Zechariah - Chapter 1

Zechariah 1.1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, Zechariah 1.2 The LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers. Zechariah 1.3 Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 1.4 Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD. Zechariah 1.5 Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever? Zechariah 1.6 But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us. Zechariah 1.7 Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, Zechariah 1.8 I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white. Zechariah 1.9 Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be. Zechariah 1.10 And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth. Zechariah 1.11 And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest. Zechariah 1.12 Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years? Zechariah 1.13 And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words. Zechariah 1.14 So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. Zechariah 1.15 And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction. Zechariah 1.16 Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. Zechariah 1.17 Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem. Zechariah 1.18 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns. Zechariah 1.19 And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. Zechariah 1.20 And the LORD shewed me four carpenters. Zechariah 1.21 Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.

Zechariah : Chapter 1

Reflection on Zechariah Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of the book of Zechariah begins with a call to repentance and offers prophetic visions that invite us to meditate on how God renews His relationship with His people. This visionary text begins with an exhortation to return to God, followed by two symbolic visions: the horsemen among the myrtle trees and the four horns accompanied by four blacksmiths.

God's Concern for Jerusalem

This chapter highlights God's concern for Jerusalem and His intervention in history. Zechariah 1 explores key themes such as restoration, divine judgment, and messianic hope. We invite you to meditate with us on five biblical passages that resonate with the profound messages of this chapter.

Correlated Bible Passages

Revelation 6:4

"And another horse came out, a red one, and power was given over him to take peace from the earth and to cause men to kill one another. and a great sword was given to him." This vision of horses in Revelation echoes the vision of horses in Zechariah 1:8-11, suggesting a divine judgment.

Jeremiah 29:10

"For this is what the Lord says: 'When the seventy years of your exile in Babylon are over, I will fulfill my promise to you to bring you back to this place.' » This verse refers to Zechariah 1:12, which mentions the seventy years of divine wrath against Jerusalem.

Isaiah 51:3

“The Lord will surely comfort Zion and look with compassion on all her waste places; he will make her deserts like Eden, and her wilderness like the garden of the Lord. There will be joy and gladness, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.” This promise of restoration in Isaiah reflects the theme of Jerusalem’s comfort and restoration in Zechariah 1:16-17. Psalm 102:13 “You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show her favor; The appointed time has come." This psalm expresses the same expectation of divine favor for Jerusalem that we find in Zechariah 1:16.

Amos 7:7-8

"This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall built with a plumb line, and he had a plumb line in his hand. And the Lord asked me, 'What do you see, Amos?' 'A plumb line,' I replied. Then the Lord said, 'Look! I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will not spare you again." This plumb-line vision of Amos resembles Zechariah's symbolic visions, such as that of the horses in Zechariah 1.

Conclusion

As we meditate on these passages, we are invited to deepen our understanding of the relationship between God and His people, to recognize His mercy, and to yearn for restoration and reconciliation with Him. May this reflection guide us in our journey of faith and our commitment to the Church community.