Extremism or sanity, personal freedom or authority. protest or obedience, revolution or development. Which of these alternatives arc you most concerned about? Possibly none! Why not? Because you don’t wish to be way out, odd? Or because you really don’t care what happens?
My essay won’t take any of these alternatives, or part of one, as the main subject. But it will have a message for all those concerned, or not concerned, with the problems young people are discussing and concerning which they are making various sorts of noises.
That balanced young preacher I am going to write a few things about is Zechariah. You can read what he preached and wrote in the second to the last book of the Old Testament. Ezra the Scribe (5:1) tells us Zechariah was a preaching prophet in a very difficult time.
A bit of history – We should recall some Biblical history. In 606 B.C. the Babylonians captured Jerusalem, took some young people as prisoners (Daniel was one). In 596 the Babylonians were back, they took more captives to Babylon. Finally, after protests and riots, rebellion and revolution in and around Jerusalem, the Babylonians completely destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple. They carried thousands into captivity, killed thousands of others, and left some poor and unorganized peasants and laborers among the ruins in Judah and Jerusalem. The place stayed in ruins for five decades.
God’s man for the hour – Zechariah the young preacher entered the scene. But just before him Haggai, an old man, had preached. Read his prophecy. Strong language, it was he used. But the people needed it. Haggai proclaimed: “Consider your ways! You are poor. Your pockets have holes in them because you are not at work building the House of God!” Haggai really caused a stir. Yes, the old gentleman became a real stirrer. In a good way. The people went to work.
Then in 536 B.C. Cyrus issued a decree. They were to rebuild the city and reestablish their religious and social way of life. A group, by no means all, went back to Jerusalem. They immediately built an altar so that they could worship (Ezra 3:2ff). That done, they set about to build the temple. Foundations were laid. And then trouble began. Protesters and demonstrators from among the new neighbors appeared on the scene (Ezra 4:1ff.). The result was that the work on the house of God and the city stopped (Ezra 4:24). This was at the command of the king who was not aware of “Cyrus’ edict.”
God’s man for the hour – Then Zechariah the young preacher entered the scene. But just before him Haggai, an old man, had preached. Read his prophecy. Strong language, it was he used. But the people needed it. Haggai proclaimed: “Consider your ways! You are poor. Your pockets have holes in them because you are not at work building the House of God!” Haggai really caused a stir. Yes, the old gentleman became a real stirrer. In a good way. The people went to work.
Please understand this. In 536 B.C. the altar and temple foundations had been built. Then for sixteen years nothing—absolutely nothing—was done. And when the temple (the worship center of the Old Testament) was neglected, so was the personal faith of the people. As today, so it was then: be cool on the church and your own faith and religious life will become cooler and colder. The individual needs the church, the fellowship of believers, the coming together for work and worship in the service of God.
Haggai really stirred those cold and inactive Jerusalemites. They went to work. But the people needed more than stirring words. They needed the full preaching of God’s Word. They needed to be reminded of their great task. And the balanced young preaching prophet was God’s man for that hour.
Let us now quickly review what this daring, yet balanced, young man had to say. “God was angry with your fathers. Be not like your fathers1 Repent, believe and obey the commands of God as also some of your fathers did” (Zech. 1:1–6).
Zechariah first called the individuals to get their personal relationships right with God. No man can serve, gathering men, building God’s church and kingdom, if he is not a penitent sinner, aware of God’s wrath against sin and conscious of God’s—saving grace. Zechariah knew where he had to begin. He didn’t rush to pet projects.
Great visions – Then Zechariah told the people of the visions he had received. These visions are great—really great!
1. In the first vision, the world is presented as resting; the men of the world seem to be in control. But God has His patrols out. He keeps an eye on the world. The Angel of the Lord, the Messiah, cries out: “How long must the believers suffer?” The answer is: “I am jealous for Jerusalem.” God loves His people; He will fight for them. What comforting words Zechariah preached. Look to God, He is sovereign. And remember that the Messiah intercedes for you.
2. In the second vision (1:18–21) God is hard at work. Zechariah presents four tradesmen with building tools (not soldiers with weapons). These workers and builders break down and scatter the powers which had used the sword to kill and destroy. So God shows He is concerned. Not by means of violence, not by means of dissent, but by work! Building! That is the way in the service of God. What a message Zechariah proclaimed. But why work? Is there a future?
