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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 20, Day 2: Zechariah 7:1-7

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Zechariah 7:1-7

People from Bethel went to Zechariah to ask him if they should still mourn and fast as they had been doing for years.

God answered by asking the people if their hearts were truly mourning or if they were just going through the motions, and if when they were feasting, if it was just for themselves.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 20 Day 2: Zechariah 7:1-7

3)

Time Passed: Approximately two years passed between the first vision (2nd year of Darius, 8th month) and this inquiry (4th year of Darius, 9th month).

What Was Happening:

  • Active Construction: When Zechariah began (1:1), the work was just restarting after a 16-year delay (Ezra 5:1-2). By Chapter 7, the rebuilding was in full swing.

  • Mid-Way Point: They were roughly halfway through the project. The foundation was laid, and the structure was rising, but it would not be fully finished until Darius’s 6th year (Ezra 6:15).

  • Rising Hope: Because the new Temple was becoming a reality, the people began to question if they still needed to fast and mourn over the destruction of the old one.

4a) They asked the priests, “Should I mourn and fast in the fifth month, as I have done for so many years?”

b) God didn’t simply answer their question with a yes or a no. He wanted to know if they were truly mourning for Him or for themselves. He wanted them to examine their hearts.

5a) Because religious rituals are easy to do. Anyone can do them.  Heartfelt worship and service require work and for us to get uncomfortable and face and admit things we don’t necessarily want to.

b) Many ways. You can truly not be repentant for your sins and therefore continue in your ways rather than grow in a relationship with Christ. God gets the glory, not us.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 20, Day 2: Zechariah 7:1-7

Great stuff! I love how God always knows everything — our motivations, desires, fears, and reasonings. And, I love how God always corrects in His amazing way to get us on the right path for Him!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 20, Day 2: Zechariah 7:1-7

Bible scholars put this exact day at December 4, 518 B.C., when the temple was about halfway done.

This fast marked the destruction of the temple (2 Kings 25:8-9). The fast in the seventh month (Zechariah 7:5) remembered the murder of Gedaliah, which was the last act of rebellion against the Babylonian governor of Judah (2 Kings 25:25).

Note that these were all fasts and mournings instituted by the Israelites themselves. The only one God instituted was the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29-34). They had been doing this one for 70 years, so they just kept doing it. Now, they began to wonder why.

And, how long should we mourn our past? With Jesus, this is unnecessary!

God rebuked His people for this show of self-pity rather than actual heart mourning, and for trying to make up for living for themselves the rest of the year.

If it’s not done for God, it’s useless.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Zechariah 7:1-7 addresses the emptiness of ritual without relationship.

  • The Question: A delegation arrives from Bethel two years into the temple rebuilding. They ask a practical question: “Should we continue to fast and mourn in the fifth month (remembering the Temple’s destruction) as we have done for seventy years?” Since the Temple was being rebuilt, the ritual seemed obsolete.

  • The Motive Check: God does not give a simple “yes” or “no.” Instead, He exposes their hearts: “When you fasted… did you really fast for Me?” God reveals that their fasting was actually self-pity, not repentance. They were mourning their loss, not their sin.

  • The Comparison: God parallels their fasting with their feasting. When they ate, they did it for themselves (pleasure); when they fasted, they did it for themselves (religious pride/sorrow). God was not the focus of either activity.

  • The Reminder: God points them back to the “former prophets.” He implies that if their ancestors had simply obeyed the message of justice and mercy back when Jerusalem was prosperous, these mourning fasts would never have been necessary in the first place.

Conclusion

God looks at the “Why,” not just the “What.” This passage teaches that religious activities—even difficult ones like fasting—are worthless to God if the motive is self-centered. God desires obedience and a heart connection, not just the mindless maintenance of religious traditions.

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Friday’s Digest BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 19

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN BSF EXILE & RETURN: A TIME TO BUILD LESSON 19

  • God must deal with sin
  • Fill your mind with God’s truth, not the world’s “truths”
  • Every step in our lives has meaning
  • We conquer sin with God’s strength
  • We are covered in the blood of Christ, so we can be holy in the face of God
  • God is all we need

TAKE AWAY: God rules rightly.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 19, Day 5: Zechariah 6:9-15

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Zechariah 6:9-15

God instructs Zechariah to make a crown from gold and silver and place it on the high priest, Joshua’s, head. His name shall be Branch, and he will build the temple of the Lord. He will be clothed in majesty and sit and rule on his throne. He will be a priest on the throne.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 19 Day 5: Zechariah 6:9-15

12)  “Take silver and gold from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon. Go the same day to the house of Josiah, son of Zephaniah. Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jozadak.”

