Remember... #1

 Read Zechariah 1

Background:  The people of Israel had been in exile for seventy plus years when Ezra led the first group  back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.  Having dealt with supply issues and opposition by surrounding peoples, the project was interrupted and the people became discouraged.  There was a temptation for them to fall back into a lack of trust in and obedience to God.  God raised up prophets like Haggai and Zechariah to challenge and encourage them to not lose heart, not give up, and continue both the work on the Temple and the city walls, as well as the future God had in mind for His people.  He gave Zechariah visions to reassure them that He was going to bless them again. 

Key Verses: 

13 And the Lord answered gracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me. 14 So the angel who talked with me said to me, ‘Cry out, Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion. 15 And I am exceedingly angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was angry but a little, they furthered the disaster. 16 Therefore, thus says the Lord, I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built in it, declares the Lord of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.

Thoughts: Having shown Zechariah a grove of myrtle trees, God also showed him three horsemen who were riding through the land making sure everything was at peace.  In the conversation that ensues, God also promises that He was returning in mercy to restore His people, to rebuild Jerusalem.  They were to remember that He was always faithful. They were the ones who had not been faithful.  He then gave a vision of four craftsmen that would rebuild the city from every corner, undoing what had been done by the four horns (nations) that had destroyed them from every direction.