3. In vision three (2:1–13) Zechariah sees a young carpenter’s apprentice. He is measuring to see how big the city, the kingdom of God, should be. After all, when we work, we should set up our program, goals, limits, and so forth—shouldn’t we? But the calculating, measuring young man is stopped. You can’t measure God’s work. God’s city and kingdom can’t be walled in. God’s work breaks through man-made walls. Sprouting villages, expanding cities, all surrounded and kept by the fire, light, and power of God are in God’s plan. Note how Zechariah calls to those individuals who stayed in Babylon. He says to them: “Flee from the world, join the work of God, sing and rejoice.”
Can the sinner sing and rejoice? Can he really be one of God’s people? Oh yes he can! Don’t doubt it for a minute. Read vision four.
4. In vision four (3:1–10) Satan is presented in his attempt to get a sentence of condemnation for the guilty sinners. (Joshua the high priest in soiled clothing represents the body of believers.) However, God rebukes Satan. He has chosen the sinner, rescued him from the fires of sin and death. He gives the dirty one clean clothes—even a hat and shoes.
Joshua and the people are called to realize that God does this through the Branch—the Messiah.
So the sinner called to work, is told to look to God, see God break down opposition, and see God’s great work expand. The sinner is assured his sin is forgiven. But does the sinner have power to work?
5. In vision five (4:1–14) Zechariah sees the body of believers supplied spontaneously, continuously with oil—the Holy Spirit. Greatest obstacles disappear. Not by human power or mechanical might but by the power of the Spirit is God’s work done. And where does this power—the oil—the Holy Spirit come from? From the anointed ones. Who are these? Reference is to the office of priest and king. This is what is meant for us today. Look to Jesus Christ the Savior (the great High Priest) who gave His life to redeem you. Also look to Jesus Christ as King, the Sovereign Lord over all. The Holy Spirit flows freely into that church which believes and sings: “Jesus Saves” and “Jesus Reigns.” To ignore one of these is to block one half of the oil supply.
6. In vision six (5:1–13) Zechariah shows that Spirit-filled workers are not only concerned to help individuals, to build the temple, the church, but also to tend to God’s kingdom work in various spheres of life. In the city there is corruption. Men lie. Men steal. Men curse. The city must be built, but it must become the city of God. The redeemed worker has to enter the marketplace with honest methods. He has to enter into the courts with honesty. Indirectly, Zechariah is calling for the redeemed to make their convictions and influences felt in all spheres of life.
Is this indeed the way of God? Does He not just call me to witness? No! Zechariah was a balanced preacher. He stressed personal salvation. He stressed God’s sovereignty, redemption by Christ, the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, and the full-orbed task of the believer in God’s Church and Kingdom. In this way God’s work is done.
7. In vision seven, (6:1–15) Zechariah preaches that the patrolmen are sent out into the whole world. God is in control. His work is being, and will be, accomplished. In the meantime, remember that Christ is both Priest and King. The Priest is on the throne. The Savior is King.
What a balanced but a complete gospel Zechariah preached.
He knew how to apply the gospel directly to men also. In chapter seven we read of men coming to the preacher, asking if they could be excused from “dreary fasts” by which the destruction of Jerusalem was commemorated. Now that a great future was before them, why lament?
This sounds good, doesn’t it? But listen to Zechariah.
“What is your motive?” “When you fasted, did you do it for God’s sake? or for your own?” “And are you asking to be freed from dreary fasts and commemoration services for God’s sake or for your own?” “Are you at heart a self-pleaser? Or do you really wish to please God?” Zechariah makes it quite clear in the last part of chapter seven that men were selfish. However, in chapter eight God’s grace, love and goodness is strongly proclaimed. And there is a strong appeal to work with a redeemed and obedient heart.
Full counsel of God – Later in his life Zechariah preached much about the coming Messiah and the holiness of God’s kingdom. I won’t review that now. But I do want to emphasize that Zechariah never lost his balance as a preacher. He preached the full-counsel of God. He never lost sight of the fact that the gospel is very necessary for the individual, the group (church) and the whole of life. He had no pet projects. There were no priorities for him. God is sovereign and we, redeemed sinners, have a tremendously great task to perform. With Christ the Savior Lord providing the Holy Spirit, we can and shall work for Him. We shall do the work required of us.
So it was in Zechariah’s time. Ezra said Haggai and Zechariah prophesied in the name of the God of Israel who was over them (5:1) the prophets of God were with them (the foremen over the workers) helping them (5:2b) . . . the elders built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building by the command of the God of Israel and by the decree of Cyrus . . . Darius . . . Artaxerxes . . . (6:14).
