Sunset Ministry - Thursday Night Home Group

1. What are the most important things God promises to do in Zechariah 9:1-8?

A prophecy: The word of the Lord (9:1). Or, "The burden of the word of the Lord". "The Hebrew for this phrase occurs only two other times in the Old Testament (Zechariah 12:1; Malachi 1:1)." "'Burden' implies that the prophet was under strong compulsion to deliver the message from God."

Hadrak (9:1). "An area in northern Syria that encompassed Damascus and neighboring Hamath (verse 2)."

Damascus (9:1). "The capital of Syria. Known chiefly as mercantile center, Damascus continued to be the major city of Syria during the Persian period."

The eyes of all people and all the tribes of Israel are on the Lord (9:1). This phrase "may be rendered 'For the eye of the Lord is on all-mankind, as well as on the tribes of Israel'." "Yahweh's eye is focused on all humankind as well as on Israel. It leads us to expect Yahweh to act in some way with regard to these entities, and that is the point of this discourse...He is cognizant of his people and intervenes in history on their behalf."

Hamath...Tyre and Sidon (9:2). "Hamath was an important Syrian city as well as a province in the Persian Empire...Tyre and Sidon were the two most important cities of Phoenicia."

Take away her possessions and destroy her power (9:4). "Zechariah's words intersected with reality when Alexander the Great placed Tyre under siege, constructing a causeway through the sea to Tyre, which at that time was situated on an island off the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The prophet Ezekiel envisioned the same event (26:5-6)."

Ashkelon...Gaza...Ekron...Ashdod (9:5-6). Cities of the Philistines.

Will belong to our God and become a clan in Judah (9:7). "The subsequent section (verses 8-10) affirms that these events will come to fruition in the kingdom of Messiah...This section looks far beyond the conquests of Alexander to envision the people of God in all ages. Thus, God protects his people today."

2. In 9:9-10, what portrait are we given of Zion's coming ruler?

Lowly and riding on a donkey (9:9). Or, "humble". "We must view Jerusalem's king in contrast to Alexander the Great and the other proud conquerors of history. The reference to his riding a beast of burden, not a white charger, underscores this...Jerusalem's king is of humble mien, yet victorious, and so it has always been that the church does not effectively spread the gospel by sword or by arrogance, but by mirroring the humble spirit of its king and savior."

Take away the chariots...and the warhorses...and the battle bow will be broken (9:10). "When this king establishes his kingdom, Yahweh will cut off all instruments of war from his people, freeing them from dependence on their own might (4:6)".

To the ends of the earth (9:10). "The messianic king's dominion...will be of vast extent, encompassing people 'from every tribe and language and people and nation' (Revelation 5:9)."

3. What are the most important promises from God in 9:11-17?

The blood of my covenant (9:11). See Hebrews 13:20

I will bend Judah as I bend my bow (9:13). "We learn now how Zion will come to prominence and power among the nations: Yahweh will use her as a war bow. He will do this 'for himself'; that is, Zion cannot depend on weapons of war (9:10) or conquer on her own; it is only as God use her as an instrument of war for himself that he will advance Zion's cause in the arena of the nations."

4. From what they would hear in the prophet's words recorded in chapter 9, what reasons would God's people have to be encouraged?

5. How and why does God judge Judah's rulers in Zechariah 10:1-5?

Ask the Lord for rain (10:1). "Today the church must seek its blessings and power from the Lord, just as Zechariah urged his people to do. Blinded by middle-class values, the people of God may seek their direction in methods that successfully build corporations, but that may neglect biblical principles and fail to reflect the spirit of Christ."

From Judah will come the cornerstone...the tent peg...the battle bow...every ruler (10:4). "From Judah will come...'every' divinely sanctioned king ultimately the Messiah."

6. What promises for God's people are given in 10:6-12?

7. Summarize the description being given in 11:1-3 and its significance.

8. What is the prophet Zechariah called by God to do in 11:4-6, and for what reason?

9. Summarize Zechariah's actions and words as narrated in 11:7-14, and explain their significance.

10. What is Zechariah called by God to do in 11:15-17, and for what reasons?

Who will not care...or seek...or heal...or feed (11:16). "When one removes 'not' from the sentence, he has an enlightening description of the truly effective pastoral ministry in the church today."

11. In Zechariah 9-11, what would you select as the key verse or passage - one that best captures or reflects the dynamic of what these chapters are all about?

12. What do these chapters in Zechariah communicate most to you about the heart and character of God?