Zechariah 1: Call to Return to the LORD

Zechariah 1: Call to Return to the LORD

Collin Leong. January 7, 2025

(v1-6) A Call to Return to the LORD

(v1-6) In month eight of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo. He said He is very angry with your fathers, and told Zechariah to say to them: "Return to me, says the LORD of hosts. Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried out, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.' But they did not hear or pay attention to me. Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not overtake you fathers? So they repented and said, 'As the LORD of hosts purposed to deal with us for our ways and deed, so has he dealt with us.'

Exp: The Jews that Zechariah spoke to, just came out of the Babylonian exile, around 16 years ago. They were suppose to build the temple that was destroyed by Babylonians. However, due to persecution from the local people and their own self-centeredness to work for money and build their own houses, they were distracted from the temple building. (Ezra 4:4-5; Haggai 1:2-4)

The "fathers" in v4 refers to the earlier generations of Israelites and Judahites before the exile. Zechariah is warning them not to repeat their ancestors' stubbornness and learn from their failure. In v6, God told them that His decrees and warnings eventually caught up with the disobedient ancestors, and only after the punishment of exile, then they repented. 

(v7-17) A Vision of a Horseman

(v7-9) On the 24th day of the eleven month, the month of Shebat, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah. During the night, he saw a man riding on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in the ravine, and behind him were red, brown, and white horses. Zechariah asked the angel what these means. The angel who talked to him said he will show him what they are. 

(v10-11) Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, "They are the ones the LORD has sent to go throughout the earth." And they reported to the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees, "We have gone throughout the earth and found the whole world at rest and in peace." 

Exp: The role of the angel who "talked" with Zechariah is the one who explain the vision to him. The man standing among the myrtle trees are actually an "angel of the LORD." He is standing among the myrtle tree, which is an evergreen shrub symbolizing survival, renewal, joy and divine blessings. (Lev 23:40) In this case, the myrtle tree symbolize that God is present in the midst of His people. Some commentators believe that the "angel of the LORD" is the pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, who is one with his Father God, as he has the authority over the other angels riding the 3 horses. 

We assume there are riders as the horses cannot speak, though the Hebrew text did not mention the riders. In English translation, only the NLT inserted riders into v8. These riders found peace in the world - this probably refers to the peace of the Persian empire, as they had won the war with Babylon and have brought relative stability across its territories. 

(v12-13) Then the angel of the Lord said, "LORD Almighty, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and the towns of Judah, which you have been angry with these seventy years?" So the LORD spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me. 

Exp: The Angel of the Lord (v12) intercedes, pleading with God on behalf of Jerusalem. The Lord speaks “kind and comforting words” not back to the angel of the Lord, but to the angel who talked with me (v13) - the interpreting angel. That angel then relays the divine reassurance to Zechariah.

(v14-17) The angel who was speaking to me said - "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, and I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they went too far with the punishment. I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be built. And the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem. My towns will again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.' "

Exp: In v14, when God says "I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion", he is expressing His intense, protective love and concern for His people. It is not human envy, but divine zeal—a passionate commitment to defend, restore, and bless Jerusalem. God’s jealousy is like a husband’s zeal for his wife or a parent’s fierce protection of a child. It conveys loyalty, exclusivity, and deep concern. 

In v15, God says he is only "a little angry" at Judah; however, He is "very angry" with the nations. This is the contrast of God's intent to punish His people for idolatry by using Babylon and Persia; however, they have gone beyond God's intent. Instead of being instruments of discipline, they inflicted excessive cruelty, humiliation, and destruction. (Parallel texts: Isaiah 47:6 - “I was angry with my people… but you showed them no mercy.” Jeremiah 50:17–18 - Babylon is condemned for devouring Israel like prey.)

In v16, God will turn His zeal toward rebuilding Jerusalem (symbolized by the "measuring line") and punishing the nations who “went too far.”   

In v17, God says he will "comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem".  Zion was the name of the Jebusite stronghold David captured (2 Samuel 5:7). It became synonymous with the temple mount. Prophets and psalms often use “Zion” to evoke God’s covenant love, His presence, and the hope of restoration. The word  “choose” echoes the biblical theme of divine election. Just as Israel was chosen as God’s people, Jerusalem is chosen as the symbolic center of His kingdom.  

(v18-21) Four Horns and Four Craftsmen

(v18-19) Then I looked up and there were four horns. I ask the angel "what are these"? He said that these are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.

Exp: The horns probably symbolize Babylon, Persia, Greeks, and Rome. This is similar to statue of Daniel 2:31-45, which also represent the same four kingdoms. 

(v20-21) Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen. I asked what are these coming to do. He answered: "These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise their head, but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter the people."

Exp: The four craftsmen are divinely appointed agents raised up by the LORD to overthrow the four horns (oppressive kingdoms). Some interpret it as angels in charge of the kingdoms, some say it is the next nation that comes in power to take over the one before. Nevertheless, this shows that God has control over the rise and the downfall of all nations.

Key Messages

Zechariah 1 opens with a divine call to repentance, reminding the returned exiles that their ancestors’ disobedience led to judgment. The chapter then shifts into visionary imagery: horses among the myrtle trees reporting peace across the earth, the angel’s plea for mercy on Jerusalem, and God’s comforting response promising restoration. Finally, the vision of four horns and four craftsmen assures that oppressive powers will be cast down. Zechariah 1 thus moves from rebuke to reassurance, showing that repentance leads to renewal, and that God’s sovereignty ensures both judgment on nations and comfort for His people.

1. Call to Return to the LORD (vv. 2–6)

The LORD rebukes the people: “Return to me… and I will return to you.” Their ancestors ignored the prophets and suffered judgment, but God’s word proved true.

Application: Repentance is not optional—it is the gateway to restoration. We must heed God’s word rather than repeat patterns of neglect, recognizing that His promises of both judgment and mercy always stand.

2. Vision of the Horses Among the Myrtle Trees (vv. 7–11)

Zechariah sees horses reporting that the earth is at rest. The angel intercedes, asking how long God will withhold mercy from Jerusalem.

Application: Even when the world seems calm, God’s people may feel forgotten. This vision reminds us that divine timing governs restoration—our role is to trust God’s sovereignty and continue in faith while awaiting His mercy.

3. God’s Comforting Response (vv. 12–17)

The LORD speaks “kind and comforting words,” declaring His jealousy for Jerusalem and anger at the nations. He promises to rebuild His house, stretch a measuring line over Jerusalem, and overflow His towns with prosperity.

Application: God’s jealousy is protective love. His comfort assures us that He restores what is broken. In practice, we can anchor hope in His promises, knowing that renewal comes not by human effort alone but by divine mercy.

4. Vision of the Four Horns and Four Craftsmen (vv. 18–21)

The horns symbolize nations that scattered Judah; the craftsmen symbolize agents raised by God to terrify and overthrow them.

Application: Oppression is never final. God raises up forces to dismantle injustice and restore His people. For us, this means trusting that God confronts the powers that scatter and destroy, and He equips His servants to participate in rebuilding and renewal.

Zechariah 1 moves from rebuke to reassurance: repentance opens the door to restoration, God’s mercy comforts His people, and His sovereignty ensures that oppressive powers will be dismantled.