Gerard Van Groningen of Ripon, California, served until recently as a Christian Reformed missionary to Australia and as a professor in the Old Testament department at the Reformed Theological College in Geelong, Australia.
My essay won’t take any of these alternatives, or part of one, as the main subject. But it will have a message for all those concerned, or not concerned, with the problems young people are discussing and concerning which they are making various sorts of noises.
That balanced young preacher I am going to write a few things about is Zechariah. You can read what he preached and wrote in the second to the last book of the Old Testament. Ezra the Scribe (5:1) tells us Zechariah was a preaching prophet in a very difficult time.
A bit of history – We should recall some Biblical history. In 606 B.C. the Babylonians captured Jerusalem, took some young people as prisoners (Daniel was one). In 596 the Babylonians were back, they took more captives to Babylon. Finally, after protests and riots, rebellion and revolution in and around Jerusalem, the Babylonians completely destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple. They carried thousands into captivity, killed thousands of others, and left some poor and unorganized peasants and laborers among the ruins in Judah and Jerusalem. The place stayed in ruins for five decades.
God’s man for the hour – Zechariah the young preacher entered the scene. But just before him Haggai, an old man, had preached. Read his prophecy. Strong language, it was he used. But the people needed it. Haggai proclaimed: “Consider your ways! You are poor. Your pockets have holes in them because you are not at work building the House of God!” Haggai really caused a stir. Yes, the old gentleman became a real stirrer. In a good way. The people went to work.
Then in 536 B.C. Cyrus issued a decree. They were to rebuild the city and reestablish their religious and social way of life. A group, by no means all, went back to Jerusalem. They immediately built an altar so that they could worship (Ezra 3:2ff). That done, they set about to build the temple. Foundations were laid. And then trouble began. Protesters and demonstrators from among the new neighbors appeared on the scene (Ezra 4:1ff.). The result was that the work on the house of God and the city stopped (Ezra 4:24). This was at the command of the king who was not aware of “Cyrus’ edict.”
God’s man for the hour – Then Zechariah the young preacher entered the scene. But just before him Haggai, an old man, had preached. Read his prophecy. Strong language, it was he used. But the people needed it. Haggai proclaimed: “Consider your ways! You are poor. Your pockets have holes in them because you are not at work building the House of God!” Haggai really caused a stir. Yes, the old gentleman became a real stirrer. In a good way. The people went to work.
Please understand this. In 536 B.C. the altar and temple foundations had been built. Then for sixteen years nothing—absolutely nothing—was done. And when the temple (the worship center of the Old Testament) was neglected, so was the personal faith of the people. As today, so it was then: be cool on the church and your own faith and religious life will become cooler and colder. The individual needs the church, the fellowship of believers, the coming together for work and worship in the service of God.
Haggai really stirred those cold and inactive Jerusalemites. They went to work. But the people needed more than stirring words. They needed the full preaching of God’s Word. They needed to be reminded of their great task. And the balanced young preaching prophet was God’s man for that hour.
Let us now quickly review what this daring, yet balanced, young man had to say. “God was angry with your fathers. Be not like your fathers1 Repent, believe and obey the commands of God as also some of your fathers did” (Zech. 1:1–6).
Zechariah first called the individuals to get their personal relationships right with God. No man can serve, gathering men, building God’s church and kingdom, if he is not a penitent sinner, aware of God’s wrath against sin and conscious of God’s—saving grace. Zechariah knew where he had to begin. He didn’t rush to pet projects.
Great visions – Then Zechariah told the people of the visions he had received. These visions are great—really great!
1. In the first vision, the world is presented as resting; the men of the world seem to be in control. But God has His patrols out. He keeps an eye on the world. The Angel of the Lord, the Messiah, cries out: “How long must the believers suffer?” The answer is: “I am jealous for Jerusalem.” God loves His people; He will fight for them. What comforting words Zechariah preached. Look to God, He is sovereign. And remember that the Messiah intercedes for you.
2. In the second vision (1:18–21) God is hard at work. Zechariah presents four tradesmen with building tools (not soldiers with weapons). These workers and builders break down and scatter the powers which had used the sword to kill and destroy. So God shows He is concerned. Not by means of violence, not by means of dissent, but by work! Building! That is the way in the service of God. What a message Zechariah proclaimed. But why work? Is there a future?
