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”

Lifespan

Unknown.

Ministry

Mostly unknown. Probably a prophet of Judah who prophesied after the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.

Preparation and Calling

Unknown.

Interaction with God

According to the words of Obadiah, the contents of his book came to him in a vision.

Social Situation

Edom and Judah had been political rivals for a considerable time. The inhabitants of Judah felt that Edom had wronged them on a number of occasions, including denying passage to Moses and the Israelites when they were moving to Canaan. This vision describes how God will take vengeance on Edom and how Israel will return from captivity to rebuild the temple.

Key Teachings

God’s power is sure and will rule when and where He desires. Obadiah also speaks of saviors on Mount Zion, which has reference to salvation for the dead.

Living with the Prophet

The book of Obadiah is only 21 verses long, but it teaches something very important. In verse 15, the text reads: “As thou has done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.” Sometimes this principle is known as the Law of the Harvest, meaning that whatever we reap, we sow. What we do to others will be done to us. Think back on this past week. How have you treated others? Would you like to be treated in the same way? If you are not pleased with the way you answered these questions, change your ways. Now.

Sources

Learning Bible, the book of Obadiah

Holy Bible, the book of Obadiah

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