This past week, I spent some time studying the book of Zechariah. Having been asked to teach some of the most obscure passages in Bible (Zechariah 3-6) has led me to think through some of the objections that a 21st century Christian might have to the importance and relevance of the book of Zechariah. During my research, I came across a quote I thought was quite fitting, and I thought I’d pass it along.
“In coming to a theologically responsible reading of the message of Zechariah, we must take seriously its literary and canonical unity, its embeddedness in an authoritative canon that culminates in the Christ of the NT evangelists and apostles, and the historical Christian claim that Scripture in all of its parts communicates the word of God to every generation of believers in their own situation.”
Albert Wolters, “Book of Zechariah,” in Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible. Kevin J. Vanhoozer, ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2005, 863.
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BTW, for those of you who also have been studying Zechariah, did anyone catch the chiastic structure of the eight visions, centering on the merger of the priesthood and kingship? I stayed up for hours last night just meditating on the wonderfulness of Jesus as Prophet, Priest and King!
Timmy:
We’ve been in the book of Zechariah the past couple of weeks, also (Lifeway’s ETB cirriculum). Great stuff! I was intrigued by the multiple references to “the Branch” in chapters three and six connecting Messianic prophecies (Isa 11:1-2; Jer 23:5; Jer 33:14-18) God’s Word always pulls everything together! The final verses of chapter six were fantastic as God instructed Zechariah to place the “crown…on the head of Joshua…the high priest.”
“…He will be a priest on His throne” (Zech 6:13) Priest AND King!!!
It’s stuff like this that helps me to not worry about ever running out of material to preach and study! Praise God!
That’s right. Unfortunately, the LifeWay curriculum for this Sunday’s teaching focusing on chapter 4 only, and more specifically about the verse, “Not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit . . .”. While I think that is important, I felt that the major thrust and meaning of Zechariah was being missed, so I went a different route.
A unique theological contribution of Zechariah was this merger of priest and king as you have pointed out in your comment. The reference of Joshua the High Priest (priesthood) and Zerubbabel the Governor (kingship) are significant, especially since they are at the concentric center of the chiastic structure of the eight visions. It is so cool to see how Hebraic literature puts emphasis on things. They can’t be like me and walk around with no less than five different color highlighters or italicize text. But their approach is much more beautiful and artistic, and I am growing to appreciate Hebraic poetry and prose all the more.
On another note, how did you explain the woman in the basket? I thought about having the class in small groups to each come up with an interpretation to see what they would come up with (with the flying scroll, basket woman, and the four chariots). That would have been fun, but I was short on time.
Terry,
I would also add that we are living in a day where it is even more an imperative to preach biblical theology throughout redemptive history because it seems that the church is becoming more and more biblically illiterate and cannot connect God’s story to their own. With all the sound-byte theology and how-to self-help sermons, people are extracting tips and pragmatic principles while neglecting the theological thrust of Scripture. While application to everyday life is crucially important, I fear that the weight of exposition is lightened in our day of levity and short-circuited.
Perhaps this is because people do not think that theology is relevant or practical enough. But in this particular passage to which we are referring, there are no commands or explicit references of pragmatic principles. Rather, God is wanting us to know something about himself, about his promises, about his work in redemptive history, about his character–and this knowledge is to affect every area of our lives. Not only is our live practically different, but we also know why our life is different. This is, in part, some of what the Lord has taught me this past week while studying Zechariah–a book I have for too long treated superficially.
Timmy,
During your research, make sure to find Meredith Kline’s book “Glory in Our Midst: A Biblical Theological Reading of Zecheriah’s Night Visions.” Much of the material is on the Kerux website: http://kerux.com/Search/results.asp
Lord Bless,
James Grant
Thanks James! I will check it out.
I found Barry Webb’s commentary on Zechariah to be insightful, devotional and redemptive-historical.
Thanks Eric! Man, I really appreciate the resources and helps you guys are directing to my attention.
Good thoughts. I like Wolters’s comments about the book’s “embeddedness in an authoritative canon that culminates in the Christ.” Zechariah plays an integral part in the overall message of the Book of the 12. I’ve also found The Dict. for Theo. Interp. very helpful.
Timmy,
I couldn’t agree more! I grew up Roman Catholic and after becoming a born-again believer, was in a UCC church. I eventually got kicked out of the denomination because I argued for the inerrancy of Scripture and the necessity of Jesus Christ for salvation. I only became Southern Baptist after much research and reformed after much kicking and screaming. Once I realized God had called me to the ministry (after a long argument that almost killed me–God used an ATV accident–and one in which I lost) I knew right away I had to preach the Bible–all of it. I am convinced that one should preach verse by verse through a book that way they don’t get caught up in preaching personal vendettas and favorite topics. My ultimate goal is to preach through the entire Bible from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. That thought alone excites me!
Timmy:
We use the Lifeway stuff as a “roadmap.” I read it, but if something else catches my attention as I’m reading through the text, I’ll usually go with that. They (the pastors at Bethel) allow us that liberty.
re: the Woman in the Basket, the Scroll, and the Four Chariots. I ended up spending more time on the lampstand and really only had time to allude to them. I touched on the woman as the sin of Israel being purged or taken out of the nation. I thought it was interesting–and I didn’t come up with this myself–that the word for “wickedness” is in the “feminine” form of the word “evil” or “ungodly.” My first thought was of a harlot/prostitute (Rev 17). Was this the worst, most descriptive image God could give Zechariah to help him understand how vile Israel’s sin was? Just a thought.
We spent a good amount of time on “Not by might…” as well. Our class doesn’t do “groups” too well. 8^)>
Timmy,
I attend Dr. Wellum’s Sunday School class following your class with Dr. Betts. This Sunday, I saw the partially erased teaching notes on the board. I take it those were yours. Fine job, sir!
Trent
Keith,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Regarding LifeWay material, I am not trying to knock it, but the times when I have taught, I have reviewed their material last–that is, after I have worked through the text, meditated on it, and consulted with other commentaries. By that time, whatever is discussed in the material has been covered.
Regarding the Basket woman, I saw it in the same way as the previous vision of the scroll, namely that it was addressing sin within the camp. This is contrary to the visions 2 and 3 which address opposition from outside the camp. Perhaps the “day of small things” was despised because of such opposition from without and within. Yet a people who have been purified through Babylonian exile you would think would be a holy remnant, yet God’s law (scroll) and their sin (wickedness) was apparent. So going back to the Joshua and his filthy garment, it makes sense to see how God’s gift would be the removal of the filthy garment and provision of pure vestments. Such imagery speaks so wonderfully to the propitiation of Christ’s death and the imputation of His righteousness. Indeed, our righteousness is but filthy rags in the sight of God!
Trent,
LOL! I brought a fresh, blue, dry erase marker with me which did not erase very well! I had to double check and make sure it wasn’t a permanent marker!
But yeah, that was my random sketches.
It took a little extra muscle to remove your hard work. Looked like the work of a good teacher. Keep it up.
Thanks Trent. Next time I will remember to use the available dry-erase markers. I suppose that’s why they are there (so that newbie’s like me won’t bring their extra bold markers). 🙂