13) The “Branch” symbolizes life springing from the “dead” stump of David’s fallen dynasty (Isaiah 11). It identifies Jesus as the promised King (Jeremiah 23) and Servant (Zechariah 3) who, despite humble beginnings, grows to restore God’s glory (Isaiah 4) and build the eternal Temple.

14a) Jesus fulfills this by offering Himself as the perfect, “once-for-all” sacrifice, securing eternal redemption through His own blood (Hebrews 9–10). Unlike human priests, He holds a permanent priesthood, living forever to intercede for believers at God’s right hand (Hebrews 7; Romans 8), ensuring our salvation is complete and secure.

b)

From these verses, we learn that Jesus is not merely a spiritual guide but the absolute Sovereign of the Universe with authority over every realm of existence.

Here is what each passage reveals about His Kingship:

  • Matthew 25:31 (The Royal Judge): Jesus is the King who sits on a literal “glorious throne.” His Kingship includes the ultimate authority to judge the nations, separating people based on their relationship with Him. He has the final word on human destiny.

  • Ephesians 1:20-22 (The Supreme Head): His authority is total and current. He is seated “far above” every other rule, authority, power, and dominion. Nothing in the spiritual or physical universe is outside His jurisdiction.

  • Philippians 2:9-11 (The Object of Worship): His Kingship is universal and undeniable. He holds the “name above every name,” and eventually, every knee—in heaven, on earth, and under the earth—will bow in submission to His Lordship.

  • Revelation 1:5 (The Ruler of Rulers): His authority is political. He is the “ruler of kings on earth.” Every president, dictator, and monarch is a subordinate who answers to Him.

Short Summary

These verses portray Jesus as the supreme Sovereign who outranks every spiritual power and earthly leader (Ephesians 1, Revelation 1). He sits on a glorious throne as the final Judge (Matthew 25) and holds the highest name, demanding that every creature in existence bow in submission to His Lordship (Philippians 2).

c) With humility, gratitude, awe, worship, prayer, and more.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 19, Day 5: Zechariah 6:9-15

I love this mini-study of Jesus as our High Priest. So, go good!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 19, Day 5: Zechariah 6:9-15

There had always been a separation between church and state in Israel. A high priest was not crowned as king and vice versa. In fact, there were dire consequences if one tried to do so 2 Chronicles 26 .

This is a direct prophecy of Jesus as our King and Priest.

The branch was a common name for the Messiah (Isaiah 4:2 and 11:1, Jeremiah 23:5 and 33:15). We see branches in the Bible elsewhere, too (John 15:5) and often referred to abundance, fruitfulness, and life.

Since the crown was a memorial, this shows us that Joshua was never meant to be king; this was merely a foreshadowing of Jesus to come.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Interpretation

Zechariah 6:9-15 (The Crowning of Joshua) is a Messianic prophecy enacted in real life.

  • The Forbidden Merger: Zechariah is commanded to make a crown of silver and gold and place it on the head of Joshua the High Priest. This was shocking symbolism because in Israel, the office of King (tribe of Judah) and Priest (tribe of Levi) were strictly separate.

  • The Branch: The text clarifies that Joshua is merely a sign. The crown actually belongs to the coming “Branch” (the Messiah).

  • The Priest-King: The prophecy declares that this future figure will “sit and rule on his throne” and “shall be a priest on his throne,” with “counsel of peace” between the two roles. He will perfectly unite supreme authority and supreme mercy.

  • The True Builder: While Zerubbabel built the physical temple, this Branch “shall build the temple of the Lord”—referring to the future spiritual house of God (the Church).

Conclusion

Jesus is the solution to the separation of powers. This passage foretells that the Messiah will not just be a ruler who conquers, nor just a priest who prays, but a Priest-King. He is the only one who can mediate for us with perfect empathy (Priest) while ruling over us with perfect sovereignty (King).

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 19, Day 4: Zechariah 6:1-8

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Zechariah 6:1-8

In Zechariah’s 8th and final vision, he sees 4 chariots pulled by horses of different colors. The horses represented the 4 spirits of heaven going out to the whole world.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 19 Day 4: Zechariah 6:1-8

9) The four war chariots emerging from unshakeable “bronze mountains” symbolize God’s unstoppable military power unleashed for judgment. Unlike earlier scouts, these forces actively execute wrath against oppressive empires (specifically Babylon). The declaration that His Spirit is now “at rest” confirms that justice has been satisfied and the enemy defeated.

