Bible with Brandi – Week 12 Zechariah Chapter 5-7
Chapter 5 of Zechariah is confusing for many readers. It’s a bit confusing for me, too! Its imagery is graphic and cryptic, and it carries a sense of doom and gloom. God is still at its core, though, as He sends out judgment against two specific sins, perjury and thievery (Zechariah 5:3–4). These represent a broader pattern of wickedness (the woman in the basket) among the nations that has also crept in God’s people. God removes wickedness from His holy land and sends it back to Babylon (Zechariah 5:5–11), the very place historically known forrebellion and idolatry.
After judgment, chapter 6 brings hope and light. Zechariah sees four chariots going out between two mountains of bronze, described as the four spirits of heaven going forth into all the earth (Zechariah 6:1–5). This language echoes scenes like Job 1:6, where spiritual beings present themselves before the Lord. However, in this case, these spirits are not accusing God’s people as Satan was accusing Job. They are carrying out God’spurposes and declaring rest!
Then comes a moment unlike anything seen before. God commands Zechariah to take silver and gold and make a crown, placing it on the head of Joshua the High Priest (Zechariah 6:11). This is shocking because priests were not kings. Yet here, God is intentionally combining the roles. This act points forward to something greater. It is a prophecy of the coming Messiah. “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch” (Zechariah 6:12). He will build the temple of the Lord and “He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon His throne” (Zechariah 6:13). This is a clear picture of Christ, our perfect High Priest and our eternal King. (We will delve more into this in this month’s devotional!)
In Chapter 7, the focus shifts from visions to the hearts of the people. They come to ask whether they should continue the fasts they observed during their exile in Babylon (Zechariah 7:3). But God redirects their question. Just as He did in Isaiah 58:5–7, He makes it clear that He is not interested in religious rituals. God reminds His people of what He truly desires. “Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother” (Zechariah 7:9). He calls them to care for the widow, the orphan, the stranger, and the poor (Zechariah 7:10). He warns against imagining evil in their hearts toward one another. This is the kind of life that reflects Him. This is the kind of obedience He desires.
What about these chapters pertains to us today? How do we rightly respond to a text written roughly 2,500 years ago? If His Word is living, as Hebrews 4:12 tells us, then it is still speaking. The same God who judged sin, removed wickedness, established His authority, and called His people to genuine righteousness is still speaking to us today. The same God who prophesied a Messiah will fulfill His Word in His return!
Reflective Questions:
1. The assigned reading today was a difficult passage. Do you tend to skip over portions of Scripture that you do not understand? Perhaps consider asking God for His Spirit of Wisdom to guide you the next time you approach a particularly difficult passage.
2. In Zechariah 5:3–4, God specifically calls out dishonesty and theft, but they represent greater compromise. Are there areas in your life where you have justified compromises in integrity? If so, confess those to the Lord and ask Him to help you live in a way that honors Him in all things.
3. The people questioned whether they should continue fasting in Zechariah 7:3. Are there similar spiritual habits in your life that have become routine rather than meaningfulacts of adoration and obedience? When you worship, serve, or sacrifice, what is your true motivation?
4. Zechariah 7:9–10 calls God’s people to show justice, mercy, and compassion. How are you actively living this out in your daily life?
5. God warns against imagining evil in our hearts toward others in Zechariah 7:10. Are there attitudes or thoughts you are holding onto that do not reflect His heart?
