What does God mean by saying, "Turn ye unto me, and I will turn unto you"?

When God says, “Turn ye unto me, and I will turn unto you,” He is calling the people to come back to Him with their hearts and lives. Their fathers had ignored His words and suffered for it. Now God is giving a fresh chance. Turning to Him means leaving “evil ways” and “evil doings” and choosing to listen and obey. God promises that when they do this, He will draw near in mercy, help, and blessing. It is not God who has moved away, but the people, and He invites them to return.

Why does Zechariah remind the people about their fathers and the old prophets?

Zechariah asks, “Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?” to make the people think about history. Their ancestors are gone, and even the earlier prophets have died, but God’s words and commands have “taken hold” and come true. The judgments that were warned about really happened. This reminder is meant to wake them up so they will not repeat the same sins. It shows that human lives pass quickly, but God’s word remains and will surely be fulfilled, both in warning and in promise.

What is the vision of the man on the red horse among the myrtle trees about?

Zechariah sees a man on a red horse standing among myrtle trees in a low place, with other horses behind him. The angel explains that these are those whom the Lord has sent to walk through the earth. They report that “all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.” This picture shows that God is watching over the whole earth, even when things seem quiet. The myrtle trees in the low valley hint at God’s people in a humble, dark situation, yet He is present in the midst of them. Nothing in the world is outside His notice or reach.

Who is the angel of the LORD, and why does he ask, "How long"?

In this passage the angel of the Lord stands among the myrtle trees and speaks to God, saying, “O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah?” He is pictured as an intercessor who cares deeply for God’s people and pleads for their relief after “threescore and ten years” of anger. This shows God’s heart of compassion, because even within His own plan of discipline, there is a plea for mercy and restoration. The prayer, “How long,” gives voice to the pain of waiting, yet it leads into God’s “good words and comfortable words.”

Why is God displeased with the nations that are "at ease"?

God says He is “very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease,” because He was only “a little displeased” with His people but those nations “helped forward the affliction.” In other words, God used other nations to discipline His people, but they went beyond what was fitting, treating His people harshly and taking advantage while they themselves sat in comfort. This shows that God notices how others treat His people. Even when He allows hardship for a time, those who proudly harm or oppress are not excused and will face His justice.

What is the meaning of the promise, "My house shall be built in it"?

When God says, “My house shall be built in it,” He is talking about the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. The people had returned from exile, but the work on the temple had stalled. Through this promise God assures them that He has come back to Jerusalem with mercy and that the temple will rise again. A measuring line will be stretched over the city, showing careful rebuilding and planning. This promise would encourage the people to take up the work, knowing that God Himself supports the rebuilding of worship in their midst.

Who are the four horns and the four craftsmen in Zechariah’s vision?

Zechariah sees four horns and is told they are the powers that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem, so that no one could lift up their head. Horns picture strength and proud power. Then he sees four craftsmen, or smiths, and is told they have come to “fray” and cast out these horns of the nations. The idea is that God has instruments ready to break the strength of those who harmed His people. However strong an enemy seems, God has a “hammer” to shatter it. This vision is meant to comfort the people that their oppressors will not have the last word.

How does Zechariah 1 speak to people who feel discouraged today?

The people in this passage were back in their land but still weak, with the temple unfinished and enemies around. God speaks into that discouragement. He calls them to turn to Him, reminds them that His word always stands, and shows visions of His active care over the earth and His plan to rebuild and comfort Jerusalem. For someone discouraged today, this passage shows that God sees both sin and sorrow, calls for repentance, and at the same time promises mercy, presence, and future hope. Our situation may look small or dark, but God is still working.

What was happening in history when Zechariah received these visions?

These visions came in the second year of the Persian king Darius, after the people of Judah had been taken to Babylon and then allowed to return. They were back in their land but under foreign rule, and the temple in Jerusalem was not yet rebuilt. The community was small and facing opposition and discouragement. Into this setting God sent His word through Zechariah. The timing reminds the people that even under a foreign king, God still rules, speaks, and has plans for His house and His city. Their story is not over just because they are weak and under empire.

Zech.1.1

Zechariah 1:1

Q: What does Zechariah 1 teach about God’s anger and mercy toward His people?

The chapter begins with God saying He has been “sore displeased” with their fathers, and speaks of seventy years of indignation against Jerusalem and Judah. Their sins were real, and His discipline was serious. Yet, in the same chapter God says He is “jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy” and that He has “returned to Jerusalem with mercies.” He promises that His house will be rebuilt and that He will comfort Zion again. So we see both: God’s anger against sin, and His strong love that moves Him to restore those who turn back to Him.

KJV

In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,

A Call to Repentance

1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,

2 The Lord hath been sore displeased with your fathers.

3 Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.

4 Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the Lord.

5 Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?

6 But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the Lord of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.

The Vision of the Horses

7 ¶ Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,

8 I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.

9 Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be.

10 And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the Lord hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.

11 And they answered the angel of the Lord that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.

12 ¶ Then the angel of the Lord answered and said, O Lord of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?

13 And the Lord answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.

14 So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.

15 And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.

16 Therefore thus saith the Lord; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the Lord of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.

17 Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.

The Vision of the Horns and the Craftsmen

18 ¶ Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.

19 And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.

20 And the Lord shewed me four carpenters.

21 Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.

Cross References

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