10a) They are bookends. Vision 1 features scouts reporting the nations are “at rest” while God is angry. Vision 8 features war chariots executing judgment. The situation reverses: initially, the world was peaceful and God agitated; now, God’s Spirit is “at rest” because His wrath against the nations is satisfied.

b) In the first vision, God promised to judge the nations that were “at ease.” The final vision fulfills this by deploying war chariots to execute that judgment. The cycle completes as God’s Spirit finds “rest” in the North Country, signifying that the wrath anticipated in Chapter 1 has finally been satisfied.

11) God cannot abide by or in sin. Therefore, comprehensive judgment ensures total restoration. Judging individuals establishes personal accountability; removing systemic “Wickedness” cleanses the culture; and judging nations ends external oppression. If any realm were spared, evil would survive. God must purge sin everywhere—internally, structurally, and globally—to establish a truly holy and peaceful kingdom.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 19, Day 4: Zechariah 6:1-8

Love how these visions all come together to tell a cohesive story of God’s judgment on nations.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 19, Day 4: Zechariah 6:1-8

Many Bible scholars believe that the two mountains are Mount Zion and the Mount of Olives.

We see these colors as the colors of the horsemen in Revelation 6

Note that red often symbolizes war, black death, white victory, and dappled as disease.

The 4 chariots were 4 angelic beings.

God can rest when evil has been judged.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Interpretation

Zechariah 6:1-8 (The Vision of the Four Chariots) is the finale of the night visions, depicting Divine Judgment executed.

  • The War Machines: Unlike the first vision (Zechariah 1), where riders were merely scouts, these are chariots—ancient tanks of war. This signals a shift from observation to action.

  • The Bronze Mountains: The chariots emerge from between two mountains of bronze. Bronze symbolizes judgment and strength. This represents the unshakeable, heavenly gateway from which God’s decrees are launched.

  • The Target: The chariots are dispatched to the “four winds,” but the focus is the North Country (Babylon). The black and white horses head there to execute judgment on the oppressor.

  • The Satisfaction: The vision ends with the declaration that these forces have “given My Spirit rest in the north country.” This means God’s wrath has been fully vented; justice has been served, and His anger is now appeased.

Conclusion

The cycle is complete. The visions began in Chapter 1 with the earth “at rest” in complacent sin while God was angry. They end in Chapter 6 with the earth pacified because God has judged it, and His Spirit is “at rest.” It confirms that God is the Lord of History, and He will actively defeat the enemies of His people to establish true peace.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 19, Day 3: Zechariah 5:5-11

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Zechariah 5:5-11

In Zechariah’s 7th vision, he sees a woman in a basket who represents all of the sins and evils of the world. Then two women with wings appeared who lifted up the basket to take it to Babylon, where it will sit in a house.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 19 Day 3: Zechariah 5:5-11

6) The woman “Wickedness” is sealed in a basket and flown to “Shinar” (Babylon), the original site of rebellion (Genesis 11) and future symbol of worldly corruption (Revelation 17). This symbolizes God permanently deporting idolatry back to its pagan source, ensuring true worship is restored in Jerusalem by physically separating evil from His people.

7a) It encouraged them by visualizing that their struggle against sin wasn’t futile. God showed He was actively removing the “principle” of wickedness from their midst. By sending evil back to Babylon (Shinar), God assured them that their new community wouldn’t be corrupted like the past, but would be a holy sanctuary.

b) It’s comforting to know sin will one day end. Knowing that sin and suffering are “light and momentary” compared to the “eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor 4) allows us not to lose heart as we waste away. We have the confident hope of a future Holy City where nothing or no one unclean enters (Rev 21), assuring us that evil’s days are numbered and purity will win.

8a) This vision is pretty easy to understand, as you can imagine the sins of the world being taken away by God. Many people are visual, and pictures can be easier to understand for His people.

b) I pray more. I listen for answers. I study more. I rely on faith to help me know that one day, if it’s in God’s will, I will understand it.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 19, Day 3: Zechariah 5:5-11

Great message of hope here! We all need to keep in mind that one day sin will be no more and be encouraged when we fail that God has got us in His hands!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 19, Day 3: Zechariah 5:5-11

Here’s we see how God removes sin from the land.

The basket was an ephah, and it symbolized commerce.

The woman represented all of evil. A woman was used because the Hebrew word for a woman is feminine.

Wings like a stork emphasize that they were large.

Evil began in Babylon (as we see in the Tower of Babel and as it represents here). So, it would be banished there forever.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Zechariah 5:5-11 (The Vision of the Woman in the Basket) is a dramatic scene illustrating the removal of wickedness.