3. In vision three (2:1–13) Zechariah sees a young carpenter’s apprentice. He is measuring to see how big the city, the kingdom of God, should be. After all, when we work, we should set up our program, goals, limits, and so forth—shouldn’t we? But the calculating, measuring young man is stopped. You can’t measure God’s work. God’s city and kingdom can’t be walled in. God’s work breaks through man-made walls. Sprouting villages, expanding cities, all surrounded and kept by the fire, light, and power of God are in God’s plan. Note how Zechariah calls to those individuals who stayed in Babylon. He says to them: “Flee from the world, join the work of God, sing and rejoice.”
Can the sinner sing and rejoice? Can he really be one of God’s people? Oh yes he can! Don’t doubt it for a minute. Read vision four.
4. In vision four (3:1–10) Satan is presented in his attempt to get a sentence of condemnation for the guilty sinners. (Joshua the high priest in soiled clothing represents the body of believers.) However, God rebukes Satan. He has chosen the sinner, rescued him from the fires of sin and death. He gives the dirty one clean clothes—even a hat and shoes.
Joshua and the people are called to realize that God does this through the Branch—the Messiah.
So the sinner called to work, is told to look to God, see God break down opposition, and see God’s great work expand. The sinner is assured his sin is forgiven. But does the sinner have power to work?
5. In vision five (4:1–14) Zechariah sees the body of believers supplied spontaneously, continuously with oil—the Holy Spirit. Greatest obstacles disappear. Not by human power or mechanical might but by the power of the Spirit is God’s work done. And where does this power—the oil—the Holy Spirit come from? From the anointed ones. Who are these? Reference is to the office of priest and king. This is what is meant for us today. Look to Jesus Christ the Savior (the great High Priest) who gave His life to redeem you. Also look to Jesus Christ as King, the Sovereign Lord over all. The Holy Spirit flows freely into that church which believes and sings: “Jesus Saves” and “Jesus Reigns.” To ignore one of these is to block one half of the oil supply.
6. In vision six (5:1–13) Zechariah shows that Spirit-filled workers are not only concerned to help individuals, to build the temple, the church, but also to tend to God’s kingdom work in various spheres of life. In the city there is corruption. Men lie. Men steal. Men curse. The city must be built, but it must become the city of God. The redeemed worker has to enter the marketplace with honest methods. He has to enter into the courts with honesty. Indirectly, Zechariah is calling for the redeemed to make their convictions and influences felt in all spheres of life.
Is this indeed the way of God? Does He not just call me to witness? No! Zechariah was a balanced preacher. He stressed personal salvation. He stressed God’s sovereignty, redemption by Christ, the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, and the full-orbed task of the believer in God’s Church and Kingdom. In this way God’s work is done.
7. In vision seven, (6:1–15) Zechariah preaches that the patrolmen are sent out into the whole world. God is in control. His work is being, and will be, accomplished. In the meantime, remember that Christ is both Priest and King. The Priest is on the throne. The Savior is King.
What a balanced but a complete gospel Zechariah preached.
He knew how to apply the gospel directly to men also. In chapter seven we read of men coming to the preacher, asking if they could be excused from “dreary fasts” by which the destruction of Jerusalem was commemorated. Now that a great future was before them, why lament?
This sounds good, doesn’t it? But listen to Zechariah.
“What is your motive?” “When you fasted, did you do it for God’s sake? or for your own?” “And are you asking to be freed from dreary fasts and commemoration services for God’s sake or for your own?” “Are you at heart a self-pleaser? Or do you really wish to please God?” Zechariah makes it quite clear in the last part of chapter seven that men were selfish. However, in chapter eight God’s grace, love and goodness is strongly proclaimed. And there is a strong appeal to work with a redeemed and obedient heart.
Full counsel of God – Later in his life Zechariah preached much about the coming Messiah and the holiness of God’s kingdom. I won’t review that now. But I do want to emphasize that Zechariah never lost his balance as a preacher. He preached the full-counsel of God. He never lost sight of the fact that the gospel is very necessary for the individual, the group (church) and the whole of life. He had no pet projects. There were no priorities for him. God is sovereign and we, redeemed sinners, have a tremendously great task to perform. With Christ the Savior Lord providing the Holy Spirit, we can and shall work for Him. We shall do the work required of us.
So it was in Zechariah’s time. Ezra said Haggai and Zechariah prophesied in the name of the God of Israel who was over them (5:1) the prophets of God were with them (the foremen over the workers) helping them (5:2b) . . . the elders built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building by the command of the God of Israel and by the decree of Cyrus . . . Darius . . . Artaxerxes . . . (6:14).
Gerard Van Groningen of Ripon, California, served until recently as a Christian Reformed missionary to Australia and as a professor in the Old Testament department at the Reformed Theological College in Geelong, Australia.