Key Learning from Wednesdays
November 2024
Middle of the Week Bible Study
The Christ is the theme of the Book of Zechariah. Zechariah emphasized that God has used His prophets to teach, warn, and correct His people. Unfortunately, they refused to listen. However, salvation may be obtained by all, not through Universalism but in Christ alone. Meets in the Cafe.
⁃ A cleansing fountain - Water, Life, forgiveness
• Jesus (John 7:37-39)
• Christ’s death opened the fountain
⁃ Prophets - reveals the will of God (Holy Name, Word Taught Correctly, Sinners to Faith, Live godly lives).
• Teachers pass on the faith
• False teachings=false prophecies; Prosperity Gospel, Word of Faith Movement, Self-flagellation, and others
• A life of faith may be hard, will probably be hard, will be tested
⁃ Christ takes on the Burden of the Word and drinks from God’s cup of wrath
• Burden of the Word - God keeps his promises; all of His promises
• Cup of staggering - the wrath/judgement of God
⁃ Morning of the four families (David, Nathan, Levi, and Shimeits
• Representative of the kingdom of holy priests
• Shimei (see 1Kings 2:36-46)
⁃ The Spear of Destiny
• Roman Catholicism venerates relics not the rest of us
• The spear used to pierced Christ (John 19:31-37)
• Tradition identifies the solider as Longinus
1. The Roman Spear - on display in the Vatican
2. Vienna Spear - Mystical powers to win battles - on display in Austria
3. Spear of Antioch - 1st Crusades - Lost to history
4. Vagharshapar Spear - Armenian
⁃ Note: Revelation pulls a lot of imagery from Zechariah so it makes sense that John would also make mention of the piercing of Christ.
⁃ False Gods
• Unlike other regions who could rely on river water for agriculture, Israel could not and needed to place trust in God
• The false gods offered unbridled pleasure
- Shepherd & Sheep
• Sheep are easily panic; dependent
• Shepherds are responsible for the sheep
⁃ Christ is from Ephraim (Jesus of Nazareth) and the line of Judah (Davidic Covenant)
⁃ Warrior & Children
• Warrior - Joyful when children are save
• Children - Innocence; Joyful not fearful
⁃ Now and not yet
• The Church will go forth and trample tyranny, bloodshed, famine, and death (as in Zechariah 6?)
• We will be lead through forces beyond our control
⁃ Noted: There is an academic debate that the last half of the book may have been written by someone because of an apparent change in vocabulary
⁃ Now and not yet: Comfort - God is watching over us and will save us
⁃ Perhaps a conflicting views of the Messiah; Conquering champion or humble
• Condemnation and deliverance from enemies
• Theology of the Cross - God’s strength in apparent weakness
Zechariah 8 Part 2
⁃ Valued because God loves you and not by your own merit
⁃ Abide in Christ (John 15)) and you will be saved
⁃ Christ came in truth and peace (John 18:37)
⁃ Will of God: Teach His Word Correctly; Sinners be brought to faith; lead godly lives.
⁃ Now and not yet
⁃ God is a jealous God; Protective, Committed, wants the best for us.
• I will be your God, you will be My people (Zechariah 8:8, Exodus 6:7)
⁃ Zion: the dwelling place of God; Jerusalem
⁃ The Word made flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14)
⁃ Vulnerable populations will be at peace
• God made us male and female (Zechariah 8:4-5)
⁃ Stop taking short cuts
• There is a future
• See the future
⁃ Traditions/Doctrines of Man
• 5th Month Fasting = the fall of Judah to Babylon
• 7th Month Fasting = Assignation of the Gedaliah the Babylon appointed ruler
- Fasting
• Identified here as an abuse; used to justify ourselves before God
• Focus had shifted away from what God has done.
• When made it into a work that we do to merit God’s favor we have made terrible statement of misunderstanding of Grace.
⁃ Misplaced Faith (as in Hosea 6:6)
• False security placed in the temple (Christ must be the object).
• Not listening to God (3rd Article Explanation)
⁃ Justified by faith vs Justified by works
• Justified by faith (Romans 3:28) - How we are saved, Grace alone, Faith alone
• Justified by works (James 2:24) - You say you have faith, then a life of faith is doing the will of God (Word, Teach, Proclaim, Live)
- Judgment on the Babylon gods similar to judgment on the Egyptian gods in Exodus.
⁃ The four Chariots; God’s Rule,
• White horse - Tyranny: domination through fear and exploitation
• Red horse - Bloodshed: divine judgment
• Black horse - Famine: economic ruin
• Dapper (Pale) horse - Death: illness
⁃ Priest King - The Branch = Jesus (Order of Melchizedek?)
⁃ Focus on temple
⁃ Call to return focus to God
⁃ Justice and Righteousness comes from God
⁃ Flying Scroll; Word of God; Laminations
• Flying for all to see
• Not able to escape God’s Judgement
• God’s Word is Truth
• Thieves: The Stealing of Truth
• Liars: A corruption of Truth
⁃ Woman in the basket
• Evil; Apostasy
• Leave that nonsense back in Babylon
• Worship God not idols
• Lead cover - a useless metal used to establish limits on Evil
• Restoration
- Is there a connection to the two winged women and the Ark of the covenant?
⁃ Zechariah was in the priestly class
⁃ Waking up from compliancy
• Remember what caused the captivity
• Open your eyes to what’s going on
⁃ Sacred objects of the Temple
• Call Return to worship
• A reminder of the covenant
⁃ Olive Trees
• Valued for oil, wood, and food
• Represent the two prophets Zechariah & Joshua the high priest?
• Represents two kingdoms (Zerubbabel [civil] & Joshua [spiritual])?
• Represents Moses (Law) & Elijah (Gospel)?
⁃ Cornerstone/Capstone
• Bringing two into one
• Christ
- Measuring line - A city without walls; the Gospel of all and not to be confined
- Filthy garments exchanged for Righteousness; washed in the blood of Christ
- Angel of the Lord - Preincarnate Christ; always referred to as God
- Good Friday found in Zechariah 3:9
- Peace comes after redemption; We are redeemed by Christ
⁃ Lord of Hosts - A title that signifies God has unlimited resources at His disposal
⁃ Angel of the Lord - the Preincarnate Christ
⁃ Contrition before mercy
• Kind and comforting words
• Myrtle: An evergreen tree; God standing with His people
• Flesh to flesh compassion (the Christ)
• Horses = protection; Language of Revelation
• Measuring Line; Evolvement of God with his people
⁃ Zechariah
• Restoration of God’s presences in the land
• Perhaps not a coincidence that John the Baptist’s father was named Zechariah