  • The Container: Zechariah sees an “ephah” (a large measuring basket, about the size of a bushel). This likely represents commerce and the economy, but more broadly, it symbolizes the “measure” of the people’s iniquity being full.

  • The Woman: Inside the basket sits a woman identified as “Wickedness” (or Iniquity personified). She tries to rise, but the angel thrusts her back down and seals the basket with a heavy lead lid. This shows that sin is active and dangerous but is being actively restrained by God.

  • The Removal: Two winged women (with wings like a stork) lift the basket and fly it away to “the land of Shinar” (Babylon).

  • The Destination: Shinar is the archetypal place of rebellion against God (Tower of Babel). The vision signifies that wickedness is being returned to its “home base.”

Conclusion

God is purifying His people by exporting sin. While the previous vision (the scroll) dealt with individual sinners, this vision deals with the principle of sin itself. God is not just managing evil; He is removing it completely from the community, sending idolatry and corruption back to Babylon where it belongs, so His people can be holy.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 19, Day 2: Zechariah 5:1-4

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Zechariah 5:1-4

In Zechariah’s 6th vision, Zechariah saw a flying scroll that described the curse that went out over the whole land. Those who stole or swore falsely would be banished.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 19 Day 2: Zechariah 5:1-4

3) The huge “flying scroll” represents God’s Law (Exodus 20), visible to all, acting as the inescapable standard. Just as kings were to write and obey the Law (Deuteronomy 17), this scroll shows that God judges not by whim, but by His written covenant, holding everyone accountable to His established moral order.

4a) Stealing and swearing falsely by God’s name. Stealing violates the Second Greatest Commandment: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Swearing falsely violates the First Greatest Commandment:“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart.”

By targeting these two specific sins, the vision declares judgment on those who fail to love God (the vertical relationship) and those who fail to love people (the horizontal relationship), effectively covering the entire Law.

b) Three details communicate this pervasiveness:

  1. The Size: The scroll is enormous (30×15 feet), implying sin is a massive, undeniable reality that cannot be ignored.

  2. The Scope: It flies “over the face of the whole land,” showing that judgment covers the entire community, not just a few bad apples.

  3. The Intrusion: It enters “the house” and consumes “timber and stones,” showing that the curse penetrates private life and destroys the very structure of existence.

5)

The vision of the flying scroll reveals the inescapable nature of God’s law and the inevitability of judgment, pointing directly to our need for a Savior.

  • Universal Guilt (Romans 3:10-12): The scroll flies over the “whole land,” showing that no one is exempt. The law exposes that “there is none righteous, no, not one,” leaving humanity helpless under the curse.

  • The Curse Taken (Galatians 3:13): The scroll represents a “curse” that consumes the sinner. Christ redeems us by becoming a curse for us, hanging on the cross to absorb the judgment that the flying scroll threatened against us.

  • The Exchange (2 Corinthians 5:21): The scroll demanded perfection we didn’t have. Christ takes our “filthy garments” (sin) and gives us His righteousness, silencing the law’s accusation so we are no longer consumed.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 19, Day 2: Zechariah 5:1-4

Great lesson on how we are all accountable to God for our sins and will pay the just consequences for them, too.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 19, Day 2: Zechariah 5:1-4

The 6th and 7th visions concern God’s judgment of sin and His determination to remove sin’s corruption from the land.

Fun Fact: The dimensions of the scroll were the same as the dimensions of the porch of Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 6:3).

Scrolls are seen in the Bible when a judgment is pronounced.

The two sins were from different sides of the Ten Commandment tablets. Therefore, they represent all of the sins of God’s people.  God will judge all of sin. Those who committed these sins would be cursed and so would their house.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Interpretation

Zechariah 5:1-4 (The Vision of the Flying Scroll) is a message about divine cleaning house.

  • The Object: Zechariah sees a massive flying scroll (approx. 30×15 feet), open for all to read. This represents the Law of God, specifically the Ten Commandments.

  • The Curse: The scroll is a “curse that goes out over the face of the whole land.” It targets two specific sins:

    • Thieves (Stealing): Violation of the 8th Commandment (sins against neighbors).

    • Perjurers (Swearing falsely by God’s name): Violation of the 3rd Commandment (sins against God).

  • The Infiltration: Unlike human police who can be evaded, this curse is supernatural. It “enters the house” of the sinner, ignoring locked doors.

