Zechariah 1

V 1–3: REPENTANCE COMMANDED Zechariah prophesies to Judah, in order to join Haggai’s efforts to hasten the rebuilding of the temple. He starts with the spiritual problem, and declares that God commands repentance, and a turning to Him, from His rebellious people. That command carries a promise that God will return to those who return to Him. V 4–6: REPENTANT CONTRITION Zechariah faces the people with the fact that their forefathers would not repent or heed God’s words and asks, ‘Where are they?’ This reminder produces repentance from them as they return to God, owning up that God is completely justified in doing with them as He sees fit because of their evil works. V 7–17: REVELATION—COMFORT On one night, Zechariah has eight visions (not dreams) from God. The detail of each vision is not always easy to work out, but the meaning behind it is stated or more obvious. The first vision, concerning a man on a red horse standing among myrtle trees in the presence of three other horses, is to do with God’s comfort towards Judah. God declares His anger with the oppressing nations and the fact that He will return to Jerusalem with mercy and prosper His people. V 18–21: REVELATION—CONFRONTATION This vision of four horns, which are cast out by craftsmen, is to teach that God will cast out the nations which have cast out and scattered Judah. When God confronts His enemies, there is only one result: victory for Him and punishment for them.