Book Introduction

The prophet Jeremiah wept over the fall of Jerusalem and prophesied Israel's judgment and exile.  They would spend seventy years in Babylon.  It was the decree of Cyrus that, after seventy years of captivity, the Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem.  This decree was to return and build the temple.  The first exiles returned under the leadership of Zerubbabel and the spiritual leadership of Joshua.  Haggai and Zechariah were God's prophets to these people at this time (Ezra 5:1-2).  About 50,000 people returned to Israel.  Imagine what that was like.  Anyone younger than 70 had never been in the land.  Only those older than 75 or so would even recall the land.  Many of the Jews were very happy in Babylon. 

The returning exiles set out to rebuild the temple and worked on it for six years, during which the opposition grew stronger.  In turn, they lost their resolve, and the temple rebuilding was mothballed for many years.  The Lord sent Haggai and Zechariah to minister and prophesy to the people. 

Haggai told them, “Consider your ways”.  The people were building houses for themselves.  They were settling in, seeking comfort rather than obedience.

Zechariah came alone just a few months after Haggai and prophesied a message of repentance: “Return to Me,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts.  This was the core of Zechariah’s message and ministry.

It was a difficult time for God’s people.  They were feeling threatened.  Even though they may have wanted to be obedient, it seemed it would cost them their happiness, their freedom, their time, and maybe even their lives.  The situation seemed hopeless, and discouragement set in.

• The land was a mess, desolate and neglected
• There was nothing easy about the work
• They had very little money and very few people.
• Their crops had failed, and they were suffering from a drought.
• The enemy was diligent in resisting their work.
• In the back of their mind, they remembered how easy things were back in Babylon.  

Where was God?  Why did He seem so far away?  Surely He didn’t expect them to lay everything down?  Surely He didn’t expect them to lay down their very life?  Did He?

A.W. Tozer said that “nearness is likeness.”  This means that our godly character and obedience to God and His ways bring us near Him.  Likewise, there is no nearness when our lives are characterized by wickedness and sin.

Draw near to Him and be like Him.