  • The Destruction: It does not just punish the person; it consumes the “timber and stones” of their house. This signifies total eradication of the ill-gotten gain and the legacy built on it.

Conclusion

God will not tolerate hidden sin in the new community. While the earlier visions promised comfort and rebuilding, this vision warns that the new Temple community must be holy. God is actively purging corruption, ensuring that those who exploit neighbors or misuse His name cannot hide behind closed doors.

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Friday’s Digest BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 18

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN BSF EXILE & RETURN: A TIME TO BUILD LESSON 18

  • God reveals what we need to know
  • We must remember God’s certainties
  • God’s power will accomplish His purposes
  • We must have God’s strength to accomplish His purposes
  • God raises up leaders for His purposes
  • We cannot fully understand God’s work
  • We are empowered to work for God
  • God provides everything we need
  • God is always doing more than we think
  • His work is accomplished through us
  • God lifts us up
  • All the glory is God’s
  • God does great things through ordinary people who are filled with His Spirit

TAKE AWAY: God blesses His people.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 18, Day 5: Zechariah 4

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Zechariah 4

Zechariah’s fifth vision is of a lampstand with 7 lamps with 7 channels leading to it. This vision is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit.”

The “great mountain” shall “become a plain” before God. Zerubbabel’s hands “laid the foundation” and “shall also finish it” with the “capstone,” amid shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 18 Day 5: Zechariah 4

12) The lampstand fed continuously by olive trees illustrates a limitless supply of oil, representing the Holy Spirit’s power. This symbolism proves that success relies not on human “might,” but on divine sufficiency. It assures Zerubbabel that God will supernaturally level “mountains” of opposition to bring the work to a triumphant finish.

13a) God encouraged him that success comes by the Spirit, not human strength, promising that “mountains” of opposition would vanish and he would finish the Temple. The warning cautions against despising “small beginnings” or relying on self-effort, urging him to trust solely in God’s sufficient grace.

b) It shifts focus from human exhaustion to divine reliance, teaching that success depends on God’s Spirit, not our striving. It reframes overwhelming “mountains” as obstacles God will flatten. Finally, it validates “small beginnings,” assuring us that God rejoices in humble starts and guarantees to finish His work with grace. I am encouraged by God doing it all by grace.

14) ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit.’ This verse is comforting because I can let go of things and put them in God’s hands rather than mine. Everything is from Him, by Him, and for Him. Everything is in God’s power. When I feel like I can’t do something, it’s okay because God can do it.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 18, Day 5: Zechariah 4

Great study! I love all the different visions. God is so gracious to speak to His people and lead and guide us!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 18, Day 5: Zechariah 4

You’ll see that many of these images have to do with the temple since the people were currently rebuilding it at this time.

The golden lampstand was meant to stand in the temple. The olive trees’ job was to supply the 7 lamps with oil via 7 pipes.

The Jewish people would know instantly that this was special. Here, the olive trees supply the oil. In ancient times, the lampstands had to be constantly tended to, so the analogy of God doing it all hit home.

Zerubbabel was in charge of the temple building. The message to him was that God, via the Holy Spirit would supply the power to finish the temple.

Oil was a popular symbol in the Bible. Its properties were what was important: healing, lubrication, light, warmth, polishes, etc. Here, it represents God’s Spirit.

The building of the temple was a great mountain. But with God’s power, it would be as a plain.

When work is done by the Spirit, it is by grace. God always finishes what He starts.

The small things shape us.

The 7 are the eyes of the Lord who rejoices in us doing His work.

The 2 anointed ones were Zerubbabel and Joshua. We see this symbolism again in Revelation, as 2 more will rise up for the Lord (Revelation 11:3-13). Revelation 11:4

The anointed ones would have a continual supply of oil like the lamps.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Interpretation

Zechariah 4 (The Vision of the Golden Lampstand) is a message of supernatural empowerment specifically designed to encourage Zerubbabel, the governor.

  • The Power Source: The prophet sees a lampstand fed directly by two olive trees, meaning it never runs out of fuel and requires no human maintenance. This illustrates the central truth: “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit.” The work will be accomplished by God’s endless supply of grace, not by human military force or political maneuvering.

  • Leveling the Mountain: The “great mountain” of opposition (rubble, politics, discouragement) facing Zerubbabel is promised to become a “plain.” God will flatten the obstacles that seem insurmountable.

  • The Capstone: God guarantees that Zerubbabel, who laid the foundation, will personally set the final stone (the capstone) to finish the Temple. This triumph will not be met with boasts of “We did it,” but with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”—acknowledging God’s help from start to finish.

