Zechariah 7:1-23

Further Prophecies of Zechariah (Zechariah 7:1 to Zechariah 8:23)

These prophecies occur approximately two years after the previous ones demonstrating that Zechariah's ministry continued. It would appear that the Temple is at least partly built and functioning.

ANALYSIS OF THE SECOND SECTION.

This second section (Zechariah 7:1 to Zechariah 8:23) divides up as follows:

· Introduction (Zechariah 7:1).

· ‘Then came the word of the LORD of Hosts to me saying ---' (Zechariah 7:4).

· ‘And the word of the LORD came to Zechariah saying ---' (Zechariah 7:8).

· ‘And the word of the LORD of Hosts came saying ---' (Zechariah 8:1).

· ‘And the word of the LORD of Hosts came to me saying --' (Zechariah 8:18).

IN DEPTH ANALYSIS OF Zechariah 7-8.

a Introduction - the arrival of enquirers about the fasts which were in remembrance of the circumstances connected with the fall of Jerusalem (Zechariah 7:1).

a YHWH dismisses their fasts as hypocritical and calls on them to hear the words of the prophets (Zechariah 7:4).

b YHWH calls on them rather to live truly with a genuine concern for people's needs, and not to overlook the fact that it was because their fathers failed to hear the prophets and do this that the land had become desolate (Zechariah 7:8).

b YHWH declares His deep concern for Jerusalem. He will return and live in Jerusalem, and Jerusalem will be called the city of truth and its mountain the Holy Mountain (compare Isaiah 2:1). It will be filled with people dwelling securely and He will bring back the exiles. And because His Temple has been rebuilt they will live in peace and prosper for He now purposes to do good for Jerusalem as long as they live truly with a genuine concern for people's needs and are open and honest with each other (Zechariah 8:1).

a YHWH declares that the fasts of the past will become feasts of joy, and the nations will flock to Jerusalem to entreat God's favour because they know that He is with His people (Zechariah 8:18).

Note how in ‘a' questions are raised about the fasts and God condemns their keeping of them as hypocritical, and in the parallel the fasts will become feasts and will result in blessing for the nations. In ‘b' the call is to live truly with a genuine concern for people's need, reminding them that the failure to do this had brought desolation, and in the parallel the call is to live truly with a genuine concern for people's needs, and then everything will be restored.