The book of Zechariah was written to the people of Israel who left off building the temple of Jehovah God in Jerusalem after they returned from being captives in Babylon for seventy years, and in chapter one and verse one of Zechariah, Zechariah shared the time when there, “came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah” where we read,
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, ...
The verse reads, “In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, ...”. Zechariah began with the words, “in the eighth month” or “within the eighth lunar month of the year which relates to our November”, “in the second year” which means “within the second year of the reign” “of Darius” or “belonging to Darius whose name means lord and was Darius, the son of Hystaspes, the founder of the Perso-Arian dynasty (521 BC)”, “came the word of the LORD” which means “happened, arose and appeared the speech, utterance and declaration belonging to Jehovah whose name means the existing One and is the proper name for the One True God” “unto Zechariah” or “to Zechariah whose name means Jehovah remembers and was the eleventh in order of the minor prophets; a priest, son of Berechiah and grandson of Iddo, who, along with Haggai, directed the rebuilding of the temple in the days of Zerubbabel”. Zechariah shared the timing of this prophecy of Jehovah God's declaration which was within the eighth month of the second year when “Darius” was the Persian ruler.
The verse continues, “... the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, ...” Zechariah added the words, “the son of Berechiah” or “the male offspring and progeny belonging to Berechiah whose name means Jehovah blesses”, “the son of Iddo the prophet” which means “the male offspring and progeny belonging to Iddo whose name means His witness and was the grandfather of Zechariah who was an inspired man who spoke prophesy”, “saying” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming” the words in the following verse. Zechariah shared how he was the male offspring of “Berechiah” who was the male offspring of “Iddo” who was also an inspired speaker of prophesy.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn some of the background for the timing and the heritage of “Zechariah”. Zechariah was commissioned by Jehovah God to speak to the people of Israel about rebuilding their temple because they forsook doing so after returning from seventy years captivity in Babylon. Haggai the prophet spoke two months earlier than this, and with both of these prophets speaking to the people, certainly God's words would be heard. God wants us to listen to Him, and because we are separated from a personal relationship with Him through our sin, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we humble ourselves, repent of our sins and receive His good news of salvation, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us the ability to “hear” Him when He speaks and to be about His business and purposes in this world.
Next time Zechariah says, “the LORD has been sore displeased with your fathers”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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