  • Small Beginnings: The vision rebukes the cynics who “despise the day of small things.” God rejoices to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand, affirming that humble beginnings often lead to glorious finishes.

Conclusion

God’s work is done by God’s power. When we face “mountainous” obstacles, the solution is not to try harder (might/power), but to rely deeper on the Holy Spirit. God assures us that what He begins by grace, He will finish by grace.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 18, Day 4: Zechariah 3

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Zechariah 3

Zechariah saw in his fourth vision Joshua, who stood in “filthy garments” before the Angel of the Lord while “Satan” opposed him. The Lord said, “The Lord rebuke you!” and commanded, “Take away the filthy garments.” God declared, “I have removed your iniquity” and clothed him in “rich robes.” If Joshua would walk in the ways of the Lord, he would govern his house.

God then promises to bring “My Servant the BRANCH (aka Jesus)” to remove the land’s iniquity “in one day,” or the End Times.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 18 Day4: Zechariah 3

9) Joshua, representing Israel, stands in “filthy garments” symbolizing their collective sin. God commands these be removed and replaced with “rich robes,” visually demonstrating that He actively takes away their iniquity and bestows a restored, pure status. This exchange illustrates that forgiveness is a gracious gift from God, not a human achievement.

10a) God takes away our sins when we receive the new clothes provided by Christ when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior.

It depicts the “Great Exchange” and justification by faith. God removes our “filthy” sin and clothes us in Christ’s perfect righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). This spiritual “wedding garment” (Matthew 22) provides a new, holy identity (Ephesians 4:24) and qualifies us for the eternal feast (Revelation 19), a standing we receive by grace, not merit.

Long Answer:

Zechariah 3:3-5 provides a vivid Old Testament picture of the New Testament doctrine of Imputed Righteousness. It dramatizes exactly what God does for every believer in Christ.

1. The Great Exchange (2 Corinthians 5:21)

In the vision, Joshua does not wash his own clothes; God orders the filthy garments removed and new ones put on.

  • The Parallel: This illustrates the “Great Exchange.” Christ takes our “filthy garments” (our sin and shame) upon Himself on the cross, and in return, He clothes us in His “rich robes” (His perfect righteousness). We do not stand before God in our own merit, but in the merit of Jesus.

2. Required for Entrance (Matthew 22:11-12)

In Matthew, the guest without a wedding garment is cast out because he tried to enter the feast on his own terms. In Zechariah, Joshua is only accepted after he is re-clothed.

  • The Parallel: God provides the covering necessary to stand in His presence. Just as Joshua could not serve as priest in filthy clothes, we cannot enter the Kingdom in our own “good works.” We must wear the righteousness provided by the King.

3. A New Identity (Ephesians 4:24)

Joshua receives a “clean turban,” symbolizing a renewed mind and a restored status of holiness.

  • The Parallel: Salvation is not just a legal acquittal; it is a transformation. We “put on the new self.” God stops identifying us by our past sins (the filth) and identifies us by our new creation in Christ (the festal robes).

4. Preparation for Glory (Revelation 19:7-9)

The “rich robes” in Zechariah anticipate the “fine linen, bright and pure” worn by the Bride of Christ in Revelation.

  • The Parallel: What God does at salvation (justification) prepares us for the ultimate wedding feast of the Lamb. The “festal apparel” implies that we are not just cleaned up for duty, but dressed for celebration and eternal joy.

b) Dear Lord, Thank you so much for sending your Son to die for our sins. We are not worthy and never will be, but you love us so much that you accept us anyway. Human words will never be enough to express our gratitude to you. Thank you so much. In Jesus’s name, Amen!

11a) Zechariah 3:8-10 teaches that Joshua (the priest) is just a shadow. The reality is Jesus, who is the Royal King (The Branch), the Solid Foundation (The Stone), and the Final Sacrifice who removes sin forever in One Day.

These symbols portray Christ as the “Branch,” the righteous King from David’s line (Jeremiah 23), and the “Stone,” the sure foundation of God’s kingdom (Isaiah 28). Most significantly, the promise to remove iniquity in “one day” foretells His singular, final atonement on the cross, accomplishing what the law could not.

Long answer:

Zechariah 3:8-10 moves from the specific cleansing of Joshua to a prophetic picture of the Messiah. The “men of sign” (the priests) are foreshadowing a greater High Priest to come.

1. The Branch: The Davidic King

God promises to bring forth “My Servant the BRANCH” (Zechariah 3:8).

  • The Symbolism: A “branch” (or shoot) implies new life springing from a seemingly dead stump.

