1. THE RETURN FROM EXILE Zechariah 2-4

2. Outline of Zechariah 1  Part I (chs. 1-8)  Introduction (1:1-6)  A Series of Eight Visions in One Night (1:7-6:8)  The Symbolic Crowning of Joshua the High Priest (6:9-15)  The Problem of Fasting and the Promise of the Future (chs. 7-8)  Part II (chs. 9-14)  Two Prophetic Oracles: The Great Messianic Future and the Full Realization of God's Kingdom (chs. 9-14)

3. Zechariah’s Visions 2 1. Man among the myrtle trees (1:7-17) 2. Four horns and four craftsmen (1:18-21) 3. Man with measuring line (2:1-5) - Exiles called home (2:6-13) 4. Cleansing for the high priest (3:1-10) 5. Gold lampstand and 2 olive trees (4:1-14) 6. Flying scroll (5:1-4) 7. Woman in a basket (5:5-11) 8. Four chariots (6:1-8)

4. Post-Exile Chronology 3  539Cyrus of Persia overthrows Babylon  538Cyrus issues decree allowing exiles to return home (Ezra 1:1)  537Altar erected, burnt offerings presented (7 th month; Ezra 3:1-3)  536Work on temple started under Zerubbabel (2 nd month; Ezra 3:8-13)  534Work on temple stopped (Ezra 4:24)  520Haggai’s first message (6 th month, first day)  Work on temple resumed (6 th month, 24 th day)  Haggai’s 2 nd message (7 th month, 21 st day)  Zechariah’s call to repentance (8 th month; Zech. 1:1-6)  Haggai’s 3 rd and 4 th messages (9 th month, 24 th day)  Zechariah’s visions (11 th month, 24 th day)

5. Fourth Vision (Zech. 3) 4 3 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the L ORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. 2 And the L ORD said to Satan, “The L ORD rebuke you, O Satan! The L ORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” 3 Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. Heb. “the Accuser” or “the Adversary”

6. Fourth Vision (Zech. 3) 5 4 And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” 5 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the L ORD was standing by.

7. Fourth Vision (Zech. 3) 6 6 And the angel of the L ORD solemnly assured Joshua, 7 “Thus says the L ORD of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here.

8. Fourth Vision (Zech. 3) 7  Two requirements for Joshua:  “walk in my ways” (personal conduct)  “keep my charge” (official priestly responsibilities)  Two promises to Joshua:  “You shall rule my house and have charge of my courts”  “I will give you access among these…”

9. Fourth Vision (Zech. 3) 8 8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring my servant the Branch. 9 For behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven eyes, I will engrave its inscription, declares the L ORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. 10 In that day, declares the L ORD of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come under his vine and under his fig tree.”

10. The Branch: Jeremiah 23 9 5 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the L ORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The L ORD is our righteousness.’ 7 “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the L ORD, when they shall no longer say, ‘As the L ORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ 8 but ‘As the L ORD lives who brought up and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ Then they shall dwell in their own land.”

11. The Branch: Isaiah 11 10 11 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. 2 And the Spirit of the L ORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the L ORD. 3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the L ORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, 4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

12. My servant: Isaiah 42:1 11 Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. [Isa. 42:1]

13. Fourth Vision (Zech. 3) 12 8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring my servant the Branch. 9 For behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven eyes, I will engrave its inscription, declares the L ORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. 10 In that day, declares the L ORD of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come under his vine and under his fig tree.”

14. “The Stone” 13  Building stone / capstone  Ephod/breastplate stones

15. Building Stone / Capstone 14  Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it! [Zech. 4:7]  …Therefore thus says the Lord G OD, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’ [Isa. 28:16]  For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. [1 Cor. 3:11]

16. Building Stone / Capstone 15 4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone….” [1 Peter 2]

17. Ephod / Breastplate Stones (Exod. 28) 16 6 “And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and of fine twined linen, skillfully worked…. 9 You shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel, 10 six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the remaining six on the other stone, in the order of their birth…. 12 And you shall set the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, as stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel.

18. Ephod / Breastplate Stones (Exod. 28) 17 15 “You shall make a breastpiece of judgment, in skilled work…. 17 You shall set in it four rows of stones…. 21 There shall be twelve stones with their names according to the names of the sons of Israel. They shall be like signets, each engraved with its name, for the twelve tribes.

19. Fourth Vision (Zech. 3) 18 8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring my servant the Branch. 9 For behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven eyes, I will engrave its inscription, declares the L ORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. 10 In that day, declares the L ORD of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come under his vine and under his fig tree.” pairs of Day of Atonement Day of Christ’s crucifixion

20. Fifth Vision (Zech. 4) 19 4 And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. 3 And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”

21. Zecharia’s Lampstand 20

22. Zecharia’s Lampstand 21

23. Zecharia’s Lampstand 22

24. Zecharia’s Lampstand 23

25. Zecharia’s Lampstand 24

26. Zecharia’s Lampstand 25

27. Zecharia’s Lampstand 26

28. Fifth Vision (Zech. 4) 27 4 And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.”

29. Fifth Vision (Zech. 4) 28 6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the L ORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the L ORD of hosts. 7 Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’” 8 Then the word of the L ORD came to me, saying, 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. 3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the L ORD ; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the L ORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the L ORD has spoken.” [Isa. 40]

30. Fifth Vision (Zech. 4) 29 Then you will know that the L ORD of hosts has sent me to you. 10 For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. “These seven are the eyes of the L ORD, which range through the whole earth.”

31. Fifth Vision (Zech. 4) 30 11 Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” 12 And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?” 13 He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 14 Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

32. Big Ideas 31  God has protected his people in exile, and has initiated their return through “his servants” Cyrus and Darius.  God provides for the building of the temple, the place where his people will worship him.  God provides for the governing of the nation and their worship of him through the king surrogate Zerubbabel and the high priest Joshua.

33. Big Ideas 32  God provides cleansing from sin.  God’s dealing with Israel prefigures ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

34. Next Week 33  Visions 6 – 8 (Zechariah 5:1 – 6:8)