The facts:

The date: What was going on during this time? Look at Haggai 1:2. Rebuilding of the temple. Close to the end of the 70 years of captivity. Dan 9:1-2

What sort of relationship between himself and his people was God attempting to avert through Zechariah's message, and what sort of relationship is God attempting to create?

Yahweh was very angry with your fathers.

(Thus says the Lord of armies, Return to me, declares Yahweh of Armies, that I may return to you, says Yahweh of Armies.)

Do not be like Your fathers.

What three arguments does Zechariah then give in favor of returning to God?

1	Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets cried, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Return ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith Jehovah. 5 Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?

2	6 But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers?

3	and they turned and said, Like as Jehovah of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.

(What does "return to me" mean? What does Zechariah say is the way to turn from ones evil ways and practices?

Listen and pay attention! v.4 What's included in this returning business? Is this salvation by works. God won't love me unless I get my act together first? The word return is more literally "turn." What is your direction in life? God has to be against those who do evil. He cannot prosper them and still be responsible. Therefore our direction in life limits God's ability to be "on our side." God is going one way, and He is bound by His character to go that way, we cannot be on the same track unless we turn.

What two fatal mistakes does Zechariah urge his hearers not to repeat when confronted with a message of repentance?

They did not listen (understand) or give heed (prick up ears).)

Interpretation:

Context:

Read the context. What current events make this message so important for Zechariah's audience?

The end of the captivity. It was their unfaithfulness that led to it in the first place. God doesn't want a repeat. God wants to live among them. He must have a faithful people if 2:11 will be true. The reinstatement of the high priest. The completion of the temple! The reinstatement of the law in the land.

Let's make a list of the things that happen to those who ignore God's warnings and persist in evil ways and deeds.

If one is on an evil path first God says, "Return that I may return," second hearers choose whether to heed. If they do not hear or pay attention three things happen.

1	They don't live forever

2	But first the words of God regarding them overtake them.

3	And then even they recognize that they were treated by God in a way that fit their lifestyle and actions.

Why would it be fair to expand this to include everyone who ignores the warning messages of God through His prophets? Give me scripture. For the sake of time, I'll just restrict you to the whole Bible.

God is no respecter of persons. Shows no partiality.

When does this happen for most? Second resurrection. If you choose sin, you become a captive of sin, like they became captives in Babylon. Unless you repent you will remain a captive in sin until you die there.

What principle is being taught here? What is the subject of the book of Zechariah, and how does this section speak to that subject? The subject is revival and the purification of God's people so God can accomplish His purpose in them.

The principle that God is teaching is that it doesn't matter who you are, chosen or not, the universe runs on principles and you must heed them or be destroyed by not heeding them. Because God is fair, no one can be blamed for our troubles but us.

In what way is God limited in this passage? How does our failure to return to Him prevent Him from returning to us? Is God really that limited?

What does it tell us about God if His word overtakes those who choose to ignore the warnings given through His prophets?

1. God is merciful enough to warn us

2. God is truthful--He is not kidding when He warns us to turn from evil

3. God is so fair that even the evildoers will that they have received what they deserve when His word overtakes them.

What does the thrice repeated phrase Yahweh of Armies suggest about Yahweh?

Strong.

What does the interspersed message of repentance indicate about Yahweh?

Weak? Reliant on human choice! An interesting dichotomy. God is infinitely stronger than us, but He works with us in such a way that we are able to foil His plans, of course we spoil ourselves in the process, but God never hinders our ability to choose.

Why does Zechariah use the expression "My words . . . overtake them."? What does this expression tell us about God?

He is consistent. He does not change His mind, but lets people know ahead of time that they will get what they deserve, and then He follows through with it.

(Is it possible for God's word to overtake us if we are headed in the wrong direction even if we do not have a chance to do the wrong actions?)

(What difference is there between ways [attitudes?] and practices [actions]? Is it in any way similar to the difference between listening {hearing/understanding [attitude?]} and paying attention {considering important enough to 'perk up the ears'[action]}?)

(Ways/attitudes are in the heart as is hearing\understanding. Practices are visible and physical, as is paying attention, perking up the ears. You can see both of these, but you cannot see the former two. God judges both what others can see and what only He can see, and those who find themselves on the short end of His judgments will admit that they received what was fitting for both their actions and their intentions/attitudes/what was in their hearts. This word hearken/pay attention is from a root that refers to the physical aspect of paying attention.)

(Why is it important that God calls His people to turn from their evil ways first and deeds second?

Our actions follow our attitudes. There's no cure if the attitudes on the inside don't change. The actions will never change if the attitudes don't.)

What are some principles of revival Zechariah is trying to teach here?

Learn from the mistakes of others who have disobeyed God.

Revival comes from reformation, not from excitement.

Revival happens in us not in God.

Revival begins with listening to God, but must end in a change of direction and actions.

Prophets do not make revivals, the response of their audiences does

What are some false beliefs about revival that we have?

Revival is about feeling good about God.

Revival comes through miraculous events.

What principle is Zechariah teaching?

God does not want to be angry with us so he warns us. Listen!

What does this say about the purpose of prophecy? Shouldn't they have been able to see this cause/effect stuff without an oracle from God?

What does this say about revival? It allows God to return to us.

What does it mean for God to return to us?

God does not force us to return to Him, but He is so merciful that even if we do not return to Him, we will admit that we should have. The emphasis of God's anger is that He cannot abide people beating their heads against a wall. Turn, repent, don't go there anymore, it leads to captivity and death.

What are some ways I beat my head against a wall today? Lord, is there some sin I am repeating to my own detriment over and over? Am I still resentful toward my parents? I am still trying to control Coreena. I must not steal others' thunder.

Is there an example for me to follow? Is there a command for me to obey? -- Repent. A sin to avoid? -- Hear and pay attention. A promise to claim? -- All will be understood.

What does it tell me about God? He is fair, loving enough to warn me, consistent in word and action, truthful. What process does God use to save people? Information comes first, then demonstration. If that doesn't work, he tries to use the demonstration as information for the next generation. How many generations will He have to use as demonstrations before one of them will believe the information? Maybe it's because we don't listen to the information or pay attention to it. This is why it's important to read the prophecies of the Bible and Ellen White? Have you listened and paid attention to the messages of our Zechariah?

Application:

Who here has something to tell us about God in response to what we've learned?