“Burden” literally refers to something heavy one must carry, but as used figuratively by the prophets – some translations use the term “oracle” instead of “burden” – it carries with it the concept of a divine verdict or punishment given against a people or nation (Zech. 9:1a; cf. Nahum 1:1; Is. 13:1).… Read More Zechariah: The Burden of the Word of the Lord Against Wicked Cities
Remember, God had not commanded these fasts. The Jews had come up with their observance completely of their own accord. They commemorated the coming of the Babylonian army (the tenth month – 2 Kings 25:1), the breach the Babylonians made in Jerusalem’s wall (the fourth month – Jer. 39:2), the burning of the temple (the fifth month – 2 Kings 25:8), and the killing of Gedaliah (the seventh month – 2 Kings 25:25). God wanted them to observe them no longer. Now they were commanded to feast instead of fast, and to do so with joy, gladness, and cheerfulness, loving truth and peace. Their joy would motivate those in the cities around them to serve the Lord as well (8:20-23).… Read More Zechariah: An Old Testament Lesson About New Testament Joy
Only a “remnant” of the Jews would be part of His church and thus experience the “marvelous” blessings found within it, the majority having rejected Jesus as the Messiah (Rom. 11:5ff). Yet under the new covenant God’s people would not be limited to the nation of Israel.… Read More Zechariah: A Dual Prophecy About God’s People
If they were burdening themselves with something which God had actually not required of them, were they doing so for God…or for themselves?… Read More Zechariah: “Was It For Me That You Fasted?”
This crown, made of silver and gold molded together by the prophet, might have been double-tiered. According to commentator Homer Hailey, this would signify that the one wearing the crown held two offices, that of high priest AND king. No high priest had been king before in Israel. Zechariah’s crowning of the high priest Joshua was thus a symbolic prophecy. This is made even clearer by what the Lord directed Zechariah to say to Joshua (whose name in Hebrew – yhosua – means “Jehovah saves” and is transliterated in Greek to iesous…Jesus).… Read More Zechariah: Joshua’s Crown and the Messiah
Pre-Denominational Christianity 
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