BibleProject | One Story That Leads to Jesusનમૂનો

Sometimes, powerful messages are best communicated from surprising angles. As the American poet Emily Dickinson once wrote, “Tell all the truth, but tell it slant.”

The “slant,” or angle, in today’s reading invites us into a wild ride through the prophet Zechariah’s visions. Buckle up: These dreams are anything but ordinary. Heavenly horsemen? Pipes pouring out golden oil from olive trees that fuels a lamp, and then the lamp’s light nourishes the oil-producing trees? A woman getting a flying basket ride from stork-winged chauffeurs? Even Zechariah is scratching his head.

As you’ll learn in the video, there is method to this madness. Behind the bizarre symbols lies a clear and urgent message that Zechariah’s audience desperately needs to hear. Like Haggai, Zechariah prophesied to the people returning from exile, exhausted after 70 years of oppression and discouraged by the war-torn state of their homeland. Their high hopes about God’s Kingdom are grinding down into sullen cynicism.

Zechariah steps in to remind this disillusioned community about their calling and Yahweh’s trustworthy promise to help them live into that mission.

Watch the video to learn more about Yahweh’s surprising, zigzag way of telling the truth in the book of Zechariah.

Reflection Questions

• Today’s reading describes both Joshua, the high priest in Zechariah’s day, and Zerubbabel, the royal heir of David, as symbols of the coming messianic king. What have you learned about this future king from Zechariah’s visions?
• Look back at 1 Kings 4:20-25 and Micah 4:1-5. How do these passages help you understand the meaning of Yahweh’s promise in Zechariah 3:10?