 7 visions, to aid Jerusalem’s steps and to declare judgement.
Zechariah’s ministry starts in 520 B.C making it postexilic. I want to paint a bit of context but to cut a long story short, some 50,000 people returned to Jerusalem, led by Zerubbabel and Joshua Ezra Ch2. The work gets to a good start Ezra Ch3, despite the fear of the people around them Ch3:3, they build and alter to the Lord and they get to work rebuilding the temple. They have received the vision, they know their call and purpose and even in the midst of fear and a feeling of adversity, they get to a good start.
Within Ezra Ch4 opposition begins. This is where I want to cut in and tell you something profoundly true. When We start to take the right steps, and walk within the vision, will and purpose of the Lord … We will face opposition. There are no maybes or buts, this is assured. If life for you is 100 percent ‘plain sailing’ I would check which boat you travelling in. I'm not saying this to ‘put fear’ within your heart or be condemning, I’m pointing it out so you have the opportunity to put your trust in Jesus through the difficulties of walking the narrow path. Trusting and walking with Jesus doesn't mean you won’t struggle or get it wrong, it means that when you do you know that God is the reason your able to continue.
When opposition comes, with it comes oppression. Just like the Jewish people, before we know it our good start and great intentions have become nothing more than broken promises, lethargy, apathy and all manner of suffering. If we face the fight in our own strength, we have already lost the battle. Only through relying on the King, can we take the kingdom. There’s too much to go into, because I will bore the readers, but let’s look at how God steps in, and what He says that shows us the way into effective, powerful Christian living.
The people had become discouraged, disinterested and dissatisfied. These are all fruits of relying on our own strength, facing opposition and giving up. We become oppressed, depressed and anxious, we start to doubt the promises God has made and wander aimlessly through life, no longer fulfilling our God given purpose. The vision seems to fade and His voice becomes unclear.
I believe the first step to ‘getting back on track’ is by hearing the word of the Lord of heavens armies, to the people in Jerusalem, and to us. As governor of Judah Zerubbabel is responsible for rebuilding the temple and finishing God’s ordained will. He hears the word of the Lord Ch4:6 “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit” The Greek word for might here is Chayil (Cha-yeel) which basically represents human might or power. When we are facing opposition, when everything seems against us, we do not give up hope, we do not give up God’s plan, we give up control and hand over trust to the one who can sustain us and give us hope through the power of His spirit at work in us.
Zechariah’s ministry starts in 520 B.C making it postexilic. I want to paint a bit of context but to cut a long story short, some 50,000 people returned to Jerusalem, led by Zerubbabel and Joshua Ezra Ch2. The work gets to a good start Ezra Ch3, despite the fear of the people around them Ch3:3, they build and alter to the Lord and they get to work rebuilding the temple. They have received the vision, they know their call and purpose and even in the midst of fear and a feeling of adversity, they get to a good start.
Within Ezra Ch4 opposition begins. This is where I want to cut in and tell you something profoundly true. When We start to take the right steps, and walk within the vision, will and purpose of the Lord … We will face opposition. There are no maybes or buts, this is assured. If life for you is 100 percent ‘plain sailing’ I would check which boat you travelling in. I'm not saying this to ‘put fear’ within your heart or be condemning, I’m pointing it out so you have the opportunity to put your trust in Jesus through the difficulties of walking the narrow path. Trusting and walking with Jesus doesn't mean you won’t struggle or get it wrong, it means that when you do you know that God is the reason your able to continue.
When opposition comes, with it comes oppression. Just like the Jewish people, before we know it our good start and great intentions have become nothing more than broken promises, lethargy, apathy and all manner of suffering. If we face the fight in our own strength, we have already lost the battle. Only through relying on the King, can we take the kingdom. There’s too much to go into, because I will bore the readers, but let’s look at how God steps in, and what He says that shows us the way into effective, powerful Christian living.
The people had become discouraged, disinterested and dissatisfied. These are all fruits of relying on our own strength, facing opposition and giving up. We become oppressed, depressed and anxious, we start to doubt the promises God has made and wander aimlessly through life, no longer fulfilling our God given purpose. The vision seems to fade and His voice becomes unclear.
I believe the first step to ‘getting back on track’ is by hearing the word of the Lord of heavens armies, to the people in Jerusalem, and to us. As governor of Judah Zerubbabel is responsible for rebuilding the temple and finishing God’s ordained will. He hears the word of the Lord Ch4:6 “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit” The Greek word for might here is Chayil (Cha-yeel) which basically represents human might or power. When we are facing opposition, when everything seems against us, we do not give up hope, we do not give up God’s plan, we give up control and hand over trust to the one who can sustain us and give us hope through the power of His spirit at work in us.
