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Zechariah, Watching

Life can be discouraging. Often times this happens after some great victory. Something good happens to us and we feel great. Everything seems to be going right, but it doesn't last. Typically after the mountains comes the valleys. What goes up must come down.

The people of Judah began to feel this way after returning from exile. Finally they were allowed to live in their homeland again. They were able to worship God on Mt. Zion again. Everything seemed to be going their way. Then the realities of a harsh world set in.

While they were able to go home, they were still ruled over by a foreign power. They were able to begin rebuilding God's temple, but they were surrounded by enemies who wanted nothing more than to see Judah destroyed. The people became discouraged.

Background

The book of Zechariah was written by the prophet Zechariah and was written over the course of twenty years or so, from 520 BC to about 500 BC. We see this sharp divide between chapters 1-8 and chapters 9-14 that is best explained by Zechariah writing the two parts at different times in his life. This would explain the stylistic differences, since style changes with age.

Unlike a lot of the other prophets, we actually know quite a bit about Zechariah. He was a member of a priestly family, the son of Berechiah and the grandson of Iddo. He returned to Jerusalem alongside Zerubbabel. 

Themes

The central theme of Zechariah is God's vigilance. The people are discouraged from all the hardship they have had to endure. To them it seems like God isn't present or even paying attention to them. The initial joy and fervor of returning home and rebuilding is gone. 

Much like Haggai, Zechariah is encouraging the people to continue to rebuild God's temple. Unlike Haggai, who is pretty direct, Zechariah goes about this differently. Zechariah's aim is to show the people of Judah that God has not forgotten them. 

Zechariah presents the people of Judah with this reality; though you may not see it, God is always watching. God has not forgotten his people. He is able to watch them along with the entire earth. When the time is right, God will make his move to destroy evil. When the time is right, the one who shall defeat the enemies of Judah will emerge. 

Theological Point

God is always watching. We sometimes forget this very important point. With all the evil and violence around us it is easy for us to think that God isn't paying attention. Surely if God only knew about the atrocities that are being committed he would act! Surely if God only knew what was happening to Christian around the globe he would do something!

In these moments we must remember something very important; God already has done something. He has already given us the answer. When a person shoots up a school, the answer is Jesus. When a town of civilians gets gassed and bombed, the answer is Jesus. When someone commits suicide, or is diagnosed with cancer, or hates their family, or is grieving, the answer is Jesus.

God is watching. He knows every evil deed. He grieves over every sin, over every child who is senselessly slaughtered. He is not sitting idly by, but reconciling the whole cosmos back to him through the blood of Jesus. Until that is completed and the final day comes, God is watching and working. We may not see it, but that doesn't mean he isn't there.

Conclusion

It is hard to believe that there is only one more book left in the Old Testament. Soon the story will culminate, and all the prophecies and hopes of Israel will be fulfilled; just not in the way they were expecting. 

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