Lifespan

Uncertain, but probably included the last 40 years of the sixth century B.C.

Ministry

Zechariah prophesied in the second to the fourth years of Darius the Persian. He seems to be encouraging his post-exilic citizens of Judah.

Preparation and Calling

Unknown.

Interaction with God

God spoke to Zechariah primarily through vision and the gift of prophecy.

Social Situation

The Jews had returned to their homeland after being exiled to Babylon. They were poor and struggling with drought and consequent hunger. In short, life was not going at all the way they had remembered it was nor how they had envisioned it would be once they returned to Jerusalem.

Key Teachings

Rebuilding the temple is critical in providing the needed spiritual center for the rejuvenation and reconstruction of the Jewish community. Also, in the end, the Lord will come and create a new Jerusalem where He will reign as King.

Prophecies of Christ

“For, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH” (Zech. 3:8).

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass” (Zech. 9:9).

“And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord” (Zech. 11:13).

“And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends” (Zech. 13:6).

Living with the Prophet

Zechariah’s people were struggling. They were poor and struggling. And yet God wanted a temple. Their story is much the same as the situation faced in the early 1800s by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Do you ever feel like you have to choose between practical needs and spiritual needs? Those are very difficult times. Do you believe that both needs can be fulfilled by obedience to God’s word?

Sources

Learning Bible, the book of Zechariah

Holy Bible, the book of Zechariah

Oxford Companion to the Bible, s.v. “Zechariah, the Book of”