# Zechariah 01 š: Return to Me
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#š Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#š Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#š§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#āļø Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#š Key Observations / š Life Application]]
> [[#š¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#āļø Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#š Related Passages]]
> [[#š Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#š Internal Notes]]
## š Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### Introduction
[[#Verse 01.]]Ā In the eighth month of DariusāĀ second year,Ā theĀ Lordās message came to the prophet Zechariah,Ā son of Berechiah son of Iddo:
[[#Verse 02.]]Ā āTheĀ LordĀ was very angry with your ancestors.Ā
[[#Verse 03.]]Ā Therefore say to the people:Ā TheĀ LordĀ of Heavenās ArmiesĀ says, āTurnĀ to me,ā says theĀ LordĀ of Heavenās Armies, āand I will turn to you,ā says theĀ LordĀ of Heavenās Armies.Ā
[[#Verse 04.]]Ā Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the former prophets called out, saying, āThis is what theĀ LordĀ of Heavenās Armies has said, āTurn now from your evil wickedness.āā But they would by no means obey me, says theĀ Lord.Ā
[[#Verse 05.]]Ā As for your ancestors, where are they? And did the prophets live forever?Ā
[[#Verse 06.]]Ā But have my words and statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, not outlived your fathers?Ā Then they paid attentionĀ and confessed, āTheĀ LordĀ of Heavenās Armies has indeed done what he said he would do to us, because of our sinful ways.āā
### The Introduction to the Visions
[[#Verse 07.]]Ā On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month Shebat, in Dariusā second year,Ā theĀ Lordās message came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah son of Iddo:
### The Content of the First Vision
[[#Verse 08.]]Ā I was attentive that night and saw a man seatedĀ on a red horse that stood among some myrtle treesĀ in the ravine. Behind him were red, sorrel,Ā and white horses.
### The Interpretation of the First Vision
[[#Verse 09.]]Ā Then I asked one nearby, āWhat are these, sir?ā The angelic messengerĀ who replied to me said, āI will show you what these are.āĀ
[[#Verse 10.]]Ā Then the man standing among the myrtle trees spoke up and said, āThese are the ones whom theĀ LordĀ has sent to walk aboutĀ on the earth.āĀ
[[#Verse 11.]]Ā The riders then agreed with the angel of theĀ Lord,Ā who was standing among the myrtle trees, āWe have been walking about on the earth, and now everything is at rest and quiet.āĀ
[[#Verse 12.]]Ā The angel of theĀ LordĀ then asked, āOĀ LordĀ of Heavenās Armies,Ā how long before you have compassion on Jerusalem and the other cities of Judah that you have been so angry with for these seventy years?āĀ
[[#Verse 13.]]Ā TheĀ LordĀ then addressed good, comforting words to the angelic messenger who was speaking to me.Ā
[[#Verse 14.]]Ā Turning to me, the messenger then said, āCry out that theĀ LordĀ of Heavenās Armies says, āI am very much movedĀ for Jerusalem and for Zion.Ā
[[#Verse 15.]]Ā But I am greatly displeased with the nations that take my grace for granted.Ā I was a little displeased with them, but they have only made things worse for themselves.
### The Oracle of Response
[[#Verse 16.]]Ā āāTherefore,ā this is what theĀ LordĀ has said, āI have become compassionateĀ toward Jerusalem and will rebuild my templeĀ in it,ā says theĀ LordĀ of Heavenās Armies. āOnce more a surveyorās measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.āĀ
[[#Verse 17.]]Ā Speak up again with the message of theĀ LordĀ of Heavenās Armies: āMy cities will once more overflow with prosperity, and once more theĀ LordĀ will comfort Zion and validate his choice of Jerusalem.āā
### Vision Two: The Four Horns
[[#Verse 18.]]Ā (2:1)Ā Once again I looked and this time I saw four horns.Ā
[[#Verse 19.]]Ā So I asked the angelic messengerĀ who spoke with me, āWhat are these?ā He replied, āThese are the hornsĀ that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.ā
[[#Verse 20.]]Ā Next theĀ LordĀ showed me four blacksmiths.Ā
[[#Verse 21.]]Ā I asked, āWhat are these going to do?ā He answered, āThese horns are the ones that have scattered Judah so that there is no one to be seen.Ā But the blacksmiths have come to terrify Judahās enemiesĀ and cut off the horns of the nations that have thrust themselves against the land of Judah in order to scatter its people.ā
## š Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
## š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Zechariah began prophesying in the eighth month of Darius's second year (1:1), 520 BC, about two months after Haggai.
2. Zechariah's name means "the Lord remembers."
3. Zechariah is the longest book among the Minor Prophets.
4. Ezra 5:1 and 6:14 name Haggai and Zechariah as the prophets who encouraged the rebuilding of the temple.
5. 1:7-6:8 contains eight night visions given to Zechariah.
6. The first vision shows a rider on a red horse among myrtle trees in a ravine (1:8).
7. The seventy years (1:12) recall Jeremiah's prophecy of the length of exile (Jeremiah 25:11; 29:10).
8. Horns were a symbol of strength and power, so the four horns (1:18-19) represent nations that scattered God's people.
9. The craftsmen (1:20-21) represent God's means of breaking those powers.
10. In the Hebrew Bible, 1:18-21 is numbered as 2:1-4.
## š§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## āļø Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the Angel of the Lord who stands among His people and intercedes for them (1:11-13). Jesus always lives to intercede for us (Hebrews 7:25), and through Him God returns to those who return to Him (1:3).
## š Key Observations / š Life Application
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## š¬ Discussion Questions
1. God says, "Return to Me, and I will return to you" (1:3). What does returning to God look like in your life right now?
2. The angel of the Lord asks, "How long will You withhold mercy from Jerusalem?" (1:12). How does it comfort you that heaven cares about God's people?
3. God answers with kind and comforting words (1:13). How has God comforted you through His Word?
## āļø Key Verses to Remember
- š verse 3: Return to Me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of Heaven's Armies.
- š verse 13: The Lord answers the angel with kind and comforting words.
- š verse 16: God returns to Jerusalem with compassion, and His house will be rebuilt.
## š Related Passages
- š [[Hebrews 07#Verse 25.|Hebrews 7:25]] - Jesus always lives to intercede.
- š [[Malachi 03#Verse 07.|Malachi 3:7]] - Return to Me, and I will return to you.
- š [[James 04#Verse 08.|James 4:8]] - Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.
- š [[Jeremiah 29#Verse 10.|Jeremiah 29:10]] - After seventy years God will bring them back.
- š [[Ezra 05#Verse 01.|Ezra 5:1-2]] - Haggai and Zechariah encourage the rebuilding.
## š Devotional Reflection
š SOAP: [[Zechariah 01- SOAP|The Heart of God]]
## š Internal Notes