  • The Fulfillment: This points to Jesus’ lineage. By the time of Zechariah, the royal line of David had been cut down (no king sat on the throne).

    • Isaiah 11:1-4 predicts a “shoot from the stump of Jesse” who will judge with righteousness.

    • Jeremiah 23:5-6 calls Him a “righteous Branch” who will be called “The Lord Our Righteousness.”

    • Zechariah 6:12-13 later confirms that this Branch will build the temple and, uniquely, sit as a Priest on a Throne.

  • Conclusion: Jesus is the “Branch” who unites the offices of King and High Priest, restoring the fallen dynasty of David.

2. The Stone: The Sure Foundation

God sets a “stone” before Joshua (Zechariah 3:9).

  • The Symbolism: A single, unshakeable stone chosen by God.

  • The Fulfillment: This points to Jesus’ nature as the Foundation of the Church and God’s kingdom.

    • Isaiah 28:16 describes God laying a “tested stone” in Zion, a “precious cornerstone” and a sure foundation.

    • Psalm 118:22 predicts that the stone the builders rejected would become the “chief cornerstone.”

  • Conclusion: Jesus is the rock upon which the new temple (the Church/Believers) is built.

3. The Seven Eyes: Perfect Wisdom

The stone has “seven eyes” (Zechariah 3:9).

  • The Symbolism: In the Bible, seven represents perfection or completion.

  • The Fulfillment: This points to Jesus’ Omniscience and the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

    • Isaiah 11:2 describes the Spirit of the Lord (wisdom, understanding, counsel) resting on the Branch.

    • Revelation 5:6 portrays the Lamb (Jesus) having “seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.”

4. The “One Day”: The Atonement

God promises to “remove the iniquity of that land in one day” (Zechariah 3:9).

  • The Symbolism: The Levitical system required sacrifices day after day, year after year. A removal in “one day” implies a singular, final event.

  • The Fulfillment: This points to The Crucifixion (Good Friday).

    • Unlike the High Priests who had to offer sacrifices repeatedly, Jesus offered himself “once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). The “one day” is the day Jesus died, effectively paying for the sin of the world permanently.

b) Well, all of God’s Word is connected, and the Old Testament points to the New Testament and the eternal life that Jesus offers/brings.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 18, Day 4: Zechariah 3

Powerful message of how God will clothe us all in Christ’s salvation.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 18, Day 4: Zechariah 3

Point of fact: Joshua was the high priest at the time (Haggai 1:1).

This is a great example of how God restricts Satan.

This is a great example of fighting Satan in God’s authority Jude 1:9

Satan tried to say Joshua was dirty (his garments represent the sin of God’s people), and therefore, he should not stand before the Lord. God proves him completely wrong.

A brand is burnt wood and is useful in a fire.

God cleansed Joshua by giving him new garments, aka righteousness and justification. This is a popular idea in the Bible (Genesis 3:7, 3:21) and (Revelation 7:13-14).

Priests wore turbans.  (Exodus 28:36-38).

Branch is the title for the Messiah (Isaiah 4:2 and 11:1, Jeremiah 23:5 and 33:15).

Jesus called us branches, too (John 15:5).

Eyes represent knowledge, and the number 7 in the Bible is the number of completion or perfection. Therefore, 7 eyes represent omniscience.

Messiah brings everyone peace, which sitting under a fig tree represents (1 Kings 4:25, 2 Kings 18:31)

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Interpretation

Zechariah 3 (The Vision of the High Priest) is a courtroom drama illustrating forensic justification and spiritual cleansing.

  • The Accusation: Joshua the High Priest stands before the Angel of the Lord dressed in “filthy garments” (symbolizing the sin of the nation and the priesthood). Satan stands at his right hand to accuse him. The accusation is valid: Joshua is filthy.

  • The Defense: The Lord does not argue that Joshua is clean; instead, He silences the accuser by election: “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” God defends Joshua based on His own choice to save him, not Joshua’s merit.

  • The Exchange: God commands the removal of the filthy clothes (removing iniquity) and re-clothes Joshua in “rich robes” and a clean turban. This symbolizes imputed righteousness—God providing the purity that Joshua lacked.

  • The Charge & Promise: Joshua is reinstated to his duties with a condition: if he walks in God’s ways, he will govern God’s house.

  • The Prophecy: The vision concludes by pointing to the “Branch” (the Messiah) and a single stone with seven eyes, promising that God will “remove the iniquity of that land in one day”—a foreshadowing of the Atonement.

