Zechariah and Malachi.
Zechariah.
The Prophet. His name means "Remembered of the Lord" and like Haggai
he appears to have been among the captives who returned from Babylon
with Zerubbabel. He was a co-laborer with Haggai, beginning his work
two mouths later and continuing into the second year following him.
The conditions of the times were the same as those described in
Haggai.
The Prophecy. The purpose is the same as that of Haggai. The time of
the first eight chapters is that of the rebuilding of the temple while
the remaining chapters, 9-14, are thought to have been written thirty
years later. It is distinguished for: (1) The symbolic character of
its visions. (2) The richness of his Messianic predictions found in
the second part. (3) The large place given to angelic mediation in the
intercourse with Jehovah.
The Contents. The contents have been said to contain: (1)
Encouragements to lead the people to repent and reform; (2)
Discussions about keeping up the days of fasting and humiliation
observed during the captivity; (3) Reflections of a moral and
spiritual nature; (4) Denunciations against some contemporary nations;
(5) Promises of the prosperity of God's people; (6) Various
predictions concerning Christ and his kingdom.
I. Eight Visions Encouraging the Rebuilding of the Temple, Chs. 1-6.
Introduction, 1:1-6.
1. The horseman among the myrtle trees, 1:7-17.
2. The four horns and four carpenters, 1:18-21.
3. The man with the measuring line, Ch. 2.
4. Joshua, the High Priest, and Satan, Ch. 3.
5. The Golden Candlestick, Ch. 4.
6. The Flying Roll 5:1-4.
7. The woman and ephah, 5:5-11 end.
8. The four war chariots, 6:1-8.
Appendix: Joshua crowned as a type of Christ, 6:9-15.
II. Requirement of the Law and the Restoration and Enlargement
of Israel, Chs. 7-8.
1. Obedience better than fasting. 7:1-7.
2. Disobedience the source of all their past misery, 7:8-14 end.
3. The restoration and enlargement which prefigure Christ "The
Jew," Ch.8.
III. Visions of the Messianic Kingdom. Chs. 9-14.
1. The Messianic King, Ch. 9-10.
2. The rejected Shepherd. Ch. 11,
3. The restored and penitent people, Chs. 12-13.
4. The divine sovereignty, Ch. 14.
For Study and Discussion. (1) The symbols and figures used in the
several visions. (2) The different ways of expressing or planning the
success of God's people and the overthrow of their enemies. (3) The
discussion of fasting, should they keep it up? What is superior to it?
etc. (4) The promises of these prophesies. (5) The denunciations and
judgments found in the book.
Malachi.
The Prophet. His name means "Messenger of the Lord." or "My
Messenger". He was connected with the reform movement of Nehemiah and
Ezra and condemned the same sins which they condemned. He must,
therefore, have lived about 100 years after Haggai and Zechariah, or
about 430-420 B. C. He was the last of the Old Testament inspired
prophets.
The Condition of the Time. The people had been restored to Jerusalem
and the temple and walls rebuilt. They had become sensual and selfish
and had grown careless and neglectful of their duty. Their
interpretation of the glowing prophecies of the exilic and pre-exilic
prophets had led them to expect to realize the Messianic kingdom
immediately upon their return. They were, therefore, discouraged and
grew skeptical (2:17) because of the inequalities of life seen
everywhere. This doubt of divine justice had caused them to neglect
vital religion and true piety had given place to mere formality. They
had not relapsed into idolatry but a spirit of worldliness had crept
in and they were guilty of many vices such as we see today in
professedly Christian communities.
The Prophecy. The purpose of this prophecy was to rebuke the people
for departing from the worship of the law of God, to call the people
back to Jehovah and to revive their national spirit. There are in it:
(1) Unsparing denunciations of social evils and of the people of
Israel. (2) Severe rebukes for the indifference and hypocrisy of the
priests. (3) Prophecies of the coming of the Messiah and the
characteristics and manner of his coming. (4) Prophecies concerning
the forerunner of the Messiah.
Analysis.
Introduction: Jehovah's love of Israel. 1:1-5. This is seen in the
contrast between Israeli and Egypt.
I. Israel's Lack of Love of God, 1:6-2:16. It is proved.
1. By their polluted offerings, 1:6 end.
2. By the sins of the priests. 2:1-9.
3. By their heathen marriages and by their divorces, 2:10-16.
II. God Will Come and Judge His People, 2:17-4:6 end.
1. His messenger will separate the righteous from the wicked, 2:17-
4:6.
2. This is seen in the effect of their withholding or paying
tithes. 3:7-12.
3. Faithful services will be rewarded. 3:13-4:6 end.
For Study and Discussion. (1) Make a list of the particular sins
rebuked. (2) Make a list of all the different things said about the
Messiah and his mission and also that of the forerunner. (3) Analyze
and study each of the seven controversies. 1:2, 7; 2:13, 14, 17; 3:7,
8, 14. (4) Compare the future destinies of the righteous and wicked as
revealed in this book, making a list of all that is said of each. (5)
Make a list of all the promises of the book.
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