Conclusion

Humanity cannot clean itself, but God provides a change of clothes. The chapter teaches that restoration begins with God silencing our accuser and replacing our sin with His righteousness by grace alone. It affirms that spiritual standing is a gift from God, not an achievement of man.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 18, Day 3: Zechariah 2

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Zechariah 2

Zechariah saw a man holding a measuring line in his third vision. The man was going to measure Jerusalem when God said that Jerusalem would be a city without walls cause it would be so big. God Himself will be a wall of fire around it.

God will come and live among His people. God will inherit Judah as His portion and will choose Jerusalem again.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 18 Day 3: Zechariah 2

6) The “city without walls” symbolizes a restoration so vast it defies measurement. The “wall of fire” replaces stone defenses with perfect divine protection. Crucially, the promise to be the “glory in her midst” signifies the return of God’s personal presence, confirming He has ended the exile to live among them again.

7)

Zechariah 2:4: God promises boundless expansion and abundance. He declares Jerusalem will be “inhabited as villages without walls” because the population of people and livestock will grow so large that physical fortifications cannot contain them, signifying a future of overflowing prosperity that exceeds human limits.

Zechariah 2:5a: God promises supernatural protection through the metaphor of a “wall of fire.” He pledges to personally surround Jerusalem, acting as an impenetrable defense. This assures the people that their security relies not on physical fortifications, but on His constant, fiery vigilance against any external threat.

Zechariah 2:5b, 10, 11b: God promises the return of His manifest presence and glory. He pledges to “dwell in your midst,” ending the spiritual separation of the exile. This guarantees a renewed covenant relationship, replacing past mourning with singing as the Lord takes up permanent residence within the city again.

Zechariah 2:11a: God promises that Jerusalem’s restoration will trigger a global spiritual gathering. He declares that “many nations” will join the Lord, expanding the covenant family beyond ethnic Israel. This assures Judah that their renewal is the catalyst for fulfilling the ancient promise to be a blessing to all the earth.

b) I always love it when God says He will be with me. It’s so encouraging when I feel alone and unsafe in this world. They reassure believers that true security comes from God’s presence, not human control. We are encouraged that God surrounds us like a “wall of fire” when we feel vulnerable. These promises invite us to trust that His plans for our lives are far greater than our current limitations or fears.

8 ) It reveals God is actively moving, not dormant. It reminds humanity (“all flesh”) of our frailty. The meaningful truth is that in the presence of Divine action, our best response is reverent silence—ceasing our frantic striving and complaints to humbly witness His sovereign power and holiness.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 18, Day 3: Zechariah 2

God is with us and protects us. If we could only remember this all day long and keep it in the forefront of our minds, we’d be a lot more content each and every day.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 18, Day 3: Zechariah 2

The man is an angelic being and could be Jesus.

Jerusalem needed to be large enough for God’s people. God would provide the protection for Jerusalem to finish the temple. Today, Jerusalem is a city without walls and will be when the Messiah reigns on earth.

God wants His people to return to Jerusalem, but many do not.

Remember, Babylon is both literal and figurative (a city of evil) in the Bible. (Revelation 18:4-5)

Anything that is the apple of your eye is precious and something you cherish above all else.

With a shake of His hand, God will enslave those who enslaved His people.

The people will sing and rejoice because God will be with them in such a powerful way!

Fun Fact: This is the only place where the phrase Holy Land is used in the Bible.

God’s land (and His people) are holy, set aside for Himself.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Interpretation

Zechariah 2 (The Vision of the Man with the Measuring Line) is a message of boundless expansion and divine presence.

  • Breaking Limits: Zechariah sees a man attempting to measure Jerusalem to define its walls. An angel interrupts, declaring that Jerusalem will be “inhabited as villages without walls” because of the multitude of people and livestock. This signifies that God’s future plans for His people are too vast to be contained by human measurements or physical fortifications.

  • The Wall of Fire: God promises to replace the physical stone walls (which offer limited protection) with Himself: “I will be to her a wall of fire all around.” This guarantees perfect security.

  • The Glory Within: God promises to dwell in the midst of the city. The restoration is not just about real estate; it is about the return of God’s tangible presence (Glory) among His people.

  • The Apple of His Eye: The chapter concludes with a warning to the nations that plundered Israel: “he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.” This reasserts Israel’s precious status and God’s protective jealousy.

Conclusion

God’s plans are bigger than our safety nets. The vision teaches that true security does not come from physical barriers (walls) but from God’s personal presence. He calls His people to stop limiting their expectations to what they can measure and instead trust in His limitless protection and glory.

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